Page 75 of The Endless Want

The words hit like a fist. The worst part? He’s right.

I let it show. Somewhere I didn’t mean to. Somewhere in the way I’ve been orbiting her like a star gone mad.

And now the Russians think she’s leverage. Not Liam’s shadow. Not a pawn or a target of convenience. But a weakness.

My weakness.

Liam grips my shoulder. “You tipped them off. And now we’re in bigger danger because you couldn’t keep your head on straight.”

Every breath in my body sharpens into something lethal. “What are they planning?” I demand.

“We don’t know yet,” Liam says. “But we do know one thing: Ailish is no longer safe.”

I swallow. Hard. “She never was.”

“Declan,” he says quietly, “they’re moving her to the center of the board. And once the Russians do that, they don’t play fair.”

I go still.

Liam lowers his voice. “We cannot afford another mistake. So if you care about her—however you care—then you need to calm the hell down and be smart.”

Smart. The word feels like a noose. But Liam’s eyes soften, just a fraction. “We’ll figure it out. Together.”

I look at him longer than I mean to, letting that settle, letting the old loyalty breathe for a moment. “Then let’s move.”

But Liam shakes his head. “No. Not like that. You need to wait for my signal. No rogue heroics.”

I almost laugh. “When have I ever⁠—”

He lifts a brow. “Declan. Seriously.”

I sigh sharply. “Fine.”

“For now,” he mutters, “go do something productive. Help with the shipments. Help with the Italians. Keep busy until I call.”

I nod and turn to leave, knowing something inside me has already changed. I can feel it twisting, sharpening, focusing.

The Russians can target me all they want. But targeting Ailish? That’s war.

And whatever Liam thinks, whatever he hopes, whatever he tries to order—I already know one thing with brutal clarity: If they go near her again, if they breathe in her direction, if they even try to use her name in their strategy—I will burn every last one of them to ash.

CHAPTER 22

Ailish

I sit in that coffee shop again the next morning, trying not to purge my breakfast and watching all the normal people go by. Mackenzie is with me once more, glad I’m trying to do something for my nerves rather than cry and overwork.

In my hand is the ultrasound picture. “I don’t know how to tell him anymore,” I say, staring at the tiny, blurred shape. “I don’t even know if I should anymore with the way he keeps pushing me away.”

“That’s why you asked for the meeting with Liam.”

I nod. Tomorrow was the only time he said he had. I don’t want to interrupt what little time he gets with Nadia by saying it’s an emergency, so that’s when Liam will learn the truth and decide what to do with it.

“You should eventually,” Mack adds softly. “Tell Declan, I mean. But only when you feel safe. And when he’s stable enough not to set the city on fire hearing it.”

“That’s the problem,” I whisper. “Stability is not his strong suit.”

“No,” she sighs. “But neither is pretending you don’t love him.”