Page 49 of Liam
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Nylah tightenedher fingers around Liam’s, the soft hum of his car engine the only noise in the otherwise quiet night.
Callum had said he’d drive her car to Liam’s house. His partner, Fiona, had also offered to send over some clothes, because most of Nylah’s now smelled like smoke.
Everyone had been wonderful tonight, especially Liam. He hadn’t stopped touching her since the fire.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked quietly.
She nodded slowly. “I’m okay. Just in shock. I felt trapped in there. I’ve never been a claustrophobic person, but in that moment, I was. If you hadn’t gotten to the condo when you did—”
“I did, though. I willalwaysget to you in time.”
Her heart thumped at the way he said those words, like they were a vow he’d tear down the world to keep.
She looked down and traced a vein on the back of his hand. “Tonight made it clear I’m being targeted. I just…I wish I knew why. Because of my connection to you?”
“Possibly. We don’t know why any of these assholes are doing what they’re doing.” His voice sounded tortured and frustrated.
“Eventually they’re going to slip up, and we’re going to get to the bottom of this.” She believed that with everything she was. She had to.
The muscles in Liam’s forearms flexed. Then he seemed to take a moment to consider his next words before he spoke them. “Until then, I’d like you to stay with me, Nylah. Let me put a guy in the coffee shop while you work. Let me protect you.”
More anguish in his tone. He expected her to say no. He expected her to fight him. And had he asked that same question just a few hours ago, she would have. She would have fought him down to her last breath. But she’d had time to think. Time to remember the story about his mother, and the guilt he still suffered over not saving her.
And now? Well…now she knew it wasn’t just him and his team who were in danger.
“Okay.”
The air whooshed from his chest. He stopped the car outside his garage and pressed the button on the remote for the door. When they got out of the car, he asked her to wait as he checked the house.
As she waited for him, every minute felt so much longer. She almost expected to hear gunfire. To have to run and hide. That’s what her life had become lately.
When he returned alone, relief flooded her chest. He took her hand again and led her up the stairs.
Without any words spoken, he led her to the bathroom connected to his bedroom. The smell of smoke from their clothes was so thick, it turned her belly. A constant reminder of what had happened tonight.
“I’ll shower in the other bathroom,” he said quietly. He looked like he was about to go, then stopped before stepping close and grazing her cheek. “You’re still too pale.”
“I think everything’s just finally catching up with me. I’m also wondering how I’m going to tell Paisley about her apartment.”
Her phone was off right now. She didn’t have the strength to turn it back on. She knew her friend would be worried, and the chances she wouldn’t call one of Nylah’s brothers were getting slimmer and slimmer…but she was exhausted. A bone-deep kind of exhaustion. She’d texted her friend that she was okay, but that she’d talk to her tomorrow. It was the best she could manage tonight.
“All she’ll care about is that you’re safe.”
Of course. She wouldn’t care about the actual damage to her apartment. She’d never been a materialistic person. She’d freak out over what had almost happened to Nylah.
Her gaze moved down to Liam’s lips. And suddenly, she wanted to kiss him. She wanted to become completely lost in him and let the man take her away from this place of danger and uncertainty.
She stepped toward him…but he stepped back, running a hand through his hair.
“I’ll be back in a bit.” He didn’t look at her as he said it. Then he was gone.
With a confused frown, she slowly closed the bathroom door.
What had just happened? Was he angry at her? At the way she’d left him this afternoon? Because she’d been fighting him for so long and so hard on this protection stuff?
She stepped under the stream of water, letting the heat warm her chilled skin. Then she scrubbed her flesh until her skin was red, wanting every bit of smoke to wash down the drain. For this night to just be over. A memory that she could push to the back of her mind.
