Page 59 of Liam

His feet were already moving him across the stage as he yelled, “Gun!”

With a mighty leap, he pushed Taamira to the ground as shocked gasps rent the air and two bullets slammed into the side of his chest, where his vest had no cover. He hit the ground hard but shoved himself up in time to see Taamira’s terrified face as Blake and Jack dragged her to safety as she fought them to get to him.

Satisfied she was safe, he let the pain and blackness envelop him as he passed out. His last thought was that he could die happy knowing his friends would take care of the woman he loved.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

TAAMIRA KICKED AND SCREAMED AS JACK LIFTED HER BODILY AND DRAGGED HER AWAY FROM LIAM, tears streaming down her face as she screamed his name. People were running, yelling, but she didn’t care about any of it, all that mattered was Liam lying on the ground bleeding after he had saved her.

A sob ripped from her throat, and Jack held her tight to his chest, offering her comfort as he tried to shield her from everyone. She heard him speak, snapping out orders to his people.

“Is the gunman dead?” Jack asked, and she sobbed harder. “I need this place fucking locked down. Nobody leaves this hotel until I’m sure we have these fuckers banged to rights.”

Jack pulled back and held her upper arms firmly as she wiped her tears away. “The paramedics are taking Liam to the hospital by helicopter. His wounds are serious, Taamira. Do you want me to take you to your room where you’ll be safe, or to the hospital?”

Taamira was shocked that he was giving her a choice, not that there was one, the only place she wanted to be was near Liam.

“With Liam.” Her voice was still shaky, but she was under control a little now, she could fall apart later.

Jack nodded, a look of pride on his face. “We’ll meet them there. They need the room in the chopper to work on Liam.”

His words filled her with fear, and she knew he was trying to prepare her for the worst.

“Fine.” It was not fine, nothing would be fine again until she knew Liam would be okay.

TWENTY MINUTES LATER, she was in a private relative’s room with Jack and Blake, waiting for an update on the man she loved.

Too wired to sit, she paced the room, jumping when the door opened and Alex and Evelyn walked in. Evelyn walked straight up to her and wrapped her in a tight hug. It was to offer comfort, but the only thing that would do that right now was Liam’s arms around her.

“Any news?” Alex asked as Evelyn released her. Alex looked devastated, as did Jack.

“No, nothing yet. They took him straight into surgery.”

Over the next few hours, the room filled with people—Blake, Mitch, Zack, Zin, Kanan, Dane, Astrid, Laverne—every one of them looked absolutely worried sick for their friend, and she realised just how loved Liam was.

Astrid and Laverne had barely left her side, Laverne having brought her a change of clothes that she was loathe to change into. This dress had Liam’s blood on it, and yet, even that tiny piece of him was better than nothing.

Anger filled her as the impotence of the situation became too much for her to bear. “Who did this to him?” Her eyes were trained on Jack, knowing if anyone had that information, it was him.

He held her gaze without flinching away from her direct question and with regret answered. “Mustafa, your brother’s head of security.”

Taamira slapped a hand to her mouth as bile raced its way up her throat and she dove for the door, hoping to make it to the ladies’ room before she threw up.

“Go with her,” Jack demanded behind her.

Taamira barely made it to the toilet before she was retching the meagre contents of her stomach into the pan. She felt a gentle hand on her back, another holding her hair out of the way as she sagged to the wall beside her. A wet tissue was thrust at her and she took it, turning to see Evelyn, Astrid, and Laverne, who had handed her the tissue, waiting for her.

The girls surrounded her, holding her up with their arms and their gentle words of reassurance as she broke down for the second time. “I cannot lose him.”

“Liam is strong, Taamira. You can’t think like that. He needs you to fight for him now, to stay strong.”

“I do not know if I can.”

Astrid lifted her head so she was looking her directly in the eye. “Yes, you can. We’ll help you. Now, get changed and wash your face. Your family just arrived, and we need him to see you strong.”

Those words had Taamira’s backbone turning to steel. Her family was here after one of their guards had shot the man she loved. She did not think so. Snatching up the clothes, she ripped off her dress, throwing it to the ground, all of her modesty gone in her haste to give her family a dressing down. She pulled on the jeans Liam loved, as well as the cashmere sweater and suede boots.

Washing her face, she pulled her hair into a ponytail and wiped the streaks of mascara from her cheeks before she rinsed her mouth and took the mint Evelyn handed her with a wink.