Page 52 of Secured By the Buyer

He shrugs again. “Not if it’s to protect what’s mine. You?”

“I’m not sure, but probably not if it’s to defend myself or a loved one.” The words surprise me, because I never thought I’d have someone I’d be willing to kill for, but I wouldn’t hesitate if it meant saving Liam.

Down the counter, Jade takes aim with the rifle, his posture self-assured and almost cocky. I’d fight for Jade and Leo, too.

My mind drifts back to my last encounter with my father before the casino, the drunken accusations and threats he hurled at me.

What would he think if he saw me now? His worthless Omega son, shacking up with a rich Alpha and learning how to use a gun?

The flashing light startles me out of my dark thoughts. I blink as Caleb walks over to answer a blinking phone on the wall.

After a short conversation, he hangs up and turns to me. “Dr. Wallace is here for you.”

My stomach ties itself into anxious knots. The doctor is here to give me a pregnancy test. And I still have no clue if that’s what I want or not.

“You need me to come with you?” Jade offers.

I’m tempted to say yes, to beg him not to make me face this alone. But Jade isn’t my friend or my family, yet. So I force myself to shake my head.

“Nah, you stay and practice,” I say, injecting false bravado into my voice. “Try not to miss me too much.”

Jade snorts. “Yeah, yeah. Leave before Caleb gives you my job.”

With a wave, I turn to walk out of the room on shaky legs, my heart lodged in my throat.

It’s time to find out if my life is about to change forever, one way or the other.

18

The emerald-green jumpsuit clings to my body as I light the candles on the dinner table, their glow dancing across the place settings I arranged.

The front door opens, and my heart skips a beat. I turn to greet Liam, a smile on my face even as nerves flutter in my stomach.

He shuts the door, appreciation lighting his face as he spots me.

“Well, don’t you look beautiful tonight, princess,” he says in that deep voice that never fails to make me shiver.

When he steps forward to pull me into an embrace, I slip to the side, fussing with the napkins toavoid looking at him. “Go wash up before dinner gets cold.”

The weight of his eyes lingers for a long moment. “I’ll be right back.”

His footsteps retreat down the hall as I fidget with the silverware, straightening forks and knives that are already straight. I triple-checked the proper etiquette online, but I still feel out of my depth, needing everything to be perfect.

The sound of running water filters in from the bathroom, followed by the wardrobe opening and shutting. When Liam returns, he wears a soft sweater and pressed slacks that complement my outfit.

As he walks toward me, the lights catch in the red strands of his hair. The sight floods me with memories of all the times he stroked my cheek and murmured about the redheaded babies we’d make.

Tears threaten, and I blink them back.

“Have a seat.” I gesture to his chair, my voice tight with false cheer.

I can do this. I can give him the nice, normal dinner he deserves without falling apart. I have to.

As Liam settles at the table, his eyes bore into me, but I keep mine fixed on the dish covers as I lift them with a flourish, releasing wisps of savory steam.

“How was your day, princess?” he asks, the tenderaffection behind the words threatening to crumble my composure.

I slide a heaping portion of roasted chicken onto his plate, a brittle smile plastered on my face. “Played chess with Leo. Then Jade showed me how to shoot.”

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