Page 69 of If Tomorrow Never Comes

I flash her a dazzling smile, making her cheeks flush for an entirely different reason. It’s not enough. I need to see that beautiful smile of hers. So I decide to break out into song.

“‘Start spreadin’ the news… I’m leavin’ today… I want to be a part of it…’”

Liam covers his face, mumbling, “Oh for fucks sake.”

“Easy there.New York is mine,” Killian says, actually cracking a smile.

Both Madison and Selena break out into laughter, before gripping each other and sighing. The two of them failing miserably at trying to collect themselves.

“Don’t quit your day job, Diego.” Madison chuckles.

It’s only beenan hour since our flight took off from Mykonos and somehow I’ve managed to stay sober. Alcohol is part of this lifestyle, but I tend to overindulge when shit gets heavy. It's been excruciating to say the least, watching Madison dote over Diego. The second the pilot gave the green light for us to move around the cabin, her seatbelt was off and she was in the bedroom with him.I’m not sure if it was for my sake or not, but she was gracious enough to leave the door open. The whispering and laughing is getting under my skin though.

For fucks sake he’s the Bone Breaker. He’ll be fine. Why is she coddling him? Perhaps she’s using this as a way to avoid talking to me.

I haven't made any moves to check up on them, sitting my arse in this chair and letting Maddy come to me when she’s ready. We have a lot to discuss and the flight home doesn’t seem like the ideal place for that—especially since herhusbandis in the other room.

My hands find their way into my hair at the mention of the word husband. Tell me how I proposed to my woman just a few days ago—which feels like an eternity ago—and now she’s married to one of the worst criminals the underworld has ever had?Fuck.I grip my scalp to the point of pain in an attempt to bring me back to the present moment.

Lainey, Conor, and one of Killian’s doctors are taking Diego’s jet home to New York with us. Killian, Selena, Colin and Kieran are taking our jet home right behind us. Diego's cousin Antonio stayed behind to make sure we didn’t raise any red flags. He’ll make sure to tie up any loose ends in regards to our visit.

Killian wanted to leave Conor behind as well, but I gave him hell over it. Honestly, I need my best friend around these next few weeks.And I told him that.Hurt flickered in his eyes before the mask came back and he just nodded in approval. My brother used to be my person the way Conor is now. After everything that happened with Madison, I think he’s changed, and I’m not sure I’ll ever view my brother as my best friend again. Not in the way I did before all of this.

Kil and I may be on “better” terms, but I’m still pissed at him for not putting a stop to Madison having to marry that fucker. To top it off, my brother’s actions last night were uncalled for. Listen, I’ll be the first to admit my hatred for Diego. Thing is, he didn’t deserve to be left on that yacht. If it wasn’t for Killian’s weakness—Madison—he would have left Diego there to die.

My father, Jack Kennedy, was a tough son-of-a-bitch, but Killian is proving to be even more unforgiving when it comes to being crossed. I’m not saying theBone Breakerdidn’t deserve the bullet in his shoulder. I was ecstatic to be the one to pull the trigger. However, Kil took it way too far. He’s lucky Diego didn’t bleed out right there from the damage to his femoral artery. Madison quite literally saved his goddamn life with her quick thinking in using my belt.

What we need is for Diego to establish a new version of the Cuban-Miami syndicate as well as a peaceful alliance built on trust and mutual respect. Now, more than ever, considering Selena and Killian will be married soon and expecting their first child. A child who quite possibly could be the next heir to the Tri-State Syndicate.

My head snaps away from the window to the hand that lands on my shoulder. Normally, I would have paid attention to who was moving around me, but I’ve been entirely lost in thought. My heart stammers in my chest and then falls when I realize it’s Lainey and not Madison. Her smile is gentle as she takes a seat next to me and slides a steaming mug of black coffee across the table. I cautiously bring it to my lips, raising an eyebrow. The last time I accepted a drink from her, I puked my brains out for a solid ten minutes.

A smirk forms on her face before she takes a sip of her own frou frou latte. Licking the foam off her lips she says, “I promise this one won’t make ya puke.” Shooting me a wink, she takes another sip and places her hand over the one I have holding the mug. “You didn’t sleep well last night. You could use it.”

Tilting it back to take a sip, and hiding my smile, I see Madison over the rim. She’s leaning against the threshold of the door, legs and arms crossed. Jealousy and hurt carve her usually soft features into that of someone not to be fucked with. She pushes off the wall and struts past us, not making eye contact with either of us, stopping at Diego’s fancy coffee machine.

I stand up and approach her, not giving a damn about my recent thoughts about giving her space. She ignores my presence, grabbing two paper cups and pressing some buttons to produce two identical drinks. Four fucking shots of espresso each. How she doesn’t get raging heartburn or an ulcer is beyond me.

Without thinking, I reach out and run my knuckles along the back of her arm. Goosebumps spring up in their wake–which should be a good sign—until she speaks.

“Soo…you and Lainey are a thing now, huh?” Her voice holds steady but is laced with tension.

“No.” I lower my voice, not trying to hurt Lainey’s feelings. “I told you we aren’t like that.”

Madison takes a sip of her drink, refusing to make eye contact with me. “You two sure looked rather cozy. Killian told me that she was there for you the night you broke up with me. I guess having someone within your organization is better than bringing anoutsiderin. I mean she pretty much just said you didn’t get much sleep last night. So is this your way of moving on?” She sips her drink again, burning those damn taste buds right off her sharp tongue.

I lift her chin, and grasp her face between my fingers, forcing her eyes my way. “We didn’t sleep together, if that’s what you’re insinuating. I told you we have been friends since childhood. She wasn’t sleeping in my bed with me. Lainey just checked up on me when she realized that you were off sleeping in the same room as yourhusband.”I can’t even hold back the venom in my voice at that fucking word. Moresowhoit’s associated with.

That should be me.

Her eyes scrunch as she glares at me. “How dare you, Liam.” My woman tries to pull out of my grasp only prompting me to step further into her space. I press my body flush against hers so that she’s forced to place her espresso down or risk burning the both of us. On a slam, she places her cup back down and slides her hand between us. The hand that houses her wedding rings lands firmly on my chest before she gives it a good shove.Why the fuck does she still have them on? This wedding was supposed to be a fucking sham.As the stubborn arsehole I am, I refuse to move an inch. Instead, I lower my head until we are nose to nose.

“We need to talk, baby. Not here. Not with all these ears. Just you and me. I broke up with you. Yes, I did. I will do anything to protect you, Madison. Don’t think for one fucking second I didn’t break my own heart in the process. The difference between me and Killian…and now fucking Diego, is that I willalwaysput your safety first. Even if you hate me for it.”

“Liam. Get your hands off my wife before I break them,” Diego’s arrogant voice echoes from the bedroom.

Madison’s eyebrows raise before falling back in place. I can’t tell if it was in response to Diego’s bold statement or what I just admitted. My hand loosens its grip on her face and she uses that moment to take in a steadying breath before collecting the two cups. That’s when I notice the chain of my necklace peeking out under her sweatshirt. I reach for it, pulling it out and holding the black diamond raven between my fingers.

“I know I’ve given you whiplash, always struggling with the need to keep you safe and the need to make you mine forever. Ravens are about letting the truth set you free. I’m all in, baby. I can’t do this without you and I don’t want to. I almost lost you again. You are stronger than I ever gave you credit for. If you want to be in this life, I want it to be with me and not that gobshite in the other room. Just give me your truth. Is it Diego you want?”

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