Chantelle snorts. “You won’t do shit,” she mumbles.
I step forward at her challenge, her eyes widening, and she yelps as I easily throw her battered body over my shoulder. A loudclapsounds in the room as my hand smacks across her pert ass, putting an end to her struggling against my hold.
“You’re in my cage, Little Bird,” I say, walking out the room as she lays limp. “I’ll set you free once the cat no longer prowls in the shadows.”
Thirty Two
Malia
TOSAYI’MSURPRISEDthat my dad brought a woman home would be the understatement of the century. So much lately has seemed to out of character for him, but who am I kidding? I’m struggling with the thoughts that he may not be the man I always looked up to.
I slip into my bed hoping to get some rest before we make the move to North Carolina. I’m not naïve, I know this trip to the cabin is for my benefit more than it is for Liam. I’m just a selfish bitch and want to use the advantage to win him back over.
The thought of opening myself up again to someone is hard to get a grasp on. There’s not much in life I’m not prepared to handle, but that’s never been the case with Liam. From day one he blindsided me, making me feel things I thought were dead and could no longer be revived.
I’m not perfect. In my chaos I have found peace, in mayhem I find solace, but Liam is a whole different disaster I want to conquer. The only time I find clarity is when he is near. And once I find something that I want, I won’t back down until it’s mine. No matter what it costs me.
I’ll fuck up again and again, that’s inevitable. My selfish nature will get the best of me, and I can only hope that he will be there through it anyway. Since Liam I’ve known regret and guilt, basic human emotions I didn’t know I was capable of. His light sparks life inside me and I crave it as much as I do to pollute him with my own depravity.
There’s a beast lurking inside him, threatening to break loose. We saw it last night when he shot the bomber in the head. Liam beat the shit out of Oren for me. I can’t help but become excited over what else he might do if I pull him into this life.
I fall asleep while lost in my thoughts. Creating plans on how I’m going to win him back. The logical thing would be to explain and apologize for my role in my father and Donovan’s plans. Logic is below my pay grade, and I do better by using force, however it all depends on my impulsivity that burdens me.
The mattress dips and it stirs me awake. The smell of leather and smoke filling my nose tells me who it is before my eyes even flutter open. I watch him through slits, staring at the ceiling and his jaw set in anger.
I’m curious what my dad said to him to convince him to go along with this trip. His car was no longer here so it was obvious he had left and then come back.
“Your dad put Oren in my life,” Liam says coolly.
I can practically see the walls slamming back down around him to close me out. I thought it’d be easy to break through and win back his trust and heart when we had our moment earlier, but it’s clear that’s not going to be the case now. Liam and Oren were friends, I knew Oren saw Liam as more than just a mission.
Now he’s lying beside me once again feeling betrayed by someone else he trusted.
“Yes,” I finally answer.
“If Oren was already in my life what was the purpose of you?” Liam’s question grinds out through clenched teeth.
My dad is brilliant honestly, the man has played Liam like a puppet throughout his entire life, and he was none the wiser. Thought him to be the enemy instead of an ally. Kept Liam’s nose away from the true foe.
I sigh, turning on my back and wincing against the pain. I need to stitch myself back up, but I’m not going to bother with it until we’re settled. I’ve bandaged myself up enough to stave bleeding out.
“Because Oren was planted with the intention he would be a permanent presence in your life,” I admit. “I was only meant to be temporary, but you needed someone around all the time.”
“And The Omen thought that pairing you with Bastian was the best option for that?”
I bite my lip to keep from giggling. The jealousy laced in his tone is a bit adorable, whether he wants to admit it or not.
“There had been misconception that the two of you were inseparable. With me being with Bastian I could get the information I thought I was set out to get and be pulled easier if it was needed.”
Liam snorts.
I continue, ignoring his disagreement, “You were a playboy, Liam Brenner. There was nothing to show that you would have gone for me and not disposed of me the next day. Collins was the safest option.”
He hums, giving up on his questions to stew in silence. I don’t press, eventually falling into a light sleep again. My body drained from the blood loss and bombing.
When I wake I’ve somehow curled into Liam’s side, my head lying on his chest. The steadiness of his heartbeat and the even breaths he takes tells me he’s asleep. His arm is curled under me and his hand rests on my side. I’m under the covers and he’s above, only now he’s lost his leather jacket and is lying in only his jeans and black fitted tee.
I lay for a few moments, imaging waking up like this every morning. The thumping of a heart that belongs to me under my ear, a warm arm to wrap around me, and a handsome face that would one day rest easily instead of set-in harsh lines as it is now.