Present
* * *
“Liam?” I say.
He glances at me over his shoulder again in a hurried way, like he was interrupted by something, but I can’t tell what.
One second, he was talking, and the next, he was bent over the counter, just standing there lost in thought. I wish I could look inside his head to find out what, but I know he wouldn’t let me inside even if I asked.
But I’m still too curious not to try. “So you remember me. What kind of memory is it? What am I doing?”
He hasn’t told me anything yet, but I can see him disassociate at times as though he’s turning inward to dig for answers. It’s hard to fathom he’s lost most of his memories. All the things that make up a human being … gone. Erased from existence.
Even though he said his brother’s visit brought back some of them, his mind must still be one big jumbled mess.
“It’s at a party,” Liam says, his eyes traveling across the room as though he’s actually back there in his memories and not here. “I’m sitting at a table, watching you.”
Interesting.
It’s too little to recall anything, but I know my parents hosted a ton of parties. His did too. It’s normal when you’re rich and want to entertain your mobster friends.
But I need more than that to bring something to the forefront of my mind.
“Okay … Do you remember anything else?”
I wanna know what else he remembers.
He frowns, clutching the counter. “Stop.”
Goddammit. Just when I finally had a way in. Maybe he’s afraid I’ll use it against him, and in that case, he’s right. I would. I mean, a girl has to do something to free herself out of a trap. And if that means prying into his brain, then so be it.
“I’m just trying to understand.”
“You don’t need to,” he spits back, almost like he’s angry I made him remember.
“But you’re keeping me here. The least you can do is tell me why,” I say.
“I already told you,” he barks.
I clutch my hands together, shaken by his sudden erratic voice.
I don’t know what to say to him. One second, he’s acting like a beast, and the next, he’s trying to be my friend, and then he goes straight back to being a wild beast again. It’s wholly confusing.
“Stop trying to dig into what little memories I have,” he growls.
So I was right. It is difficult for him.
Despite all the things his brother told him about his past when he came to find him, the accident has tainted Liam’s brain so much he’d prefer not to think about his memories at all.
“Okay … sorry.”
I look away because his eyes are as hot as a volcano right now, and I’m definitely not interested in burning myself.
I ogle the door and all the windows again, wondering how fast I could break through before he manages to catch me. Probably not fast enough. And if I tried, he’d most likely put me right back in that cold room again. So not worth it. Yet.
He sighs. “It’s just difficult to hold on to. One moment, the memories are in here …” He points at his temple. “And the next, they fade away again,” he explains. “Piecing them together is hard enough as it is.”
“I understand,” I say.