Page 82 of Liam
When I pull up to Lucas and Ava’s place an hour and a half later, it’s barely 5 AM. I sit in the car for a moment, trying to compose myself, before calling Lucas’s cell. He answers on the fourth ring, his voice groggy with sleep.
“Liam? What’s wrong?”
“I’m sorry,” I say, my voice tight. “Can I come in? I really need to talk.”
Silence. Then a weary sigh. “Yeah, sure. Give me a minute.”
A few moments later, the front door opens. Lucas stands there in rumpled pajamas, looking concerned. Behind him, I see Ava in a silk robe, her hair tousled from sleep.
“I’m so sorry for waking you both,” I say as I step inside, guilt piling on top of my already tumultuous emotions.
I follow Ava into the living room, collapsing onto their plush sofa. Lucas joins us, looking concerned as he settles into an armchair. As I explain the situation, Ava’s expression cycles through disbelief, amusement, and something close to sympathy.
“Let me get this straight,” she says, pinching the bridge of her nose. “You told her just enough to freak her out but not enough to explain anything? Brilliant strategy.”
I groan, burying my face in my hands. “When you put it that way...”
“Well, how else am I supposed to put it?” Ava retorts. “You Valeur men, I swear. It’s like you’re allergic to clear communication.”
Lucas leans forward, his brow furrowed. “Liam, you can’t tell her everything. It’s too dangerous. For her and us.”
“I know,” I say. “But I can’t lose her either.”
Ava sighs, her tone softening. “You messed up. Big time. But it’s not irreparable. You need to fix this, and fast.”
Lucas stands, a determined expression on his face. “I’ve got an idea. Why don’t we go for a ride? Clear our heads, come up with a plan.”
I groan, knowing I should have expected this. “Now? It’s barely dawn.”
He shrugs. “No time like the present. I’m already awake. Ready to escape your problems via exercise, Little Brother?”
I manage a weak smile. “It’s either that or develop a drinking problem. I guess cycling is healthier.”
“Marginally,” Ava mutters, but she’s already heading to the kitchen. “I’ll have some protein shakes ready for when you two idiots get back. Try not to solve all the world’s problems without me.”
Twenty minutes later, Lucas and I are pedaling along a scenic route, the fresh air already clearing my head a bit. Our bodyguards follow behind as we ride in companionable silence for a while before Lucas breaks it.
“So, spill,” he says, glancing over at me. “What happened exactly?”
I sigh, focusing on the road ahead. “I got another threat. This time it was aimed at Aleria.”
Lucas’s face hardens, his grip tightening on the handlebars. “Are you sure?”
I nod. “Yeah. He knows about her and me, and I haven’t told anyone. Someone’s following me, Lucas. I had to tell her something, so I told her about the threats. Not anything else,just enough to warn her so she can stay safe. And now she’s furious that I won’t tell her more.”
“Are you insane?” Lucas hisses, his voice a mix of anger and concern. “The less she knows, the safer she is.”
“Ava knows,” I blurt, the words tumbling out before I can stop myself.
Lucas’s expression hardens. “Yes, but Ava is my wife. She’s a Valeur now. She was there when I got hit. It’s different. Are you planning to marry this woman?”
“I don’t know.” I rub the back of my neck, the weight of everything pressing down. “We’re definitely not there yet. She doesn’t even want to see me right now. And our relationship?—”
“Won’t matter if Dad ends up in jail because of what she knows, and the Valeur empire crumbles. Liam, I can tell you care about her, but this is bigger than that. We’re talking about our entire family here.”
“Don’t you think I know that? I’m trying to protect everyone, but I’m running out of options here. Aleria believes I don’t trust her. She doesn’t understand why I can’t tell her everything. And I can’t protect her if I can’t even be near her.”
Lucas is quiet for a moment, then says, “We still haven’t found him, you know. Elias. It’s like chasing a ghost, but a furious, vengeance-driven ghost.”
