Page 20 of Phoenix's Redemption

Sophie had walked through fire in her own life to heal herself and help her family. I wouldn't be the reason she got burned again. I couldn't change what I’d done, but I could shape what I’d do next. For Sophie. For us.

I hurried to Warrior’s Den. I had to let her know the full story. There was no going back.

Chapter Nine

SOPHIE

Ileaned against the cool, metallic frame of a weight rack at Warrior's Den while I waited for Liam. He was running late to the gym this morning. Where was he?

My fingers traced the patterns on a barbell. Could he be avoiding me because of last night? We gave in to our feelings for each other again. My body still buzzed with the electric memory of his touch.

The sex had been incredible. What blurred boundary lines? I think it was safe to say we completely erased them. As a personal trainer, I was supposed to be detached, but with Liam, detachment was a ship already sailed and sinking fast.

I closed my eyes, my mind drifting from the sound of sneaker soles on the floor and the scent of rubber mats. Last night, I felt safe with Liam, yet today, my mind wandered to Jack Thornton. The name alone brought anger and apprehension, like a cold whisper I couldn't quiet.

My phone vibrated in my pocket with the silent alarm I had set. I glanced at the screen—no messages, no new leads. Just time ticking by, reminding me that the line I walked was slowly unraveling.

With a sigh, I fixed my eyes on the entrance, waiting for Liam, the man who was both my confidant and my complication to walk through the door. Although my pulse sped at the thought of him, I couldn't shake the idea that Jack Thornton was in Sunridge, somewhere close.

The door burst open, and Liam staggered in. Sweat already glistened on his forehead. My first thought was he'd been out running. I told him to take it easy on that ankle. Why did he keep refusing to listen to me? Then my eyes caught something else. A darkening bruise decorated his temple.

"What happened to you?" My voice came out sharper than I intended.

Something unreadable flashed across his face before he reached out and took my arm, pulling me away from the other gym-goers. We found privacy by the wall plastered with posters of fighters.

"I ran into some trouble.” His voice was low and strained. I felt the coiled tension in his grip.

"Talk to me, Liam." My hand reached up, hovering near the bruised skin as though I could smooth it away with a touch.

“It’s about Jack Thornton.”

His words detonated in the air between us. A giant cold fist clamped around my lungs as I struggled to keep my face composed, to not let the shock scatter my thoughts.

"Jack?"

“I should have said something before.” Liam's eyes held mine. "I knew him back in the day."

"Knew him how?" I pressed. Dread pooled in my stomach.

"Like a brother." His answer was slow, reluctant. "We used to steal, break into stores at night when we were younger. I was stupid, and I didn’t have anyone else. We were tight until I made different choices."

His confirmation stung. "Liam, Jack was the man who attacked my family." The words tumbled out of me, edged with a pain I hadn't allowed myself to fully feel until this moment.

Liam cursed softly, the lines around his eyes deepening as he processed what I'd just said. "I'm so sorry for everything your family went through because of that bastard."

He reached out, as if uncertain whether his touch would be welcomed or rejected. His fingers grazed my arm, bringing warmth to the chilled surface of my skin.

"Sorry doesn't change what happened," I said, though the ice in my veins began to thaw under his empathetic gaze.

"Of course not." He let out a frustrated sigh. "I wanted you to know, Sophie. I can't forgive what Jack became, but I can't erase the past either."

My hands trembled as I processed his words. "You told me about your past before. I didn't even think to ask you about him."

Liam's brows furrowed, the lines etched on his forehead mirroring the confusion in his eyes. "Why would you even think to connect it?" Compassion softened his words.

"Because it's what I do," I nearly shouted, feeling the sting of tears threatening to spill over. My chest tightened, each heartbeat echoing the pent-up stress coursing through me. I could feel the weight of my former badge, reminding me of the instincts I couldn't shed even if I wanted to.

Liam reached out, but I stepped back, an instinctive move to protect myself from the invisible inner wounds. "It's okay. Jack might be out of jail, but I won't let him harm you. I'll beat that awful shit if he comes around."

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