Page 140 of Begin Again, Part 2

While Aleksei tore through the envelope and browsed the contract, Liam went down memory lane, thinking back to his first tournament win back in '11. He didn't have the fastest car back then. He wasn't the most experienced driver either. His win had boiled down to luck, and maybe his sheer stubbornness to stick it to his old man and prove to him he could make it on his own.

He had nothing to prove to his father now. But he hoped the same luck that carried him to the finishing line back then would hold out today, and the dreaded negotiations would be quick and painless and wrap up without guns being drawn again—

"On paper, it looks legit," Aleksei said, breaking through his thoughts. "We're happy to take the shipping, and you'll handle the storage."

"I'm glad." Liam nodded, even though he was far from it.

"Since we have an equal division of duties, I reckon we should split the profits equally. It's only fair, don't you think?"

No, Liam didn't think it was fair. He worked his butt off on the LUSSO deal. The idea of handing twenty percent of his profits to Aleksei and his brother left a bitter taste in his mouth.

"80/20 that's the split. Take it or leave it."

"70/30," Aleksei pushed.

Liam's frown only deepened. "If it was up to me, you wouldn't get shit. But it's what the board is willing to give you. Take it."

"Aleksei dumped the contract in the seat beside him. "That doesn't work for me. But I'm willing to go 75/25."

"After you burned my trucks? In your fucking dreams!" Liam threw on his coat, stuffed his laptop in his bag, and stood up. "I'm meeting Randolph soon, and the deal will go on with or without you."

"You know my terms, Anderson."

"And you know mine. Call me when you're ready to sign. Don't take too long."

Liam headed for the exit, but Aleksei halted his progress with his question. "Did your little boy like the chocolate, and did you like my note?"

In a blink of an eye, Liam had crossed the room and hurled himself at Aleksei. For a rage-filled five minutes, it was utter chaos as he went berserk on the other man, kicking and pummelling his fists all over him, while James and his guys took on Aleksei's guards.

The scuffle that should have ended after a few blows escalated into a free-for-all fight. The mood in the room reached a frenzied crescendo as bodies collided midair and crashed to the ground, with glass pieces and wood fragments splintering everywhere.

The one-half of the Russian mob proved to be a worthy adversary, and he gave it back. But fuelled by rage and adrenaline, Liam didn't feel any of Aleksei's blows or hear his barks and grunts. He was only aware of the blood rushing in his ears, pounding louder than his darkened heart.

"You could have killed my son, you bastard!" he howled at Aleksei, the raw anguish in his voice as chilling as the monstrous fury contorting his face.

Terrified screams pierced the air as numerous shots went off, and the waitstaff still lingering around ducked for cover. For an insane minute, as Liam swayed on his feet, he couldn't hear anything except the unbearable ringing in his ears.

"Sir, are you okay?" James sounded so far away, like he was underwater.

Liam looked down at his hand, unable to understand where the blood came from.

"Mr Anderson, you're bleeding. You've been shot, sit down, and don't move. We'll get you help."

Liam heard the words, but he couldn't process them, maybe because he wasn't in pain. If it wasn't for the blood seeping through his shirt, he wouldn't even know he was hurt.

"They lied," he said, disbelief flashing across his face. "James, they lied."

Your life didn't flash by when you were about to die. Liam always believed it did because it was what everyone said. But now, as he watched the crimson map spread across the side of his white shirt, he understood everyone had lied. His life didn't flash by. Instead, time crawled to such an unbearably slow pace that he had enough of it to think about every second of his life, all the highs and lows, and every decision leading up to this moment. He thought about everything at that moment, yet his mind seemed empty of all thought.

Liam tried to remember if he'd updated his life insurance policies, and whether he'd kissed Aiden goodbye that morning, or if he told Eden he loved her during their last phone call. He remembered she told him she loved him. But for the life of him, he couldn't remember if he said the words back to her.

"Sit down, sir, don't move." James pushed him to the ground and propped him against one of the chairs as he pressed his hand over the gash on his side to stop the bleeding while he instructed his team to call for help.

"James," Liam whispered, his breathing laboured. "Call Eden."

She said she had something to tell him. But he didn't think he'd make it home tonight. He knew if James couldn't stop the bleeding, things weren't looking good for him. But he had to know. He had to know what Eden wanted to tell him, and he had to tell her he loved her.

"No, sir, help is on the way. The chopper will be here in three minutes, you hear me? Hang on, okay?" James shook his head, his eyes shimmering with tears. "We're getting you out of here. You'll see the missus in no time."

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