Page 83 of Liam
“Great,” I mutter. “So we’re basically starring in our own thriller movie. Always wanted to be Jason Bourne.”
Despite the tension, Lucas’s lips curl into a challenging smirk. “Well, you’ve got the brooding down pat. Race you to the next bend? Or are your relationship troubles weighing you down too much?”
A familiar competitive fire ignites in my chest, pushing aside the worry. “Oh, it’s on. Prepare to eat my dust, old man.”
We take off, the world blurring around us. The wind roars in my ears, drowning out everything but the pounding of my heart and the rhythmic whir of spinning wheels. For a few glorious moments, there’s nothing but the burn in my legs and the single-minded desire to win.
As we approach a sharp turn, I lean into it, pushing harder. But as I round the bend, a flash of movement in the trees catches my eye. A figure, dark and indistinct, seems to watch us.
My front wheel hits a rock with a sickening jolt. The handlebars wrench in my grasp as I veer off course, hurtling toward a thick cluster of bushes. Time slows to a crawl. Every leaf, every branch rushes to me with terrifying clarity.
“Shit!” The yell tears from my throat as I wrench the bike to the side, my body tilting. For a heart-stopping moment, I’m sure I’m going to crash. Then, by some miracle, I regain control, skidding to a stop in a spray of gravel and leaves.
My chest heaves as I gasp for breath, adrenaline surging through my veins. Lucas pulls up beside me, his laughter dying as he takes in my wide-eyed expression.
“You okay?”
I nod, brushing debris from my shirt with trembling hands. My gaze darts back to the trees, searching for any sign of the figure I saw. But there’s nothing there. I’m losing it.
“Yeah, just distracted, I guess.” I glance over at Lucas. The weight of our family’s secrets presses down on me once more. “How do you do it, Lucas? Balance the family secrets with your marriage?”
Lucas’s smile fades, replaced by a more serious expression. “Lots of expensive gifts and a wife who’s smarter than both of us combined,” he jokes, but then sighs. “Honestly? It’s hard. But Ava trusts me enough to know that if I’m keeping something from her, it’s for a good reason.”
I lean against my bike. “Aleria doesn’t trust me. I might have ruined everything before we even had a chance.”
Lucas puts a hand on my shoulder. “Hey, don’t count yourself out yet. Aleria’s a smart woman. Give her some time to process things.” He glances at his watch. “It’s time we headed back. Ava must be wondering where we are.”
When we return to the house, sweaty and tired, Ava is waiting with protein shakes and a contemplative look. As Lucas and I gulp down our drinks, I fill her in on our conversation.
Ava’s eyes narrow. “I thought about this while you two were gone. As much as I enjoy watching you squirm, Liam, perhaps there’s a way to smooth things over without spilling state secrets.”
I perk up, my eyes wide. “I’m all ears.”
Ava rolls her eyes. “Don’t look so shocked. I occasionally do nice things. Just don’t expect it to become a habit.” She takes a sip of her own shake before continuing. “But first, I need to ask you something.” Her gaze fixes on me. “Do you love her?”
I swallow hard. But as I think about Aleria—her brilliance, her quirky humor, the way she lights up when talking about her work—I nod. “Yes,” I admit. “I do.”
A small smile tugs at Ava’s lips. “Alright then. Here’s what I’m suggesting. What if I invite Aleria for a girls’ night out? I could feel her out, maybe help her understand thefamily dynamic without giving away the details. Let her know she can trust you.”
I stare at Ava, stunned. “You’d do that?”
“Well, someone has to save you from yourself,” she says. “Besides, I might like this Aleria. Sounds like she’s got spunk. And she clearly has the patience of a saint to put up with a Valeur.”
I ignore the jab, too grateful to care. “Ava, I... Thank you. Really.”
Ava waves a hand, a hint of a smile on her lips. “Yeah, yeah. Save the sappy stuff for your girlfriend. Assuming she still wants to be your girlfriend after all this.”
I wince, but nod. “Fair enough.”
Ava’s lips curl into a smirk. “Alright, Operation Girl Talk is a go. But you owe me big time, Little Valeur.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
ALERIA
Ipull open the door to Mary’s Cafe, my words from yesterday still burning in my throat. The way I’d snapped at Liam, accused him of not being truthful. His face had gone so still, but I’d been too angry to care.
“Double espresso,” I mutter. “Then back to pretending I’m fine.”
