Page 22 of Phoenix's Redemption

His smile vanished. "Why’d you go from cop to glorified massage girl?"

I hated how crass he was. "Less stress, more flexibility." I shrugged as if the conversation bored me. Inside, I was a coiled spring, ready to snap.

"I don’t buy it." Jack got closer to the screen. "You’re saying you made Liam your client without knowing who he used to be?”

I didn’t blink. "I didn't know Liam was the one who tipped the police to help put you away."

Jack leaned in, his interest piqued. "Oh? He kept that from you, did he?"

I could practically hear the cogs turning in his head. I forced a steely calm over myself. "Don't talk about what you don't know, Jack."

His thin lips twisted into an amused smirk. “I think I do know. Liam's not the open book he pretends to be. And you. You're not just here for kicks and punches, are you, Officer?"

I swallowed hard against the knot forming in my throat.

He went on. “If you told Liam who you're really looking for in Sunridge, he wouldn't have trusted you.”

He was right. If Liam knew the whole truth, our connection would’ve shattered before we even got started.

I glanced past Jack's imposing frame, through the flimsy screen door. The faintest light of dawn was creeping up on the porch, gradually revealing more of the hard lines that marked his face.

I caught sight of an opportunity to slip back inside, where I could reach for my phone and call for help. I took a step.

"Going somewhere?" Jack's voice sliced through the quiet.

"Get out of my way."

Jack made an awkward step towards me, bumping his foot against a row of my plants. The pot holding my laurel tree fell and shattered against the porch stones. He cursed loudly as he nursed his foot.

This was my moment. While his attention was elsewhere, I spun on my heel, ready to dart back through the door. Fury propelled me forward, and with all my might, I heaved the front door toward Jack's face. He staggered back only for a heartbeat before wrenching it open again.

"Move!" I spat out the command as I scrambled for the console table. My fingers fumbled for my phone, the familiar shape of the pepper spray canister, anything to give me the advantage.

But Jack was quicker, and bigger. His hand clamped around my arm, dragging me backward. The world blurred into a frenzy of motion as he flung my lifelines, the phone and spray, down the hallway.

"Don't even think about it.” His grip was iron. Every muscle in my body tensed for the fight I knew was coming.

Chapter Ten

LIAM

Iwoke up with my fists clenched, the bed sheets twisted into ropes that mirrored the knots in my stomach. Only the light creeping through the blinds reminded me it was morning, the day of the tournament. The day should've been marked by strategy and hype, not this hollow ache in my chest.

Sophie's words from last night still held me down.It's over, Liam.She left no room for argument, no space for a chance to make things right.

Dragging myself out of bed, I dressed and went out in the living room. I glanced at the fight trophies lined up on the shelf. They didn’t seem to mean much anymore now that Sophie was gone. The gleam of the gold paint seemed fake and cheap like a lot of things I used to value. Like my old secrets and pride.

"You messed up big time," I muttered, shoving my feet into worn-out sneakers. I needed to see her.

She never returned my calls from yesterday. Would she hear me out this morning, or would she slam the door in my face? The risk was worth it to find out.

The chill of the early morning air hit me as I walked down the steps of my house. My ankle felt good today. It was about the only thing that did.

The streets were quiet as I passed the grocery store. I ran a hand through my hair, feeling the weight of my thoughts.

What if I'd been more open about how I felt? What if I'd let Sophie in earlier, showed her that I cared even though it scared the hell out of me?

When I went up to her street, I paused. I squared my shoulders, took a deep breath.

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