Page 49 of Falling For Liam
When I come back to myself, I feel his dirty hand trail from my breast, down my stomach, tugging at my waistband.
I scream at the top of my voice, although I know it’s pointless. Most of the flats here are empty or full of drunks and druggies. No one’s coming, and the weight of my stupid decision to come here hits me full-force.
I called for help before I even stepped foot in this place. If they were coming, they’d be here by now.
My head pounds, my throat burns and, as I feel harsh movement at my waist, I turn my head to the side and retch.
It’s at that moment I hear a crash, followed by the best sound I think I’ve ever heard in my life.
“LIV!”
I watch, eyes wide as Liam barrels into the room. He slams his fist into Griff’s face, making him fall off me and straight to the floor before he drops next to me.
“Fucking hell, Liv. What the fuck were you thinking?” he asks, after he’s given me a once-over to check for injuries.
He’s just lifted me up into his arms when the people I was expecting come rushing through the door.
“Police!” Two men run over to Griff, pull him up to a sitting position and restrain him while a woman and another man turn to us.
Liam
I’ve never experienced relief like I did the second I wrapped my arms around Liv’s body. She’d been acting weird for days. I knew she was up to something. I never would have said anything to the others if I didn’t think she was going to put herself in danger, but as much as I wanted to have her beside me every second to ensure her safety, I knew I couldn’t, so I had to rely on everyone else to keep an eye out.
The moment BJ’s name lit up my phone, I knew. My stomach dropped and I was making my way out of the studio before I even answered the call. He didn’t have any details, but I didn’t need them. I knew exactly where she was heading.
My girl wanted to put an end to everything that happened up in Cardiff. I couldn’t blame her after what she went through, but I sure as hell wished she’d asked for help.
Her body trembles in my arms and her tears soak the fabric of my t-shirt as the police do their thing. Their arrival was a bit of a shock, but I’m so fucking glad she was sensible enough to call for some back-up.
Fury fills me as I watch the coppers drag Griff’s limp body from the floor and push him towards the door, before the female officer drops beside us.
“Liv,” I whisper when she makes no attempt to move. “The police would like to talk to you.”
She pulls her head from the crook of my neck and my heart aches when I take in her bruised, tear-stained face. As relieved as I am that she’s okay, I’m furious with her.
“We’re going to need to take statements from you, love. Are you okay to come to the station or do you need medical attention?”
“I’m…I’m okay. Can Liam come?”
“Of course.”
The officer leaves after giving us instructions to follow them, but Liv makes no attempt to move.
“Liv, we need to go.” I try to keep my voice soft. She’s been through enough; she doesn’t need to know how I’m really feeling on top of all that.
After a few minutes, she climbs off me and I follow her down to the car park.
* * *
We’re in the station for hours. I spend most of that sat in a tiny waiting room, not having a fucking clue what’s going on or how long I’m going to be sat there. It does give me a chance to make a few phone calls, though—something Liv should have done a long time ago. I’m done with allowing her not to deal with any of this properly. If we’re going to have any kind of future together, she needs to start trying to put all this behind her. Unfortunately that’s going to have to start with her talking about it, whether she likes it or not.
The longer I sit there, the more images I manage to conjure up of how differently this day could have gone. My fingers grip onto the chair, my knuckles white as thoughts of Griff touching my girl enter my mind. It was obvious the second I walked in what he was planning. Just the thought of his fingers on her flawless skin makes me murderous. It’s probably a good thing the police turned up when they did, because I’ve no idea what I would have done.
I’m totally consumed by my thoughts and fears that I miss the movement in the doorway until I hear my name.
“Liam, I’m done,” Liv says quietly as she stares down at the ground.
Standing, I walk over and pull her into my arms. Her body trembles against me and it’s enough to push my anger down a little as I focus on getting her away from all of this.
