Page 116 of Vexatious Queen

“You’re blackmailing me?”

“Nope, I’m giving you two options. Either way, I’m seeing the fucking photo,” I growled.

“Why can’t you just leave well enough alone?”

I stepped up to the table, grabbed her phone, and held it out to her.

“Show me the photo.”

“Tell me why this is so important to you,” Ren said.

“Because, no matter how tough Nora is, she’s my sister, and this guy hurt her. I need to see the photo. I need to know what finally made my sister, who was dead set against me telling her what to do, text me and say she split with him out of the blue.”

Ren sighed, taking her cell.

“Don’t make me regret this,” she mumbled.

She opened her photos, and there it was in full color, Merlin and some sweetbutt, the cheating bastard. I knew he was fucking around. I could feel it, but seeing it flipped a switch inside of me. I forwarded the evidence to myself and handed Ren her phone back.

“Where are you going,” Ren asked as I marched for the stairs. “Liam? You can’t go after him.”

“Watch me. No one hurts my family,” I said, and jogged down the stairs.

Ren was hot on my heels. She grabbed my arm, and I glared at her.

“Think about this first. Drew has an entire motorcycle club behind him.”

“That is half the point, Ren.” I spun around and faced her. “Don’t you get it? He humiliated my family. Took advantage of my sister. And the entire time, he’s been laughing it up with our business associates. In no world, not with him or anyone, do they insult my sister or me and walk away. And so we’re clear, I’d be the same way with you. Now, I’m leaving. I suggest you call Blake to study with you. He’s working out.”

Her hands fell away from my arm.

“Liam, there has to be another way than you going to confront him.”

“There’s not.”

I started to walk away, but didn’t get three strides before Ren stopped me cold.

“I’ve already lost so many people I love, Liam. I can’t lose you, too. Neither can Theo. It will crush us both.”

That hit me hard. I slowly turned around, and her eyes shimmered with tears. Despite the fear evident in her gaze, she stood tall, chin up, defiant as ever.

“I know you can kill this guy. That’s not in question. But if they shoot you, you’re still dead. Please don’t do this.”

The urge to rip Merlin’s head off still raged, but Ren was right, and I should’ve realized it. She’d been through hell, Theo was still wading through it, the last thing they needed was for me to go off half-cocked.

A tear trickled down her cheek as I returned to her. Taking a deep breath, I let go of some of the anger and regained my usual composure.

“You’re right. I’m sorry. I…”

Ren wrapped her arms around me and hugged me tight.

“I know,” she whispered.

No two words had ever made me feel so much. My heart ached, and my head hurt. I hadn’t been myself lately. That was glaringly obvious.

It was time to face the fact that I needed to get my shit together because I was no good to anyone like this.

Releasing Ren from the hug, I ran my finger along her collar.