“Seriously,” Zac says, ignoring my rudeness. “He wouldn’t be doing all this if you didn’t mean anything to him.”
I have no response. As much as I want to deny Zac’s words, a small part of me wants to believe it’s true. A small part of me wants to just give up the resistance and give Liam a chance.
It makes my heart hurt. It would be easy to fall back into his arms.
But I can’t, I say to myself. He’s involved in crime... and I can’t be with a criminal. He's dangerous.
I stand there while Zac watches a range of emotions play across my face. He seems to be trying to reach out to me. Too bad I’m too angry and closed off to care. Or at least I’m doing a damn good job at pretending to be. I don’t even know what’s true anymore.
“Goodnight,” Zac finally says softly. He can tell I’m preoccupied with my thoughts and conversation with me is all but useless. “Everything will turn out fine in the end. You’ll see.”
He gives me a moment to respond, but when I don’t, he turns to leave.
Absently, I watch him walk off. And then I slowly shut the door. I look around the room, hellbent on finding a way out of here.
Chapter 25
Lizzie
God, I hope I don’t fall and break my neck.
I peer out of the second story window of the bedroom. I've spent an hour debating on whether or not I want to do this. And I've decided that I do. It’s a long way down to the sidewalk. But if I want to escape, I’m going to have to take my chances. Bad thing is, there's no real way down I can see other than jumping. I've been eyeing the gutters. I think they can hold my weight, and I can try to climb down.
Taking a deep breath, I climb out of the window, one leg at a time. It's so fucking cold. Outside, I hang on to the side of the window while I look for a way down. I can barely breathe. This is insane. It's fucking crazy, but I need to get away from this mess. I know I can't go home, but I can't stay here.
Holding my breath, I shimmy over to the gutter and grab hold. My fingertips hang on for dear life. My heart races and the chill in the air is actively working against me as it numbs my body. I breathe in deep and scoot over just a few inches, terrified that once I put my full weight on the gutter, it’ll snap off. But it holds me. I finally breathe out, but only for a second before looking down. I close my eyes tighter. That was a mistake. It’s a few more minutes before I can gather the courage to move in the slightest.
I prep myself to descend when I lose my footing. Shit! I gasp as I come close to plummeting to the ground. Luckily, I have a firm enough hold on the pipe that I save myself. I grip onto the gutter tighter than I have anything else in my entire life. Holy fuck, my heart is slamming in my chest and a cold sweat breaks out over my skin. This was so stupid. I wish I could take it back. I look up and think for a second about going back in there. But then I’m sentencing myself to be a prisoner. And I will not let that happen.
After a moment of deep breathing, I slowly restart my descent down. One inch at a time. That’s all I need. I can barely breathe, but I keep moving down. By the time I reach the bottom, my arms are sore and my shoulders are throbbing. But I made it. And that’s all that matters. I stand on shaky legs and look up. I can’t believe I just did that.
I step away from the pipe and I look at the house, still feeling slightly sick to my stomach. Through the window I can see the foyer and the stairs. The living room is on the other side of the house, so there’s no way Zac could see I’ve escaped. I’m sure he’s watching TV with the football game on and Zac reclining in the chair, his eyes glued to the screen.
Take that, Zac! I shout in my mind.
I wonder what Liam is going to say to his brother when he finds out that I escaped under his watch. Fuck, that's not going to be pretty. A feeling of guilt starts to settle low in my stomach. But I shake it off. I shouldn’t feel guilty. The danger Liam put me in is unforgivable. I have to repeat that over and over in my head as if I’m trying to convince myself.
I turn away and start walking down the street. There are woods straight ahead. I just need to sneak in there and then I can figure out a plan. I know it’d be stupid to just walk out of the neighborhood. Liam could come home any minute and see me, and then all of this would be a waste.
I can’t let him catch me. As I make it up the block, I take out my cell phone. I begin to dial the police, but then stop.
Obviously, those thugs need to go to jail, but if I call the police, there's a real possibility that Liam might, too. He will. Fuck! I know he will. I don’t know why this bothers me. Liam's a criminal. He should go to jail. But I can’t stomach the thought. I may not be able to stay with him, but I don’t want anything bad for him. I don’t want to hurt him or get him into trouble. I can't go home though. I'm not safe, and I'm on my own. I’m going to have to call the police. What choice do I have?
I’m vaguely aware of a white car driving toward me. I look up with my heart hammering in my chest, but with a brief glance, I see it’s not Liam. I try to stay calm and just keep walking. The woods are past a few houses. I just need to get past them and then I’ll be safe. The slam of a door pierces my consciousness and I jump with surprise, dropping my phone. It hits the ground with a loud smack.
I turn around and the car’s parked in the middle of the street. I can’t tear my eyes away from the man behind me. He’s got his eyes pinned on me as he walks away from his car. My heart hammers in my chest and I know something’s wrong. His eyes are so dark, nearly black, and the way he’s looking at me sends chills down my body. I don’t even try to pick up my phone as he takes a single step toward me. I take off running.
I hear him curse under his breath and then the thudding stomps of him chasing me. My eyes widen with shock. Holy fuck! He’s coming for me. My mind races with ideas of who this man could be. He could be Liam’s guy, parked out here to make sure I didn’t get away. But he looks… cruel. He could be the man who shot at us. I want to scream, but my voice won’t work. Fear cripples me, but I’m able to run. I can’t stop running. Tears stream down my face from the sheer chill of the air battering my eyes as I run. I pump my arms and force myself to run as fast as I can.
My heart jumps up my throat and I bolt to the closest house. My limbs scream with pain as I do everything I can to get away.
Without waiting to see if he's going to stop, I take off into the closest backyard, my heart pounding in my chest like a battering ram. I run faster than I ever have in my life. I can hear him still behind me, but I think I’m gaining ground. His breath is ragged. My own breath is coming in harsh pants. It hurts like a bitch to breathe in the cold air. But I ignore it all, darting into the woods.
I run straight through thin branches that whip across my body like lashings. I don’t care though. I keep running through the pain.
After a few more minutes of all-out sprinting, I stop in a copse of trees to catch my breath and look around quickly. I don’t see him. I listen for any noise, but I can't hear a thing. I focus on being as quiet as possible and listening. My back is to the tree and I’m too terrified to peek around it. Minutes pass. I don’t know how many, before I take a look. No one’s here. He’s gone.
I sigh with slight relief, although I’m still trembling with fear and my heart is beating mercilessly against my chest. And then I remember. I dropped my phone. Shit. I have nothing. Fuck! I can’t go back home, I don’t have a car, I don’t have my phone. I check my back pocket where I shoved the extra money Liam gave me earlier. At least I have those still. They’re hanging out of my pocket though. I check and see I still have them all as my breathing calms down. I lean my back against the tree again, this time for support rather than to hide behind it.
I look back again with paranoia, but no one’s there. He was coming for us. No, he could be someone Liam knows or hired. I want to believe that. But I don’t think it’s true. My mind runs wild with all the possibilities of who he is and what he wants. I don’t know, but the idea that he’s going to kill one of the
m makes me want to run back there and warn Zac. Fuck! I can’t even call Liam to warn him.
Shit, I don’t know what to do. I feel so confused and hopeless. I shake my head and swallow the lump in my throat. I can’t go back there. Even if I wanted to. What if he’s there waiting for me?
This is Liam’s life, and it’s a dangerous one. I can’t be a part of this. That man is the nail in the coffin. My heart clenches in my chest, but I refuse to give that pain any more attention. I take one more last look over my shoulder and then cautiously move through the woods. I don’t have much money on me, but it should be enough for at least one night in some cheap hotel. I can’t go back to Liam and I can’t go anywhere he could find me. I wish I could go to Nat, but that would only bring trouble to her doorstep. I can’t do that to her.
I need to find a hiding place where I can think about what my options are. Although I feel like I don’t have a single fucking option, other than calling the police.
Chapter 26
Liam
I know something’s wrong the second I walk into the house. I close the door and look up the stairs.
Zac runs down them and his face falls as he slows down and sees it's me that's walked through the door. He’s holding onto the railing like it’s the only thing keeping him upright.
“What’s wrong?” I ask him. He doesn’t answer, he just looks at me and then the door. “Zac!” I yell his name to get his eyes on me. “What the fuck is wrong?”
He swallows visibly. “I just went to check on her.” My body tenses as he pauses but then continues nervously, “Her window’s open.”
“She left?” I ask him. I’m surprised by how even my voice is. Inside I feel like a caged animal only barely contained ready to destroy anything it can. But on the surface, I’m still and in control.
“She’s,” he pauses and takes in an unsteady breath as he registers my anger, “she’s gone.”
I’m so fucking pissed that he let her go. I storm off into the next room. I can’t deny part of that anger is at her. She’s putting herself in danger. It’s also a mix of other emotions. She left me. My body tenses and the need to take it out on something is strong. Zac is looking like a good fucking option, but I keep my distance so I don’t beat the shit out of him. I’ll find her ass and drag her back here kicking and screaming if I have to.
I reach for my phone to call her and snort when I see her number calling me. I’m gonna lay into her. She can’t fucking run off. She might be mad at me and that’s fine if she wants to hate me for a little while, but she’s staying with me, whether she likes it or not.
“Where are you?” I get right to the point as soon as I answer.
“I got a call about Stephen this morning. Message received, Liam?” I recognize Ian’s voice immediately. Chills prick over my skin. It was her number. My heart beats rapidly, thudding against my chest plate. I know I saw her name.
“Ian,” I answer simply, keeping my voice even as a cold sweat breaks out along every inch of my skin.
“We’ve got your girl here,” he says confidently. My heart stops and I lean against the wall as my legs give out. No, not Elle. I swallow the thick lump that’s growing in my throat and trying to suffocate me.
“I wanna hear her,” I push the words out. Zac comes into the room and gives me a confused look. I feel sick to my stomach. I can’t look at him. This can’t be true.
“Sorry, but I can’t; her mouth's full right now,” he says and gives a disgusting laugh. I pound my fist against the wall in anger. Rage and adrenaline course through my blood. “How’s this, we’ll send a finger every hour until you fucks pay me the money you stole from me and shut down your business.”
“Don’t you fucking touch her!” Zac’s face goes white as he takes in what’s going on. I’m so fucking angry, my body’s shaking.
“Come to Thirty-Five Lakeview,” he says, and I try to hold in my rage so I can hear what he’s saying. I know the place well; it’s where they do their meets. “No weapons. We’ll do a trade. You for her.”
I can’t hear a damn thing after the click, it’s all white noise.
I look down at my cell again, it was definitely her number. They got her. They have my girl. I try to breathe, but it’s hard. All at once, I snap out of it and the only thing on my mind is that I know I need to save her. I have to go to her. I have no other choice.
“Where’s Tyler?” I barely recognize my own voice. Both of us were out looking for that asshole this morning. After Stephen shows up dead and Ian being left all on his own, I figured he would be planning his leave. I was wrong. I was so fucking wrong. And it cost me the one thing I care about. I can hardly breathe.
“He’s still upstate.” Fuck! I grip my head in my hands. He’s hours away, searching out Dracho’s family homes. He’s fucking useless to me now. I don’t have time to wait for him to drive back down here.
“I’m sorry, Liam,” Zac says but he can’t even look me in the eyes. He tries to and his voice cracks as he continues, “I didn’t--”
“It’s not your fault.” My blood won’t heat. My lungs won’t work. My body’s failing me. He has her. I can’t let him hurt her. Before I can even think about what I’m doing, my body’s moving.
“Don’t go, Liam! It’s obviously a setup.” Zac's talking, but I brush past him and keep moving. “He hasn’t showed proof of life; she could already be dead. You think he’s going to leave witnesses?” Zac grabs my arm and tries to hold me back. But I rip it out of his grasp and move quickly to the front door.
I don’t even listen to his words. I don’t care if he’s right. They have her. They have my girl. I won’t let them touch her. I won’t let her die for my sins.
Zac's screaming at me, trying to talk sense into me. But I don’t even register a single word coming out of his mouth. He grabs my chest, wrapping his arms around me to keep me back. He’s smaller than me though. There’s no way he can stop me.
“You can’t keep me from her, Zac.” I’ll trade my life for hers; it’s done.
I snatch my keys off the front entry table and turn around, punching my brother square in the jaw. It’s hard enough that he's knocked to the ground as his head slams against the floor.
He slowly comes to and cups his chin in his hand on the floor. He starts to get up, reaching for me. He’s gonna do everything he can to keep me from going.
I take off before he gets up. I slam my car door shut as he comes barreling out the house, screaming for me to stop.
As the tires squeal and the car propels me forward, I see my brother racing to get to me in my rearview, screaming not to go. Screaming that he’s sorry.
I drive faster than he can run and ignore the pain in my chest of leaving him this way.
I hate that I drove off without saying goodbye, but he'd never let me leave. I hate that he blames himself. He may always carry this with him. It’s not his fault though. I don’t blame him. All of this is my fault. I have to go to her. I have to save her.
Chapter 27
Lizzie
What do I do?
I’m sitting in my new hiding place, a rat-infested Motel 6 in a rundown part of town, wondering how to plan my next move. For the past thirty minutes I’ve been mulling over whether I should call the cops or not. It should be an easy thing to do, but my feelings for Liam are getting in the way.
There’s gotta be a way to get rid of these guys without involving Liam, I think. But I can’t think of any. I need to look out for me. I’m the one person I need to worry about. I can’t stay here. I can’t hide forever. But damn it, every time I press the buttons into the phone I feel like I’m literally stabbing Liam in the back. It’s bad enough that I left him.
If only I didn’t care about him. Then it would all be so easy. I’d dial up 911 without even thinking.
Maybe I should call him, I think to myself, tell him it’s over and explain that I have to call the police. I need protection, and I don't want it from him.
I pick up the hotel
’s landline and dial Liam’s cell. It rings for several seconds and then his voicemail picks up.
You’ve reached Liam. I’m busy right now, but if you leave your name and message I’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Beep.
I sit there with the phone pressed to my ear for a moment and then hang up. God. Just hearing his deep voice again makes me feel weak. After a moment, I decide to try his house phone.
I get his voicemail again. When the beep comes, I’ve summoned the courage for a message.
“Liam,” I say heavily over the huge lump in my throat. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to leave, but I just can’t deal with what’s going on. I can’t be with... someone like you.” I feel like a bitch for saying that. I close my eyes and hate myself. “I’m so sorry, Liam,” I sob. “I really did love you, but this shit you’re involved in... I can’t. Goodbye.” Feeling like my heart is going to burst, I hang up the phone.
I’m about to break down when the phone rings. I stare at it, wondering what I should do. It has to be Liam calling back. I’m conflicted about answering it. I’m supposed to be breaking it off with him and figuring out how to keep myself safe, not making it harder.
Screw it. I have to hear him out. I can already feel myself crawling back to him.
Taking a deep breath, I snatch up the phone. “Hello?” I say as my voice wavers.
“Lizzie!” My heart drops into my stomach. It’s Zac.
“What do you want, Zac?” I ask flatly, pushing all the conflicting emotions away.
“Lizzie, are you alright?” Zac asks concernedly. I’m surprised by the worry in his voice. Apparently he’s not pissed about me escaping right under his nose. “They don’t have you, do they? Liam’s going there now.” His voice rises, “It’s a setup; they're going to kill him.”
Fear cripples me and my body chills. “What the hell are you talking about?”
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