Page 33 of If Tomorrow Never Comes

A few months ago, we were just tworegularwomen discussing our dreams of a family and domestic life. I wasn’t the daughter of a sadistic Mafia leader and she wasn’t the girlfriend of the new leader of the Tri-State Syndicate (well— that’s what the rest of the underworld thought Madison was at the time).

Poor, Liam.Since the beginning,besides Maddy’s love, he really got the shit end of the stick. Dealing with Killian in the beginning, almost losing her during the accident, losing her to my family, and now the two of them being forced to separate.

My mind begins to race with visions of their future—and it’s not pretty. Liam has always been so protective of the ones he loves. Last night he was the worst I have ever seen him. Real worry etched his features. The thought of losing Madison plagued him. And it wasn’t fear of her losing her life. He knows she’ll be kept safe.

It was fear of losing her to another man.

Madison is going to change through all of this.She already has.I’m afraid that when she comes home to him she will have changed so much, she won’t even know what orwhoshe wants.

Hopefully, my brother is not the catalyst for that.

“You okay, Lena?” Killian’s thumb skates across mine. His eyebrows come together with concern as his other hand tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear.

“Yeah.” I sip my mimosa, buying myself some time to find the courage to tell him what’s been bothering me. I adjust in my seat to look at him and sigh with frustration. “No, I’m not okay.”

“What’s wrong, baby?” He squeezes my hand, giving me some reassurance to continue.

“Why did you send Liam to Ireland? You and I both know we could have kept him under the radar in New York. Hell, he could have stayed in his home in Connecticut until this all blew over.”

Killian’s features turn stone cold. A mask slides into placebefore he speaks. “He deliberately disobeyed me when we tried to extract you both from the island.” Dark amber liquid swirls in his glass as he takes a healthy sip.

“You would have done the same thing. I’m actually surprised you didn’t. And not for me…forMadison. You knew it was a possibility—a big possibility—that I had turned on you. The love you have for her will always be there, Killian. I have accepted this, come to terms with it, and honestly—I’m fine with it. I know the love you have for her has dulled down. What once stemmed from passion and desire, has now evolved into wonderment of the woman who helped you rediscover the meaning of those four letters.”

I glance up at him when he remains silent. He empties the remainder of his drink and signals the flight attendant for another.

“I would have done the same thing, you’re right.” A crystal tumbler with two fingers of whiskey is placed on his coaster.

“Then why punish him?” I push for more information. I’m really trying to make sense of how he could be so cruel to his brother. In all the years I have known him, he’s never been this callous.

Liam is bleeding out over Madison and Killian is standing over him with a knife instead of sutures.This needs to be fixed. If I can try and put a tourniquet on to stop the bleeding, maybe just maybe, I can salvage their relationship.

Maddy and Liam belong together. He’s dark and brooding. A hot head. Doesn’t believe he deserves happiness. She is kind-hearted and patient. A healer and a true believer in love—in its power. I see the way she has captured his heart.

Never. And I meannever. Have I seen Liam act so romantic and emotional. He’s always been cold and distant. Non-committal. IDGAF mentality.

“Love makes you reckless. I can’t have him being a liability to this entire operation. The stakes are too high. Too many lives areat risk. Where I can be somewhat level-headed, Liam is not.” His fingers rake through his hair, messing it up and making me squirm in my seat. He’s so freaking hot with his hair disheveled like that.

“When it comes to Madison, he doesn’t see clearly. Diego taunting him isn’t helping, either. I see the way he looks at her. I thinkeveryonecan tell what’s going on in his mind. And my brother is extremely territorial. Could you imagine trying to keep him in New York or Connecticut with her on a yacht with your brother? Ihadto use my rank to force him to Ireland.”

“What if there is another way? What if we talk to my brother and see if Liam can join them in Greece? Even if he isn’t on the same yacht. Can we at least arrange for him to be in the samevicinityas Madison?”

Killian stares at me for a beat before caressing my face and twining his fingers into my hair. “I love that you are their biggest fans, but for the time being, Liam is staying in Ireland. Let’s see how this plan begins to pan out before I make any changes. I’m not saying no, I’m just saying not right now.”

Nausea swirls in my stomach. I stand abruptly, letting Kil’s hand drop from my face as I slide past him.

“Are you alright, love? Ya look a little pale.” His voice carries behind me as he follows me to the bathroom.

“I’m fine, I’m not great with flying,” I white lie, cupping my mouth with my hand as another vicious wave of nausea assaults me.

Bolting to the toilet, I drop to my knees and dry heave into it. Killian is behind me in seconds, patting my back and holding my hair back for me.

“Jesus, Sel. Is there anything I can get you?”

“It’ll pass. I just need a moment,” I groan, laying my forehead against the cool porcelain.

Kil rubs gentle circles around my back until the nausea subsides. “I think I’ll lie down in the bedroom for a bit. I knowyou’ve got some work to take care of. I’ll be alright, sweetheart.” I kiss his cheek and stand up.

I bypass our seats, snatching my phone and bottle of water. Kil’s warm hands wrap around my back and under my legs. He swings me up into his arms and carries me to the small bedroom at the back of the jet. Gently, he lays me down and covers me with the softest cashmere blanket.

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