Page 155 of Begin Again, Part 2

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" she asked as she snatched the card from the cashier, and shoved it back at Andrei, slamming it hard on his chest. "You think paying for a few Band-Aids will make up for what your brother did? What he did is criminal, and I hope he rots in jail and doesn't make bail!"

"Control your emotions, woman!" Andrei's eyes were as dark as the moss at the bottom of a murky pond as he barked at her. "This is why I don't discuss business with women. Know your place. You are just a messenger, so be good and deliver my message to Anderson. Tell him to call me when he's ready to play a round of golf."

"We're done here." Eden smiled coldly at him and grabbed her pharmacy bag, disgusted by the man's obvious disdain for women.

"Aleksei screwed up. I know that. But let's be honest, if Anderson hadn't messed with our bottom line, none of this shit would have happened," Andrei said, his mouth twisted venomously, the rage in his eyes chilling her into silence. "Tell lover boy, there's a new sheriff in town. I want a meeting with him, and I'm tired of running after him like a little bitch. I've been here every day. If he insists on playing hide and seek, there'll be serious consequences. Aleksei missed. I don't!"

His threats delivered, Andrei pranced off, leaving her terrified and sick to her stomach.

"Are you okay?" Jace asked as they left the pharmacy.

"I'm fine," she smiled weakly at him.

"You have to stay away from Andrei," Jace said. "You can't goad him like that again. Mr Anderson will be livid if he finds out he hurt you."

"I'm sorry," Eden apologised. "I know I lost my head. It's just that I thought he was Aleksei. And Jace, please, you can't worry Liam about this."

"I have to report—"

"No, Jace. What good will it do? Liam needs to focus on his recovery right now."

"Alright," he gave in. "But we are not letting you out of our sight from now on, especially now that Andrei is back. Aleksei is a loose cannon, but Andrei is methodical and composed. When he does a job, he does it well with no possible trace back to him. For Mr Anderson's sanity and peace of mind, stay away from him."

"I will," Eden promised as she eased into Liam's room and found Lois alone with him.

"Is he out again?" she asked as they hugged, her gaze lingering on Liam's sleeping form on the bed.

"Yes, it's been an hour now. But he was lucid for some time, and the doctors are pleased with his progress," Lois replied and picked up her handbag. "Now that you're here, I can attend the board meeting. My son's only been awake for a few hours, and we already have to release a statement about his condition. The board members are getting antsy about their share prices."

Eden nodded. "Of course, go ahead."

"Clarke's following up on Aleksei's bail application, but he should stop by later to relieve you," Lois said before vanishing from the room.

Eden turned to the bed and dropped a gentle kiss on Liam's lips. "Hey, Princess, wake up."

"I'm starting to think you don't want to see me." She carried on as she sat down and took his hand. "Every time I stop by, you're sleeping."

She looked through the pharmacy bag, ripped the box open, and took out a few Band-Aids. "Guess who I ran into? No? You don't want to? Okay, fine, I'll tell you. It's the other half of the terrible twins. Can you believe he called himself the new sheriff in town? What kind of douchebag says shit like that?"

She gently placed a plaster over his hand, but it was so big she needed two to cover all his knuckles. "Anyway, I thought he was Aleksei, so I slapped him hard. Do you love me more now that I've avenged you? Are you impressed?"

Eden moved on to his face next and patched up all the bruised spots. "Liam, wake up." She blinked back her tears and buried her face in the covers. "Talking to myself isn't fun!"

"I thought you wanted to shut me up?"

Startled, Eden looked up and was instantly on her feet, kissing him on the lips as she sobbed so loud she thought she'd wake the patients in the neighbouring rooms. "Oh My God, it's true. You're awake! I was starting to think they lied."

"If you keep crying, I might just pass out again," Liam said, patting the empty spot on the bed. "Come here!"

She sank beside him. He drew her closer, placing his hand on her tummy. "How's my little warrior?"

Eden burst into tears again at his words. "You heard everything I said that night?"

"Of course I did," he smiled tearfully. "I may have been dying, but I'm not deaf."

"And you're not angry?"

"Why would I be angry?" Liam asked.

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