Chapter 5 You never trusted me
“Liam!" I stared up at him in shock. Panic seizing my throat. He just shot a man. And he didn't even flinch. Is this really the man I married.
"Are you okay?" I scrambled up to collect the gun from him. But he just tucked it away with practises ease.
" I knew you got yourself in some kind of trouble. I came to help"he answered.
"You shouldn't have shot the man" I breathed. My hands shaking from the torture he just put on his mind.
" I'm fine. And you are welcome" he said. His eyes trained on my neck, which I am sure a mark is sitting pretty.
" He hurt you" he growled.
" It's fine " I breathed. "You shouldn't have though"
“Killing isn’t…" My voice breaks. “It isn’t something you just do.”
My heart is beating too fast. The room feels smaller and tighter, like the walls are listening in on the conversation we were having. Which feels one sided.
Liam laughs, but there is no humor in it. None at all.
“Is this why you left?” he asks sharply. His words chilling me to the bone “Because you were in danger?"
"That's not the only reason"
" So because you never trusted me enough to protect you"
The words land like a slap to the face.
I shake my head. “You don’t understand…”
“No,” he cuts in, his eyes dark his jaw tight, as if it would pop under the weight of his anger.
“You didn’t trust me. You didn’t trust me! your husband. You have never done that.”
“I was protecting us!” I shout. “I didn’t have a choice.”
“You always had a choice,” he snaps. “You just chose to do it alone.”
I feel the panic crawling up my spine now, hot and familiar. “You don’t understand how dangerous they are. Whatever you think you’ve seen, whatever you’ve done, it is nothing compared to what they’re capable of.”
His eyes burn into mine. Hurt and disbelief, Something like insult crossed his face.
“You think I don’t know who your family is?” he asks quietly. “You think I didn’t prepare? I knew who they were before we married but I needed you to trust me to tell me. But you never did. I waited and waited until you finally left. I guess I was never your priority"
“You can’t prepare for them!” My hands are shaking now. “You can’t…” know about them
He exhales sharply and looks away. “You’re just a coward.” he breathes “a coward and a liar and I shouldn't have married you. But I just couldn't let go.
I loved you. I loved you so much. I looked everywhere for you. I even thought you were dead. Just for me to find out you were out there. In Italy living the life of your dreams as the Mafia princess. You kept my kids from me!"
The word slices clean.
" I didn't…” I sighed. Cutting myself off. " How did you know?" I whispered under my breath
"I have my ways. The ways you never cared to find out"
I swallow hard. “I don’t have time to fight with you right now. If you don’t want to help me, then leave.”
His head snaps back to me.
Instead of answering, he pulls out his phone.
Minutes later, the door opens.
“Well,” a familiar British voice drawls lightly, “I’ll be damned. The queen returns from her other kingdom.”
I look up, stunned. “Julian?” Liam's close friend. And someone that became the older brother I never had. He was that dude that would do anything to make me smile. He was my silent strength.
Julian Hawthorne grins at me, eyes warm with relief flickering across his face. “Good to see you alive, Lu.”
Before I can respond, Liam’s presence fills the space between us.
Julian clears his throat, his tone snapping into place. When he saw his friends angry face. “I’ll take care of Alyssa.”
“No hospital,” I say immediately.
“Of course Lu, I am a doctor remember" Julian replied with a wink. Lifting Alyssa into his arms like she was nothing.
Liam doesn’t answer.
He turns and walks upstairs.
My chest tightens.
When he comes back down, he’s carrying bags. My bags and the kids’ things.
“What are you doing?” I demand, following him. “Why are you packingmy things"
He doesn’t respond.
He loads the car with quickness while Julian gently helps Alyssa into his own vehicle.
“Liam,” I say sharply, grabbing his arm. “Where do you think you’re taking us?”
He opens the passenger door and looks at me. “Get in.”
“I’ll be damned if I go anywhere with you.”
He steps closer, his voice low. My breath caught
He is different. He isn't that my man. He was sweet and kind and always wanted to be around me. Now he is more dangerous, colder.
“And I’ll be damned if my runaway wife is left to fight for her life alone, running around dealing with dangerous people and not knowing if she will be alive or dead. At least think of Lucia and Lyla. You might have left me but I will never let you go. That is your punishment”
Our eyes lock, not with understanding, but with raw, unresolved anger. I try to say I’m sorry without words. Try to explain everything I never could. My eyes begging him with not what my mouth could ever say.
He looks away first.
“You are still the mother of my children,” he says flatly.
That stopped me cold but did not question it.
I get into the car. The drive is silent.
Not the peaceful kind but the tensed kind. The kind that presses against your ribs until breathing feels like work.
I watch the city lights blur past and wonder if I would pick a different decision if I could go back in time. Time I can never get back from my decision. Time that has passed us. Knowing time wouldn't come back for anyone. Or for love.
