Page 67 of For the Love of Layla

I can be what you need, Liam. I will be that for you. I’ll love you unconditionally, even the bad parts. I won’t leave.

I didn’t understand then, but… I do now. My heart collapses in on itself as he falls to his knees. I don’t think as I rush towards him. Brandon’s agonized scream comes from behind me, but I can barely hear him. Liam’s blue eyes are lit with a reflection of flames and twenty-six years’ worth of unshed tears as I clutch him close to me. His shoulders shake as he let’s go, let’s go of everything he couldn’t before.

“Shhhh, I’m here. I’m not going to leave. I promise. I won’t. Never.”

His strong arms wrap around my stomach. He looks up at me from underneath his thick wet eyelashes. His sculpted face painted with soot from the fire he set. The heat from it is uncomfortable. Even now. The thought of him inside that building makes me want to curl up and die. I could’ve lost you. God, I couldn’t. I couldn’t bear it.

“I’m sorry, little star. I’ve ruined everything.”

I give him a teary smile, smoothing my hands through his messy hair. “It’ll be okay. We’ll make it, okay, Liam?”

I don't believe my own words, but I can’t tell him that. Not now.

I hear the sirens in the distance and we hold each other tighter. Both of us knowing it could be the last time. I cry harder as they grow closer and he rocks us until the red and blue lights flash off the tall statue in the circle drive. We need to move, but I can’t force myself from him. I wouldn’t dare.

I won’t let you go again. Not when you need me this badly.

“You’re mine, Layla.”

“Of course I am. I always was.”

He smiles, truly smiles. I wish I could stare at it forever. A sob leaves my chest as the pounding footsteps of police approach. I see Brandon’s large form dart towards the door of the crumbling house. I don’t understand why and I don’t care. He’s jerked back by firefighters and I don’t spare him another glance.

“Liam Curran, put your hands where I can see them and step away from her now!”

His eyes don’t leave mine as he leans up, gripping my face in his hands.

“Don’t fucking move!”

My soul burns hotter than the crumbling building beside us as his lips connect with mine. He’s done terrible things. I shouldn’t feel this way. Not now, but God help me, I do. I love Liam Curran. I love him with all his broken pieces. I gasp when they jerk him from me. That unsettling laugh I’ve come to know so well still forces a chill down my spine. My heart shatters, it’s parts mixing with the gravel as a tear slips down his freckled cheek.

“I love you, Layla. I love you so fucking much!” He yells, fighting their hold as they wrestle him to the ground, his chin colliding hard against the rocks.

“Don’t hurt him!” My voice comes out as a broken cry as an officer tries to pull me to my feet. I jerk away from them. I don’t want to go. I want to make sure this hellhole smolders to ash for him. I’ll stay the whole time if I have to.

“I love you too, Liam. I’ll always love you.” I whimper, as they jerk him back to his feet, his chin bloody from the impact. It does nothing to phase the smile that spreads across his face. “Took you long enough.” He mutters as they drag him away from me, taking my heart with him. He’s beautiful even now, the red and blue flittering across his dirty and bloodied face. My body shakes with the effort it takes not to dissolve. Another hand touches me as I slap it away. Watching as they take him from me.

I’m not going.

“He’s gone, Layla. Please, it’s not safe here. We need to get back.” Brandon’s voice pulls my attention from Liam’s dark silhouette in the back of the tented windows of the police car. I barely feel it when he lifts me. Taking me away, my head feels heavy and I let it roll back as my gaze dips to the crumbling manor. It can’t possibly fall fast enough.

“I’m sorry. God, I’m sorry.” He whispers, tears streaming down his face as he sits me on my feet next to a waiting ambulance. I nod, my chest aching. Nothing can ever go back to how it was before. There’s no way, “He needs help, Brandon, that’s all.” Brandon just stares at me, there’s so much pain flooding his hazel eyes it's nearly impossible to watch. I took over his shoulder, watching his best friend be driven away. The taillights seem to mock me the further they wind down the driveway. All my revelations, everything we’ve went through, all for what? For me to lose him anyway?

No fucking way.

I don’t realize how hard I’m breathing, or how much my chest hurts with each breath until I feel my head go light. The flashing lights and yelling from all around seem like too much again and all at once. The dots that blanket my vision seem small, but they quickly grow bigger. I grip Brandon’s arm as everything goes black.

Chapter eighteen

Insanity

WhenIopenmyeyes, I’m met with the harsh florescent lights boring down on me, as if being awake wasn’t punishment enough. My eyes water as they try to adjust to what appears to be a hospital room. If the grating beep, beep, beep, beep is any indication. I rack my brain and for the life of me, I can’t think of any good reason to be stuck in a hospital. That is until the searing pain in my left arm hits me, making me groan and I clench my eyes shut again.

I’ll just go back to sleep.

“Lay!” Ava’s panicked voice gives me little to no warning before I’m jerked up into a bear hug, only exasperating the pain in my arm. As grateful as I am for the gesture, I wish she’d let go. Mentally shaking away the uneasy feeling in my gut, I’ve never been happier to see my best friend's face. “Are you okay? Do you need anything for the pain? Where the fuck is the nurse?” I frown, looking down at my upper arm. I stare at the heavily bandaged appendage, wrapped snugly from my shoulder to my elbow. As if the reason for them might be scribbled somewhere on the white gauze.

I don’t remember being hurt.

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