Page 63 of Tomorrow's Never Promised

“Think about us for a little while. Don’t throw this away. I’m not mad about you and Liam…Iunderstand. You don’t even have to decide between us now, but I am still in this. Your reaction to me just said it all—so don’t count me outjustyet.”

He strides into his walk-in closet to change. I guess he is trying to be respectful.

“I want to see Liam,Vader.”

Kil walks out with only a pair of gray sweatpants hanging low off his hips. He is towel-drying his hair as he walks over to me, rolling his eyes.

“Let’s go, princess. I’ll take you to him.”

He helps me out of bed and makes sure I am okay holding on to the IV pole unassisted.

“You said you hated me in the car last night. And Ideservedthat. But hate can be out of passion too—which means I still have a chance.”

His remorseful look makes me unsure of exactly what I still feel toward him. It’s not hate…but is he right? Do I stilllovehim the way he thinks I do? I know with certainty it is different than what I feel for Liam. With Liam, it was something I felt the whole time, even if I only recognized it later. With Killian, our love grew over time.

I slide my feet into the slippers he left by my bed, and we make our way slowly down the hall. I wince and stop a few times but suck it up.

I need to get to Liam.

“Sir.” Kieran pulls Killian aside, whispering in a hushed tone. “Selena is here. She says she has nowhere else to go that is safe. What should I do?”

Killian walks back to me and reassuringly rubs his hands up and down my arms. Bending down on his knees, he takes my hands. Worry is etched onto his face.

“I’m still in the race.This changes nothing. I’m just giving her a safe place to stay while we try to find Alan. Apparently, he’s been working with her family to retaliate against us. She never wanted anything to do with them after the wedding was called off.”

“You still love her,” I whisper while smirking at him and patting his face gently.

He stands and pulls my face to his, wrapping his lips around mine for a second time. “You’re wrong. I just want to make sure she’s safe. I loveyou. As I said, I’ll give you time, but I’m not giving up.”

Killian turns to Kieran, “Take her to a guest room upstairs. I’ll be there shortly.”

We take the elevator to the upper level and enter through a big wooden door. The room is set up on one side like a hospital room. The other half has another door that opens into a small operating room.

Liam is sleeping. An IV is in his arm, and his shoulder is all bandaged up and in a sling. They have him hooked up to oxygen. I have to say he looks peaceful.I’m sure he’s on a lot of pain meds.

“I’ll let you twochat. Here, come sit.” Killian helps me into the recliner next to Liam’s bed. “I’m going to check up on our newguest.”

They hadto sedate me when I woke up. I kept ripping my IV out and attempting to find Maddy. Killian reiterated over and over that she was okay, but I needed to see her beautiful face for myself. Once the drugs kicked in, I couldn’t fight it any longer; my body betrayed me by giving in to sleep.

I peek through one eye. I already heard my woman walk in with Killian.I’m curious as to which guest he is talking about. As soon as he leaves, I turn and flash her a smile.

“Hey there, beautiful.” I immediately take notice of her stitches.Christ.

Madison reaches for my hand, places my palm on her cheek and holds it there. Tears pour from her eyes, and silent sobs roll through her.

“I thought you died.Twice. Twice in one night, I watched you go down.”

“It’s gonna take a lot more than a bullet to take me away from you, baby.” I rub her lips with my thumb. “Are you okay? I see you got some stitches there.”

“My head is fine.” She moves her hand to lift her shirt, revealing a handful of bandages. “My spleen, on the other hand, tore. They repaired it, and I am expected to make a full recovery.” The corner of her lips goes up in a smile.How could she be smiling right now?

My eyes glaze over in horror. This was theexactreason I didn’t want her in this life. Why I put her safety over my need for her.

“Stop.” She gives my hand a gentle squeeze. “I know what you’re thinking.Juststop. It could have happened to me at any point in my life. A car accident, a bad fall…I could get mono,” she shrugs.

“But itdidn’t, Madison. This happened as a direct result of my life corrupting your innocent one.” I pull my hand away from her. I’m fucking livid at myself and at Killian for bringing her into this world. She shouldn’t be with either of us.

“You saved me, Liam.You took a goddamn bullet for me. I’m safe with you, and there’s nowhere else I’d rather be. So cut the shit. I love you. I’m not going to let you push me away because you think that’s what’s best. When you left me standing in my bathroom, you didn’t give me the option to choose. You just took part of my soul with you. Now that I have it back, I feelcomplete.I’m not letting you walk away with it again.”

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