Page 51 of If Tomorrow Never Comes

“Because I don’t want any other innocent person to experience what I did, or worse, at the hands of that monster. Helping Diego will ensure that henevertouches anyone ever again. Ughhh…my mind is really fucked up, Lex. I…I feel oddly calm and safe with Diego. And maybe that is because he was there at a time that I needed a life vest. I held onto anything that could keep me from giving up, from letting the darkness wash over me. He kept me alive. All I know is that something happened to me on that island, and it shifted how I feel about Liam.”

“That’s normal,” Lexi says softly after a brief pause. “It doesn’t mean you love Liam any less than the way you used to. You just formed a bond with Diego based on trauma. He was someone who protected you. Let’s not forget he’s also the reason you were on that island in the first place.”

“It wasn’t supposed to happen that way. I was never meant to meet his uncle or be left in a cage, bruised and starved.”

“Don’t make excuses for him. Madison, come home. I’m sure Killian will go get you himself if you say the word. Hell, I’ll take a leave of absence from school. We can get through this together. Just come home, girl.”

“I’m safe. Diego won’t let anything happen to me. Plus, I think we are going to end this whole thing much sooner than we expected. After that, I’ll be home. I love you for wanting to be there for me. I’ll be okay, Lex. I can’t explain it, not in a way that is rational. Diego is good for me right now. He’s been teaching me how to be strong on my own and he’s going to train me to defendmyself. I need to learn that if I plan on being with Liam. If I plan on staying in this life. Events like this can happen at any time.”

“I question myself and my morals dating Conor, too. Are you sure this is what you want? It’s okay if you say ‘fuck it’ and leave everyone behind. Liam out of everyone understands that. No wonder he left after your first night together. He didn’t want this to happen to you…or the car accident. I know you love him?—”

“I can’t let him go. Not now. We’ve been through too much together to let a love like ours flicker out.” Longing for Liam coils its way around my lungs, making it hard to breathe. I am yearning for him in a way I haven’t ever felt before. Suddenly, it feels like the day he left me crying in my bathroom all over again.

“Is Diego treating you well…all things considered?” Lexi chuckles, breaking the intensity of the moment I was having.

“Yeah. He’s known in the underworld asThe Bone Breaker. I’ve never even come close to seeing that side of him. Even when I got a glimpse, he still found a way to show me I can trust him.”

Lexi sighs, “Just be careful, Maddy.”

“I will. I miss you. I’ll call you soon.”

“Love ya, girl.”

“Love you, too.”

This little nook by the window will be the perfect place to read. Not sure how much time I’ll have for that—with Geraldo’s impending arrival and all. My thumb hovers over Liam’s contact. I want to call him.

I should call him.

I just don’t want to make it any harder on him than it already is. Deep down, I know calling him will break me, too. In order for this plan to be successful, I can’t get all emotional and clingy about the man I love.

The phone rings on my end table, making me jump. Hesitantly, I walk over and answer.

“Hello?”

“Good evening, Ms—Madison. I was wondering if you’d like anything before bed. Perhaps a nightcap or tea? We have an arrangement of teas, pastries and fruit for dessert.”

“Oh, that’s so kind of you. Tea sounds great, I plan on reading the rest of the night.”

“That sounds lovely. Would you prefer chamomile to wind down from the long day?”

“Perfect, thank you.”

“It’ll be down shortly. I’ll add in a few of

our chocolate chip cookies. We baked them fresh for tonight. Mr. De La Cruz specifically requested them for you, he thought you’d enjoy them. They are still warm—the best way to eat a cookie if you ask me.”

I giggle. “Mmm. You aresoright. Thanks, Eloise.”

Placing the phone back down, I amble over to my closet. The amount of outfits Diego purchased for me is outrageous. I mean my entire closet and drawers are full of satin and silk teddies, negligees, exquisite lingerie, fancy attire, casual jeans and t-shirts, sundresses… He even went as far as to select some skimpy swimsuits and workout outfits. Any sort of clothing I could need is here.

I end up opting for a black satin negligee with a matching robe.

Grabbing the throw blanket off of the couch I dim the lights and get comfortable in my little reading nook. As if it were just another night, I open my Kindle app and choose a steamy romance book I’ve been dying to read off my TBR. It’s about a sexy, moody billionaire who is threatened by the new female employee his father hired at the family firm. The two of them have to work closely together on a major project that will be presented to their biggest client. After one drunk steamy night, the two of them begin to blur the lines of hating each other to throwing their entire career away for love.

Gotta love a good enemies to lovers romance.

My phone buzzes with a phone call from Liam. As badly as I want to answer, I need to calm down. My mind and heart are battling each other and am in no place to talk to him right now. I’m confused. I’m nervous about what the next few days will bring and I know he’ll do something reckless if he senses I’m upset. After the third ring, and my heart about ready to explode out of my chest with anxiety, I silence it and send it to voicemail.

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