IT’SNOTLOSTTOme the familiarity of Caine’s lips against mine. After all these years we can just fall back in line like nothing happened. Like this man didn’t shatter my heart and turn up years later to win me as his wife to prove something to me.
Whatever he’s trying to prove by shoving his tongue down my throat, holding me painfully close, and gripping onto my hair to deepen the kiss, I can see through it. He’s still as selfish as he was back then. But I’ve never been one to go weak for a man.
Not even Caine Byrne.
His betrayal only helped harden the already broken girl.
The dagger Lion gave me weighs heavy on my thigh. Like it’s reminding me that I take what I want by the balls. My hand drops down and my fingers brush against the cool metal on the hilt before the sound of the hammer on a gun cocking rings through the night air. I don’t need to open my eyes to know who it is.
The wind shifts and I’m filled with the familiar scent of Liam Brenner. Caine is stiff, lips glued to mine, but unmoving. His left-hand slides down my side no doubt looking for the weapon he knows I have on me. Before his hand can encircle the hilt of my dagger, I unsheathe it and drive it into his shoulder, pressing until the tip connects to bone.
Caine jerks back and barks out a few unintelligible curses from the pain but sobers quickly. Remembering the gunman, he spins to face Liam. I was confident that his gun wasn’t trained on me, and I was right. He might feel a certain way about me right now, but his possessiveness overrules his actions.
Always has.
Liam’s eyes burn in fury as he stares down his narrow nose at Caine. Caine’s jaw ticks in irritation, the adrenaline pulsing through his blood making it easy to ignore the blade wedged into his bone. I should remind him of that little gift. Snapping my hand out I grip onto the handle and yank the dagger from his shoulder.
Another stream of curses and grunts follow.
“I’ll take that back, thank you,” I say, inspecting the blade in the moonlight.
“What the fuck is going on?” Caine spits through clenched teeth. His hand goes up to his wound to apply pressure.
Liam steps forward, forcing the tip of his barrel between Caine’s unsuspecting lips. The clatter of the metal against teeth sends a thrill through my bones. Just how far will this law-abiding good boy continue to unravel for me.
“I think you’re lost,” Liam says through a growl. I giggle to myself, but it doesn’t go unnoticed. Liam’s eyes break away from Caine’s and narrow in on me. “Forget you were spoken for?”
I tilt my head to the side and smile.
“We’re enemies, Liam Brenner.” Liam’s gaze is focused on me, but his hand is unwavering. Caine stands tall with the barrel of Liam’s gum secured between his lips.
The anger reverberating off of Liam was obvious, and though he makes dumb ass decisions, Caine wasn’t stupid. He’s a survivor unfortunately and he won’t move until he knows he can get the upper hand or is instructed to do so. Caine can tell what he’s up against even if he hasn’t a clue who Liam is.
He knows he’s injured, and I would let him die.
“You’re at a ball that is intended for my hand in marriage.” I shrug. “And your gun is in the mouth of one of the men in hopes of that honor. You won’t shoot him, Officer. Put away your weapon.”
Liam breaks eye contact with me and grabs Caine by his tie, tugging him closer, the force making Caine open his mouth so the barrel buries deeper.
“Hate to give you an out,” Liam says, shoving Caine back.
Caine stumbles at the force and quickly straightens. The little bit of color in his ivory skin has drained from blood loss. I cut him deep and he needs his wound attended. My dad must’ve gotten to the Byrne’s to inform them on Liam. He’s weakened, but he’s a fighter. I can see the frustration behind his hazel eyes at having to hold himself back.
Perhaps I was wrong in Caine knowing who Liam is, but that doesn’t mean he knows what he’s capable of. Right now, even I’m unsure with what that might be.
I’m not sure who would win this one, but it might be entertaining to watch. Unfortunately for me, Caine’s father is close with mine and I wouldn’t have the chance to find out.
Maybe this should’ve been a fight to the death, to the victor go the spoils and all that. Now that’s a tradition I could get behind.
“Go find your father, Caine.” Caine turns to me and narrows his eyes. Liam holds his gun, gaze trained on his target, but his arm is at his side. One wrong move from Caine and Liam will shoot him. “Go take care of your wound.”
“You’re not going to run from our conversation, Malia,” Caine says. I notice Liam stiffen, the gun twitching in his hand. “You’ve always been mine and you always will be.” His eyes shift to Liam, and he storms off.
Liam raises his gun and once again takes aim. My hand flies out and grabs it. He doesn’t wrestle me for it, letting me take his weapon as he steps into me and closes his large hand around my throat. Liam yanks me close, his nose barely brushing mine and I settle the barrel under his chin.
“You want to kill someone?” I tease. “Don’t be a little bitch and do it with their back turned. Look them in the eye as I am right now. Feel the blood drain from their body and watch the life leave their eyes. It’s the best part.”
“You’re insane,” Liam spits.