Page 27 of If Tomorrow Never Comes

I raise the banana to my lips, taking a vicious bite out of it while glaring at Liam.

Stop it. I can’t. Fucking. Focus… Ahhh.

I know why he is doing this.He’s pissing on his territory. Men.I roll my eyes.

And then they roll back for an entirelydifferentreason.

“Fuuuck,” I cover my face with my hands, feigning interest in the conversation.

I’m going to come right here at this table in front of everyone. I lower my hands to focus on Liam. My whimpers become garbled behind the mashed banana.Liam’s eyes drop to my mouth, a wicked grin carved onto his face. Deft fingers continue to unravel me as I barely register what everyone is saying around me.My mind is as mashed as the damn banana!

Diego swivels his head and leans his elbows on the table to glance over at us. His eyes widen and smolder before looking away. What he sees has his hands balling into fists and his nostrils flaring. Killian is even turning red as he continues to speak. Selena’s eyes gleam with laughter and a bit of envy, while Declan’s have zeroed in on Diego, his brows furrowing.

“As for you,Madison…with your permission of course…it would be best if you spent some time on Diego’s yacht. We know it’s not ideal for you, but it could help immensely. I know that was an important factor for you earlier. We can make sure proof is sent to Geraldo, which will make him feel confident that his plan worked. If we keep quiet on our end, Geraldo will think he’s won. That’s when Diego will invite him to his yacht for dinner. The rest of his crew will be in attendance as well. Our men will be ready and waiting below deck. The rest will be on my private yacht, close by and ready to attack if anything goes astray.”

I grip the table until my knuckles turn white and gasp. Diego’s attention snaps back to mine. He inhales sharply, realizing my reaction was not due to our discussion. Fire races up my chest and my breathing grows heavier. I am two seconds away from seeing stars.

Diego clears his throat and adds, “We will end this once and for all. I will become the head of the De La Cruz Syndicate, and we will initiate a new alliance with the Tri-State Syndicate. Liam can come back from the dead—” Diego’s hand slaps the table.

Liam’s hand jerks away from between my legs.Are you fucking kidding me?!I let out awooshof frustration.

“What the fuck did you just say?” Liam curls his lip to reveal his perfect teeth. All the blood must have been directed back to his brain, for he’s just now catching on to what’s been said.

Killian speaks before Diego can. “Liam. It’s Madison’s choice whether she will go with Diego or not. He has changed his opinion about having her there.So have I. She can help us significantly?—”

“Abso-fucking-lutely-NOT!” he roars, standing and knocking his chair over.

“You, on the other hand, have orders to go to Ireland. I will not have a war looming over our heads and threatening everyone we love because of your stubbornness. We saw howwellthat played out earlier.Madisonwillbe safe. You both will come home to each other when all of this is over. You can’t be seen, Liam. Plain and simple. Your presence near her or even in this country is a fucking risk right now.”

“No. You may be the leader of this organization, but I am still your brother. This is MADISON we are talking about.” He points to me. She isn’t goinganywhere. And neither am I. We will go away somewheretogetherwhile this is taken care of, but she isn’t leaving my side,” he says with finality.

“Liam,” I whisper, curling my hand around his bicep. “Look at me, babe.” His head tilts down a fraction. Unshed tears are gathering in his eyes. My hand reaches up to caress his cheek and my thumb glides over his lips. “I have to do this. I told you I want to help. It will make everything transition more smoothly. It will keep you safe, too. If Geraldo finds out you’re alive, who do you think he’s coming after first?”

Liam shakes his head like he wants to disagree, but he knows I’m right.

Geraldo would come forme.

And then he would try to kill his nephew and his niece for conspiring against him, followed by Liam. He would leave Killian alive to live in misery, while the threat of having them as rivals continued for years to come.

Liam must have seen the same image unfold in his mind. His warm calloused hand overlaps mine on his face. A single tear drips down and rolls over his cheek.

“I can’t,” he whispers. “Baby, thiscan’tbe the only way.” Resignation makes his words come out shakier than intended.

“Even if I don’t go with Diego, I can’t come with you. I have atarget painted on my back. If either of us were found, the same fate would still unfold. Until Geraldo and his evil disciples are taken care of, we can’t risk it.” Tears well and spill over my eyes as my arms circle his waist. I lay my head against his chest. An erratic heart drums against my ear. Strong arms circle around me, cocooning and shielding me from the stares I feel on my back.

“My soul is yours, Liam. No matter how far away you go. No matter what lifetime we are living in–together or apart—it has and always will beyours. I will always find my way back to you. That’s a promise.” My voice wavers as I speak.

“I’m holding you to that, Madison. Because if something happens to you and I wasn’t there to protect you, I will tear apart every city, every town, every crevice of this Earth until I find you again. Even then, I will spend the rest of eternity making it up to you. Doing everything I can to prove to you that I am worthy of your love. Of your forgiveness. And hope I didn’t make the biggest fucking mistake of my life by letting you do this and not fighting harder to protect you. For not preserving your beautiful wings when I had the chance, and selfishly choosing to tarnish them with my darkness.”

Big fat tears cascade down my cheeks, dampening his shirt. My fists cling to the fabric as my lips meet his. I’m not sure how long we stay like that, devouring each other in front of everyone after our elaborate confessions of love.

That sinking feeling kicks in. One I’ve become familiar with.This feels like goodbye.

The worst kind of goodbye.

I don’t have to do this. Even if I decide not to, it still won’t change the fact that we won’t be together for a while.

The room starts to spin.

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