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“I’ve got you, sweetheart. You’re safe now.”
“He’s really gone?” I ask, sniffling as I sit back to look at him. “I slept with Alex.”
“For real or in your dream?” he asks, laughing.
“My dream,” I say, smiling at him. Fuck, I love him so much… “Liam… I’m sorry I’ve been so distant.”
“Baby, don’t apologize to me for being depressed, baby. I told you forever, and I meant it,” he says. He takes my hand into his and rubs his thumb across my ring. I look down at our hands, and he is also wearing his.
“I need help, Liam,” I admit quietly. “I can’t do this alone anymore… That dream… It still feels so damn real…”
“You will never be alone, Nora,” he says, taking my face into his hands. “You never were.”
“I’m in love with you,” I say. “I see that now. I have been so awful to you and Sadie… Liam, I got pregnant because I slept with you and Alex and had an abortion. I lost a baby, and it wasn’t even real. I need help, Liam. I feel fucking insane right now. I don’t know what’s real anymore.”
“Let’s back up,” he says. “First… The doctor said your memory might be a bit of a mess from the concussion.”
“Oh…”
“Sweetheart, Alex is your brother,” Liam says. “Well, foster brother. But don’t tell him you fucked him and liked it because that freak would absolutely fuck you.”
“But he’s my brother?” I ask, curling my face up.
“Yes,” he laughs. “He always makes this joke where he says, ‘If she ain’t blood, it ain’t incest,’ and Sadie smacks him for you.”
“Sadie?” I ask.
“Yeah. They’re together,” he says.
“Is Professor Green in jail?” I ask.
“Green?” he asks. “No. Why?”
“He killed me,” I say. “Well, in my dream… I guess.”
“No, Green is a good man,” he tells me. “He’s not left the hospital since you arrived. Alex and Sadie forced him to go downstairs to get some coffee a few minutes ago.”
“Really?” I ask. “He’s safe?”
“Yeah. He’s safe, baby,” Liam says, gently kissing me. “How do you feel?”
“Confused… But okay. My head hurts a little… Green fucked me with a Butcher’s knife,” I say as the door opens. I look over, and Professor Green looks shocked.
“Her memory is a little messed up. You’re okay,” Liam tells him.
“I lived this whole life…” I say. “You were helping Gabriel… Liam and Alex died… Owen. Luke…”
“Who’s Owen?” Alex asks, sitting on the bed with me. “I’m glad you’re okay, Nora.”
“It’s very hard to look at you right now,” I deadpan, and Liam laughs. “This is all just so fucked up…”
“Nora, I am so sorry he hurt you,” Professor Green says almost tearfully. “They assured me you’d be safe… I didn’t think…”
“Those idiots were the ones who took the cuffs off him. Not you,” Sadie says.
“Was there a riot?” I ask.
“No,” Professor Green says.
