But I’m not wrong. No one is safe. We all have one foot in the grave, especially in this family.
“It’s a war, isn’t it?” I whisper. It’s been a long time coming. A war that started ages ago that we just keep dousing with gasoline. It was overdue for a fire. A combustion.
Will we all burn with it though?
Liam sighs, his eyes avoiding mine and sticking strictly to looking out the window in front of him. “Yes.” He finally says.
“Why are you here?”
Another gust of air blows through his lips. “I wanted to warn you.”
“Oh.” He wanted to warn me? That means he knew about the attack before it happened. I wonder how long he knew and how quickly he tried to get here.
Not quick enough.
“I wasn’t quick enough,” he echoes my thoughts. “And Gian has your phone.”
“Yeah,” I mutter. “He took it from me.”
“I figured.” He’s silent for another moment. “I tried, Gemma, I did.” He turns his gaze quickly, avoiding me. He’s being vulnerable with me and for him that means showing a weakness. He hides his face from me, avoiding showing any emotion.
I know. I don’t say it though, but I know he did. There’s pain lingering in his words that matches my own.
My pain is a deep dark vortex that I’m trying not to fall into. I want to be strong, I want to see my brother, to know he’s okay. But the pain threatens to pull me under.
Sometimes I want to sink into it, get lost in it. I know from past experience it’s more peaceful once you let it take over.
But in that deep dark, there’s no feelings at all. I pass a glance at Liam, his face is filled with emotions, with regret.
I have to stay above the water for him.
“Hey.” I reach across the console to grab his hand. “Hey, look at me.” Slowly, he does. Turning his head so his deep blue eyes meet mine. “This isn’t your fault.” I tell him softly.
“I know, but it was an order from my father.”
I reach up, cupping the side of his face in my hand. “You can’t blame yourself for the sins of your father.”
He stares at me for a long minute. “Gemma, you should hate me.”
“I don’t.” I whisper.
He swallows thickly and wraps his hand around the steering wheel. “I should get you to the hospital.” He pulls the truck out onto the road and begins to drive.
I should hate him, I think. But it’s hard to hate someone you love.
When I get to Gian’s floor, Liam walking alongside me, I’m met by two enforcers. Andrew is one of them, he looks between Liam and I confused.
“Gemma,” Andrew says my name but his eyes are staring at Liam.
Liam pulls his hand from my grip and puts both of them in the air. “I’m not here to hurt anyone.” He says sternly.
I wonder if they really think he is here to cause harm when he’s still sporting the bruises from the last time he was caught with me.
I don’t know the name of the other enforcer with Andrew but he looks a little tougher, a little scarier. Maybe I’ve just grown too accustomed to Andrew that he no longer intimidates me. I also know how to outsmart Andrew easily, so he’s no longer a threat to me.
The other man, however, crosses two bulky arms on his chest and gives Liam a scolding look. “Go back home, mick.” He snarls.
Liam cocks his head to the side and gives the guy an amused look. “Don’t think this is the best time to be doing this.” He nods to me. “She just wants to see her brother.”