“Your inability to take no for an answer is what’s wrong, Detective Bridges,” I quip. “You’ve been warned by my wife, and you’ve been warned by me. Your chances are over once I walk out of that door.”
Mona’s jaw drops to the floor, and I turn on my heel, walking toward the exit. Mona screeches and I smile at the sound of her dreams crumbling under her feet as I stalk away.
“Your wife!?” she yells. “Liam, don’t leave me here!”
I snort. Guess I’m going to need a new set of handcuffs.
It’s about one in the morning by the time I get back to the mansion. The house is quiet, and I’ve never quite felt like I belonged here. Maybe it’s because it’s filled with people who I’ve always thought of as enemies. Or perhaps, since Malia’s gone and we’ve never been here as a couple, I feel like an outsider. I’ve accepted this life in her absence, something I only wanted so long as she’s by my side.
I should’ve gone to the condo to stay tonight instead, but I’m too tired to change my mind now that I’m already here. I hang my key in the garage, stepping into the hallway that leads to the foyer. It’s taken months but I’m finally starting to learn my way around the place without needing a guide to take a shit.
A fist slams into my jaw when I cross into the foyer. My arms shoot out, slamming a hard chest and seeing a furious Caine Byrne take a step back from the force. He’s on me again and I knee him in the gut. He barely grunts before his knuckles slam into my face again.
Caine throws another powerful hit and I dodge it, more prepared now that I’m not being ambushed in a fucking hallway in the middle of the night. I slam my booted foot into his kneecap and my fist cracks his cheekbone. I shove him back once more, his back slamming against the wall ,and I press my forearm against his throat while pulling my weapon with my free hand.
Like I did at Malia’s vying ball, I force the muzzle into his mouth, releasing the safety and pressing it in until he’s choking on it.
“This brings back memories, don’t you think?” I grind out.
He tries to shove me off, but I press into his throat harder, stealing his breath.
“If you think I won’t pull the trigger this time, you’re wrong.”
My jaw tenses, I know we need his connections to help us find Malia. If it weren’t for her I’d end this. He’s only here to try to win her back and I sure as shit am not about to let him just swoop in and cozy up with my girl.
Fuck that.
I shove away from him, and he gasps for air when I pull my gun free from his mouth, resting it between his eyes. His gaze narrows on me and I smirk.
Fuck this guy.
“What the fuck is your problem, Byrne?” I growl.
He snorts, then coughs from the rawness I’m sure is in his throat. “You’re my fucking problem,” Caine snaps back. “Out here making mistakes that I made years ago.”
I bark out a laugh, letting my arm fall to my side but keeping the safety off on my gun.
“I’m sorry. Did you just comparemetoyou?“ I say with a chuckle.
This asshole really thinks I was out cheating on Malia. He’s lost his mind.
“The girl you supposedly love has been missing for four fucking months,cop,“ he snarls, stepping into me, “while you’re out here fucking other women. But your piece-of-shit ass is the first pick.”
I snort. “Say less about what a bitter cunt you are, Byrne.”
Footsteps echo in the hall heading in our direction. I curse knowing one of the staff probably alerted Nathaniel about the fight and now we’re going to be put in time out with our noses in the corners and all I want to do is go to bed.
Lion, Akila, and Nathaniel come barreling towards Caine and me. They come to a halt and take in the results of our obvious tussle. Nathaniel’s green eyes snap to mine, narrowing into slits.
“What the fuck is going on?” he asks me.
I raise a brow, not liking the tone and blame in his eyes. “Byrne wants to die today.” Caine steps toward me with intent and I swing my arm up, leveling my gun with his nose. “Motherfucker, please try me.”
“Now is not the time,” Nathaniel snaps.
If he ever lost his cool, then I would’ve ignored him. But his lack of patience and the bite in his voice has my attention. I drop my arm once again, turning to face Nathaniel.
Something’s happened.