Page 31 of If Tomorrow Never Comes

As the time inches closer to her leaving, my nerves short-circuit. I clench my fingers into fists. I want to punch Killian in the mouth the more he stands there not saying anything. His lips are slightly parted as if weighing what to say next.

He pulls an iPhone from his pocket and places it in her palm. His hand lingers on top of the cell and curls around hers. “Our hacker Sebastian set this phone up. It cannot be traced by anyone other than our men. It has Liam’s number, mine, Selena, Lexi and your sister Mikayla’s programmed in there. As of right now, your mother thinks you and I took a nice vacation to Greece. Which isn’ttechnicallya lie. You’ll be heading to Mykonos with Diego. He plans to stay off the coast, anchoring in the Aegean Sea.”

Madison looks down at her new phone and then over Killian’s shoulder at me. For the first time since she came here, I see real fear in her eyes. The idea of what she just committed to is settling in. She won’t even be in the States anymore.

“Thank you,” she says simply.

Kil turns around and pushes a phone to my chest. “This is yours. Your flight leaves in an hour. The members of our Northern Ireland Syndicate will meet you at the airport. You will be staying with them until further notice,” he shoves past me. “Declan is keeping an eye on things down here until we are ready to move and has generously provided Selena and Itransportation home,” he sneers while crossing the threshold of the door.

I spin around angrily, gripping his arm with force. “Did I do something to piss you off, Kil? Cause the way you’ve been acting, it’s as if we are back to fighting over the same woman. Yet—you have Selena now… so why the need to push me and Madison apart?”

His eyes narrow as he looks down to where my hand grips him then back up to meet my eyes. There is a flash of sympathy before they harden again. “You couldn’t just listen to me. Youhadto do things your way.So here we are.Dealing with the cards we’ve been dealt because ofyour actions. And please, correct me if I’m wrong, but Madison wants to help. She always has a choice, Liam. I think you forget that sometimes.”

“You’re a fucking hypocrite, Kil. You never wanted this power. Yet here you are using it to make me bow down to what you need. And for the record—youare the reason we are in this mess.Youhad me kill Basilio. How dare you use Madison as a pawn in this war. This wouldneverhave been the case if it happened back in December. You would have doneanythingto protect her from all this, to shield her.” I grip his t-shirt and get in his face. We are practically nose to nose.

“Madison will be protected,” he says between gritted teeth. “Diego swore on his life she would leave that yacht unharmed. She is strong, she is smart and she will help our syndicate. She knew what she was getting into when she came into our lives.Let. Her. Choose.”

“Um, hello…I’m right here.” Madison’s sweet angelic voice chimes in.

I turn my head to look at her in apology. Her arms are crossed over her chest as anger simmers across her features.

“Baby, tell me what you want me to do. You know I willalwaysprotect you. And if that makes me a total arse for bypassing your decision to walk right towards danger, then so beit. You areeverythingto me, Madison. To your friends and your family. I’ll be damned if anyone hurts you becauseKillian—,” I growl, spinning my head in his direction, “—thought this wasbest.”

An internal war is brewing behind her eyes. She isn’t as confident as she was last night.Please just change your mind. Her hand goes up to where her necklace—myraven necklace—once sat. Red stains her cheeks as she realizes it’s missing.

“You’re not an ass. I love that you protect me so fiercely, Liam. I never want you to stop doing that…but I have changed in such a short period of time. I’m not afraid.I can do this.I want to do this. And when you finish the job, I will come home to you. Let me help.”

Time feels like it stops. I take this small window of opportunity to stare at her beauty and process her words.

After a beat, I’m striding over to her and pulling her into my arms. “Okay,” I acquiesce. Her arms come back around me and we just stand there as Killian clucks his tongue and leaves.

“I love you, baby. Please never change. You wouldn’t bemyLiam if you weren’t so brash, so willing to end anyone who could hurt me. I love that about you. I know I can help. If that means bringing peace to our foreseeable future—then I am willing to do this for us.”

“And I love you. I love that you are so full of passion for the people and things that inspire you. I love that you areselflessand giving and kind. Baby, know this…When you exhaust yourself and there is no energy left to give others, let alone to put yourself back together… I will be there to catch you. To nurture you and bring you back. Don’t let this world—our world—turn you cold. Don’t let the darkness win. Keep those wings pure. I know my fingerprints may have stained them, but it’s because I was holding you too tight. I promise to loosen my grip and trust that you’ve got this. If I let you fly without me hovering above and casting my shadow on you, will you stillcome back for me? My dark soul, foul mouth, mood swings, and all?”

The most beautiful sound pierces through the tension. Her laugh is so fucking perfect. “I will always come back for you. And I happen to like your foul mouth.” Her fingers trace my lips while shooting me a wink. “As for your dark soul—you don’t see yourself very clearly. Your soul isn’t damned, Liam. You are the most loving, protective, altruistic person I know. You took a bullet for me. Remember that.”

“I would do anything for you.” I get down on my knee and hold Madison’s hand in mine. Her eyes go wide seeing me there. “Marry me, Madison. It doesn’t have to be today, tomorrow, or even next year. I will do this the proper way. With the proposal you deserve and a ring you will adore. Right now, I just need to hear you say it. That it’s always you and me. Forever.”

Tears spring to her eyes as another fucking knock on the door interrupts us.

A slow, derisive clap begins.

“For fucks sake! Maybe the Universe really is trying to keep us apart,” I roll my eyes.

Diego leans into the room with his hands grasping the molding above the door.

Impeccable timing, arsehole.

“That was beautiful. Truly brought tears to my eyes,” he sniffles sardonically. The knuckle of his index finger swipes under his eye to wipe away the faux moisture.“Mariposita, it’s time you say goodbye to yourfiancé.” He clears his throat. “We’ve got a plane to catch to Mykonos, and I have a few places to stop along the way. My chefs are preparing a late dinner for us when we board my yacht.” He winks at her.

Madison ignores him and presses her lips firmly to mine. “Yes,” she whispers against them. My smile grows beneath hers. I know this isn’t official, yet hearing her say that one word, damn well eased my fears.

In a daze, my feet carry me to the chaise lounge where my duffle bag is. Madison’s eyes light up and she gasps as I retrieve the black diamond raven necklace from it. Dangling it off my fingers, I motion for her to move her hair. Which she does, collecting it and parting it to the side. I return the necklace to where it belongs, reveling in the knowledge that this goddess of a woman just saidyesto me.

To being my wife, my forever.

She leans up on tiptoe and kisses me one last time.

---