Page 98 of Unfinished

“No. After everything I’ve been through, I probably should, but I don’t.” She admitted it and I smiled sadly at that.

She wouldn’t have gone through any of that had I been around. My men missed Chad entering her apartment and he fucking raped the woman I love the day after I walked out of her life. Then Derek got backing from my enemy in order to put himself in her life. If anyone should hold guilt, it was me because I walked away.

“I shouldn't have left.”

“I told you to go.”

“I should have fought harder.”

“Why didn’t you? Why didn’t you tell me the truth?” She looked at me with hardness in her eyes.

I sighed, “At the time I didn’t know how you would react to it and we were already in a tough spot. I didn’t want to risk losing you.”

“But it cost you me anyway.” She dropped her knees open to sit cross-legged.

“I didn’t mean to stay away so long. It took a couple of years for everything to be resolved. By the time I was ready to explain everything, your father told me you were happy and I believed I wouldn’t stand a chance until he came clean with everything. I hoped it would have happened sooner.”

“Why now?”

“Because when I saw you in a bar with Derek, I knew you were in danger. I almost lost it there but I needed a plan. So, I hired VanadiumWorks to create my software and I had Declan put you on it. I was going to hire them anyway and it was likely you would be put on the project in some form. They were clear that they were going to give you a promotion anyway.”

She looked at me blankly and then started laughing, “You decided to spend millions of dollars to win me back?”

“Well, I had to one up the orchids somehow.” She laughed quietly at the mention of the dozens upon dozens of orchids I had delivered to the diner when I was first trying to get her to date me. I missed that laugh and the almost healing effect it had on me. I never thought I’d hear her laughter again.

She looked at me with sadness in her eyes, “I can’t live in a cage, Liam, no matter how fabulous it is.”

Sighing, I crossed the room and sat on her bed next to her. I needed to explain the situation we were actually in so she understood that she was not alone, and that it had to be this way.

“Years ago, Salvatore Agosti was targeting my family and anyone connected to us. That was why you had protection on you. That was why I dated the way I did. If I appeared to be a player, no one would ever know who actually held my heart.”

Hannah gasped slightly and I sighed before continuing, “You made it clear that you didn’t want to make anything official between us, so I kept it all a secret from you. What my family did. What was happening. Everything. Salvatore hates the power my family holds. He’ll do anything to harm us.

“Last night, Derek confirmed he cleaned money for Salvatore as part of having protection from me when it came to you. He also confirmed that Salvatore would kill you if Derek didn’t finish the job he had. Salvatore knows that if something happened to Derek, I would be responsible and the way to get to me would be through you." I dropped my head between my shoulders, then stood up and started pacing, "Leonidas, my cousin, killed Derek last night, and it’s being pinned on Salvatore. Which means he will be coming for you. If he gets his hands on you, he will kill you.”

The problems and rivalry my family has had with Salvatore had been going on for a long time. I don’t have the ability to tell her absolutely everything that happened. That approval has to come from higher than me.

“I love you, Hannah. I’ve always loved you and always will. Keeping you safe is a part of that love, but not the whole of it. Even without this threat, I’d do anything to win you back.”

“And if I told you that there was nothing you could do to win me back?” Hannah asked.

I turned to her, “I’d say that’s bullshit. You have this idea in your head that I maliciously or intentionally manipulated and betrayed you and broke your trust. Now that you know that’s not true, that I did as your father requested, that I was protecting you, you are struggling with the idea of trusting me again. You need time to reconcile what you believed to have happened with what actually happened. You need time to rebuild what I broke, no matter how good my intentions were. I can give you some time, but know this Hannah,” I bent down and put my mouth near her cheek, “You are irrevocably and entirely … mine.”

I kissed her on her jaw and stood to see her cheeks and chest redden slightly. I grinned at her, then turned to leave the room, “Be ready by five.”

Walking out of the room, I closed the door behind me and walked back into my office. She might not like that she was being forced to stay by my side, but soon she’d give into those raging emotions inside of her that have always drawn her to me.

I sat at my desk and focused on the plans Tristan gave me this morning. I had a surprise for Hannah. It would take a couple of months to complete, but I couldn't wait to show her.

A few hours later, I locked away the files I was going over into the safe hidden behind a bookshelf, and went to get ready. Hannah was going to love my family. Dad would be thrilled to see Hannah back in my life. He loved her from the moment he met her and he and Bill got along well and talked often.

Soon, Hannah would have to sit down with her father to understand the full scope of everything he was involved in with my family.

Chapter 44

Hannah

After finally telling Liam some of what Chad did to me, I laid down on the bed and started thinking about everything that had happened. Once again, Liam protected me, but this time he didn’t keep that protection a secret.

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