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“She’s an innocent woman you asked me to protect. Everything I’ve done was for you so Elena could have her friend back.” I work to keep my anger down that much of Kate’s problems now stem from Elena. “And it’s turned into a shit show. She doesn’t deserve all that’s happened to her. And who’s going to fix it? You?”
His eyes narrow with heat. “What the fuck?”
“Look, I’m happy that you’ve found your queen. I get that you want to make her happy. But don’t pretend that you wouldn’t get rid of Kate, one way or another, if any of this shit got close to Elena.”
“I see a bit of me in you, Liam. You’re as fiercely protective of Kate as I am of Elena. Why is that?”
I wish I fucking knew. “Because I have a duty to protect her. A duty bestowed on me by you. Now let me finish it so she can go one damn day without fear.”
He raises his hands in surrender. “I’m not stopping you.”
“Then what the fuck?”
“I’m trying to tell you that we’ll take care of Kate while you’re gone, but if you love her, you owe it to yourself to come back to her. You know as much as I do that this life will suck the sunshine out until you’re only a dark hole.”
“What about what she deserves? She doesn’t deserve a life that sucks the sunshine out?—”
“Love, Liam. Love is the sunshine.”
“I am an eclipse. I’m not good for her. Let it go.”
He watches me for a moment and then steps back. Thank God, because I need to get out of here.
“We’ll keep Kate safe, Liam. You have my word.”
I give a dismissive wave and walk away, leaving my heart behind.
15
KATE
Four Months Later
Be careful what you wish for.
It’s become a usual refrain in my life. From the outside, I have everything, or nearly everything I want. I have a lovely brick Cape Cod style home in a family neighborhood in a quaint town not far from Donovan and Lucy. I bought a little bookstore on the main historic street. All thanks to Liam, who left me a sizable sum.
At first, I refused to take his money. I was so hurt and angry. I still am hurt and angry, but life has a way of nudging you to do things you never think you’d do. And Lucy made some valid points about how Liam could be a jerk, but he did what he set out to do, give me back my life. Or at least a semblance of normal life. I have my home and business, and I’m not on the run. But I know that Donovan and Lucy keep a close watch on me. I’m pretty sure the men who moved into the house across from me around the time I moved in work for them and are charged with protecting me. But I can go most days feeling like I’m back to normal.
All these thoughts run through my head again as I sit in Lucy and Donovan’s back yard enjoying the lovely spring air. They’re hosting a small party for Niko and Elena and their twins, born eight weeks ago.
Like an idiot, each time someone arrives, my heart stalls for a moment hoping it’s Liam. Then it crushes when I see it’s not.
“I did invite him,” Lucy says, taking a seat next to me.
“Who?” It’s dumb, but why wear my disappointment on my sleeve?
She gives me a sympathetic smile. “Liam.”
I shrug. “I’d be surprised if he came. We know what his priorities are.”
She puts out her hand over mine. “I’m sorry.”
I’ve never told her or Elena the full extent of my relationship with Liam. But they seem to sense my feelings for him. They’ve even tried to tell me he felt the same. That last time Liam and I were together, I had a moment when I thought he cared for me as well. And then he walked out, telling me not to come looking for him.
“Sorry for what?” Aria, who I remembered meeting briefly when I made my goodbyes to Elena as Liam took me away to Witness Protection, joins us.
“Just for putting Kate in the difficult situation she’s in.”
