Page 14 of If Tomorrow Never Comes

Madison looks at him and then back at me. “Put. The guns.Down.” I can’t believe my eyes as I watch the goddamnBone Breakerlower his.

What the fuck is happening right now?

“You need to go, Liam. The deal was over the second you stepped foot onto this island,” Diego hisses. Anger and irritation radiate off of him. “My uncle is outside in the hallway right now with a fucking gun to my sister’s head.” He pulls a cell phone from his pocket with camera footage of the hallway. Killian has his gun aimed at Geraldo, who has Selena pressed up against him—a pistol shoved against her temple.

“I’m not fucking leaving without Madison,” I say between gritted teeth.

Madison’s hands wrap around my arm as she leans down to watch the live feed.

“If my uncle thinks you are dead, he will count that as retribution for Basilio. Alan’s death will be paid for through Madison. Listen, Liam. I don’t have time to explain everything. This whole thing has become a fucking headache. Nothing went as planned.” Diego pinches the bridge of his nose as he focuses on the feed again. Geraldo is offering Killian a new deal:

“I’m not a forgiving man, Killian. But in my old age, I find myself giving out a few rare second chances. I am changing my offer. You can take Selena with you to do as you please with her. I will be keeping Madison and whoever else my men havecaptured in your little ambush. Madison will no longer be staying in the dungeon. I think she would warm my bed well or perhaps I’ll gift her to my nephew—El Rompe Huesos. She will do well pumping out a bunch of his heirs. I won’t be around forever.”

A growl rips past my throat. Madison’s hand squeezes my bicep. She leans up and kisses me quickly—too quicklyfor my liking.

“Get to the beach, Liam.” Diego tosses me a boat key. “There’s a door in my closet. It will lead you directly to the docks. Lay low until I contact you or Killian. Iwillprotect Madison. You have my word. I’m not the monster my reputation portrays me to be—well—not towardsher, anyway,” he fucking chuckles and Madison cracks half a smile.The fuck?Not a second later, he’s tugging Madison against him and walking to the door.

She turns her head to look back at me. “I love you, Liam. Just trust me on this.” Her eyes are pleading with me.

And then she’s gone.

Wake up. Wake up, you arsehole.I try convincing myself this is just a bad dream. A product of too much alcohol, cigarettes, andseverelack of sleep.

My throbbing jaw and the taste of Madison on my lips says otherwise.

I linger by the door, staying hidden in case some bastard decides to sneak up on me. The small opening gives me a visual of them. Diego has his gun pressed to Madison’s head. I want to barrel out there and shoot himandhis fucking uncle—but that would put everyone at risk. Madison said to trust her. As much as I fucking hate this, I know she wouldn’t say those words unless she meant them. We are missing something here…

“Take the deal, Killian. Liam is already dead. Madison has nothing left to live for. She’s already agreed to stay here if you take Selena and go.”Diego plays with her hair as if he owns her.“Ihappen to like this one. I think she would make a great little pet. Thank you, tío.”

He needs to get his fucking hands off my woman. His hold on her is too intimate for someone who just told me they would protect her.

“Just fucking do it, Killian. Take Selena and get the fuck out of here.”Madison’s raspy voice carries through the hallway. Damn, I don’t think I have ever seen her like this. She’s a woman who knows how to get what she wants…but something has changed in her. It’s how she’s speaking, so cogently. I knew she always had this tenacity in her but never had the pleasure of watching it bloom.

“Okay. But I am taking the men that are left with me. My brother’s body will also be coming with us.” Killian says firmly, agreeing to the terms.

“I will deliver him to you myself. Can’t promise he’ll be in one piece,”Diego sneers.

“You’re just like your father,”Geraldo says tauntingly.“Deal.”

Diego turns his head to look at me, lowering the gun from Madison’s temple.

“Go,” he mouths.

The tunnel comes out exactlywhere Diego said it would. A more excluded area of the island. The helicopters are no longer here. Boat motors rumble in the distance—that must be our pickup. I’m tempted to jog the beach to get to them, meeting up with Killian and whoever else made it, but I can’t risk being exposed.

I suppose I’ll remain dead—for now.

I pull the key out from my jeans pocket while walking over to the dock. One small speedboat—a very expensive speedboat, I might add—is docked there. Leaping over the edge, I jump inand start it. Luckily, I know how to drive this fucker. The purr of the engines is surprisingly quiet for a speedboat.Perhaps it’s electric. With one more pained glance behind me, I take off toward the lights of Miami.

My mind is replaying everything that unfolded tonight.Why wouldn’t Madison just come with me?I had her in my arms. And I had that bastard within brain-splattering range.Why did she stop me from killing her tormentor?

Grabbing my smokes, I light up, pulling the smoke deep into my lungs. I let the nicotine saturate my bloodstream and calm my fucking frayed nerves. I am leaving this island empty-handed, and that feeling is fucking God-awful. Keeping one hand on the helm, I dial Seb’s number. On the first ring, he answers.

“Hello, Liam. I see things didn’t go as planned.”Cryptic bastard.

“No they fucking didn’t,” I growl into the phone.

“What can I do for you?” he asks calmly.

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