Page 14 of Liam

“I dare, Princess, because it’s my stupid ass that will stand between you and a bullet.”

That fact that he was willing to do that for her, to stand in harm’s way meant she had to respect him and protect him over her own needs. She also needed to apologise and perhaps try and explain the reason she had reacted the way she had.

It was by no means necessary, but she hated the thought of a man she had come to care for thinking she was a brat. His words stung way more than they should, but she had to admit he was right; she had indeed acted as he had said, like a brat.

It didn’t mean that she would forgive him for the hurt he’d caused her. His words had been said to maim, and they had hit their mark. She would apologise for her part in this, but she would not let him off the hook for hurting her, and she would guard her feelings harder than ever before.

She sat up straighter at a knock on the door behind her, swiping at the wetness on her cheeks.

“Princess,” Liam called, his voice muffled by the thick door.

“Go away.” Taamira was proud that her voice sounded strong.

“Open the door, treacle.”

Taamira could tell from his voice that he was directly outside. She did not answer him, hoping he would leave so she could lick her wounds in peace.

“Please.”

She wanted to, but she would not let him see her this way, so exposed and raw. He had hurt her once today, she would not give him the chance to do it a second time.

A vibration thudded behind her back and she guessed he must have sat, too. The image of them either side of the door popped into her head, giving them a closeness yet still keeping that barrier of safety.

“I had a best friend,” he began, and she listened intently to his words, her body angled into the door, her palm touching the cool wood.

“His name was Ambrose. Best damn friend anyone could ever ask for. We went through school together, through basic training, and eventually, I followed him into the SAS. He said I was like an annoying younger brother. We were only a few months apart in age, but I guess I always looked up to him.”

Liam stopped, and Taamira held her breath, waiting for more, and he didn’t disappoint.

“When he left the military and joined Eidolon, I followed again. We were more than friends, we were brothers. He would’ve died for me, and I would have done the same for him. He met a girl, her name was Gail and they had a son Natai.”

Taamira could hear the smile of affection his voice when he said that name.

“Kid was the spitting image of his dad, and I was so honoured when they asked me to be his godfather. Then one day we got a job.”

Taamira could practically touch the pain and remorse flowing through the door it was so strong.

“Ambrose was on guard duty for a child and his mother, the people after her were sick pieces of work and we were their protection. I was twenty or so minutes late, and when I got there, Ambrose was on the ground with paramedics working on him.”

Taamira pulled in a shaky breath as she stroked her fingers along the wood, wishing it were Liam.

“They were attacked, and the kid’s mum taken. Ambrose was shot in the shoulder, nothing too serious, but as he went down, he hit his head on the stone steps. They did everything they could, pumped him with drugs and did untold procedures, but he never woke up, and four days later, my best friend took his last breath on this earth.”

A fresh tear slid down her cheek, but this time it wasn’t for her plight; it was for Liam and the grief she knew he still carried and probably always would.

“I lost my best friend, his girl, and my godson that day. Gail never forgave me for not being there, and honestly, I deserve it. But I can’t lose anyone else, treacle. I don’t think I have it in me to bury another person I give a shit about.”

Taamira stood and slowly opened the door. She looked down and saw Liam looking up at her. His face was awash with painful memories, and she realised at that moment that what separated them as people was not a title, or privilege, but experiences. He had been through his and was still fighting, yet she was allowing what happened to her and with her family to become the hill she would die on.

CHAPTER SEVEN

LIAM LOOKED UP INTO THE BEAUTIFUL BROWN EYES OF THE WOMAN HE’ D HURT WITH HIS NASTY WORDS, rimmed with black mascara that had run from the tears he’d made her cry. Pain hit him in the chest, and he rubbed at the spot wondering how he had sunk even lower than he had before. Watched as his words hit their mark, her face falling even as she tried her damndest to hold her composure together. He had let her run, even as he wanted to snatch back his words.

His fear and inadequacies had him lashing out with words that caused her harm, cutting her deep. Yet here she was, bending and going to her knee before she sat beside him. He knew fear was only part of the reason he’d lashed out. The other part was his attraction to her and the fact he couldn’t do a fucking thing about it.

Her position alone put them leagues apart, add in her spirit and her sweetness that she hid from almost everyone under a veil of tartness and haughtiness, and he knew she was too good for him.

“I’m sorry about your friend.”