Page 69 of Their Stolen Obsession
Gloria pushed the popcorn bag away. “As I was saying—”
I interrupted, “I believe Liv has already voiced shewon’tmarry Mr. Chamberlain, and I don’t blame her one bit since he was physically and emotionally abusing her right under your noses.”
Stubborn little…No.I wouldn’t call Liv’s mom theBword, no matter how much she deserved it.
Gloria laughed. “That’s absurd. Sebastian would never. Tell them, sweetheart.”
Liv remained silent. She peered down at the floor, and I watched her toes wiggle into the carpet. She was nervous to confront her parents with the truth after all that motherfucker had put her through.
Saint wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “They deserve to hear the truth.”
Finally, Liv glanced up and stared her parents straight in the eyes. Her emotions got the best of her, and I wanted to take her into my arms, but this wasn’t my place. It was time for her parents to showher human decency and that they cared about her more than fucking money.
“Sebastian hurt me. I lived in fear of him every damn day,” Liv explained with tears in her eyes. “Then he threatened to kill you if I didn’t marry him because heownedme like I was a piece of property.”
“Son of a bitch,” Frank said and rushed forward to take his daughter into his arms. “I won’t let that asshole hurt youeveragain. You hear me?”
Saint stepped to the side and let Frank console his daughter. Liv sobbed as he held her tight and told her how sorry he was. Gloria only stood there, her mouth agape at the sight, too stunned to speak a word. All she could do was sense that she had failed as a mother. Mrs. Valencia had let her daughter fall into the ground, stomped on her, and dug her into an early grave. But Liv wasn’t dead—she was alive, and Gloria needed to see there was still time to fix things.
Mrs. Valencia whispered, “I’ve failed as a parent.”
“So you fucked up…” I shrugged and kept my voice low for only Gloria to hear. “Learn from your mistakes. Go. Be the mother Liv has always needed.”
Gloria peered up at me, stunned by my presence, and she stared at me as if she didn’t want me anywhere near her. I thought she’d tell me to fuck off and mind my own business, but she didn’t. Instead, wehad a mutual understanding, and I had set her on the right path. The road to forgiveness.
“Thank you,” Gloria whispered.
Liv let her parents show her the love she had always wanted from them. All the affection she had ever needed and all the care she deserved. The Valencias had a lovely moment until Gloria announced they’d be going home and taking Liv with them.
Saint and I glanced at each other.
We protested at the same time. “Hell no.”
“Mr. Cruz, Mr. Sullivan, we appreciate all you’ve done for our daughter, but it’s time for Liv to stay with us,” Frank expressed, and he unwrapped Liv from my blanket. “We’re taking her home.”
“It’s too dangerous,” Saint argued and took a step forward. “Liv needs to stay put.”
“But she’s here…” Gloria explained as she touched her daughter’s face and studied her as if she was the rarest treasure on earth. “She’s safe, and all we want to do is take her home.”
Desperation surged through me. There was no damn way they were taking Liv out the front door. I’d restrain them and tape their mouths shut. That way, I’d get some peace and quiet back in my life. Goddamn, I didn’t want to have to stop them, but I’d do it to save her life.
“You’re not listening…” I blocked Gloria and Frank’s way, my head tilted. “We need Liv here to protect her. The other brother who took Liv is still out there.”
“Phoenix is a threat to your daughter’s life,” Saint added, and we held a united front. “We won’t let you leave with Liv.”
“No, please move out of our way and let us leave with our daughter,” Gloria disagreed and peered over at her husband. “Frank. Do something.”
My eyes darted to Frank with a heated warning. Frank didn’t back down, and I was proud of him for standing up for his family. Unfortunately, he made the wrong choice because no one stood in the way of Liv’s safety. Not even her family.
“I’m staying.” Liv took the blanket away from her father and wrapped it back around her.
“What?” Gloria stared at her daughter in disbelief.
“I’m not going anywhere.” Liv stepped away from her parents and came to us. “Sin and Saint saved me.”
Our little obsession had spoken because she had always belonged to us.
“We’re thankful for everything these men have done, but you can’t stay…” Frank declared as he glanced at me and Saint with a finger pointed at us. “These men are dangerous. Their lives are full of too many risks, and we don’t want you getting caught in the crossfire.”
