“Mads…” He brings a hand to my face and slowly rubs his thumb over my cheek. “I didn’t want anyone to get mixed up in this, but Victoria insisted that if I didn’t bring her home to meet you all, her father would get suspicious. Since his men randomly check up on us, I had no choice but to introduce her to everyone. He doesn’t trust me, I’m an outsider, and her entire family doubts everyone’s motives. You have to understand, this is her game, and I’m just a pawn with no control over the situation. Getting married right away meant my debt was forgiven and you were safe. That’s all that mattered to me.”
“How long until she gets her money?” I ask, my nerves nearly shot at all this information. “When can you two get a divorce?” I pause, panicking. “You can, right?”
“Yes, and we are,” he reassures me. “The deal was to be married for six months so she can get her trust fund and leave.”
I nod in relief. Six months isn’t so bad. I suppose it could be worse and much longer. Pulling my bottom lip between my teeth, Liam brings his thumb to my chin and plucks it out. “Marrying her was my only choice, Mads. He literally had the barrel pressed to my forehead, and in those last seconds…I only thought of you.”
My heart squeezes, and tears threaten to release, but I want to be strong for him. Liam lowers his head, but I saw the way his eyes watered. His confessions have my hands shaking. He’s never been this vulnerable before, and it’s a side I never expected to see, but now that I have, it changes everything.
The feelings I’ve made more than obvious all these years—he has them too.
“When you say was…has the deal changed?”
He shrugs, clearing his throat before he meets my gaze. “Before I brought her here, I went there to meet her grandmother who was visiting from New York. Now that Victoria is a happily married woman, she’s asking about grandchildren.”
“Oh my God. Liam.” My voice breaks.
“I’m not…I told her I didn’t agree to start a family, but—” He swallows hard. “I’m not really in a position to negotiate. Even if I said I wanted out and had the cash to pay my debt, Johnny could kill me just for knowing too much. Or hell, for ‘breaking his daughter’s heart.’”
“So you have no options. That’s what you’re saying?”
Liam gives the slightest of nods, and my stomach drops. “My only option is to see this through on Victoria’s terms. She could throw me under the bus at any time. JJ knows, but she’s supposed to be taking care of him and making sure he keeps his mouth shut. The marriage has to end when she’s ready, or it not only puts you at risk but Mason and Sophie too.”
“Because they live here?”
“Yes, which is why they can’t know about any of this, Mads,” he states firmly. “They’ve been through so much already and are finally happy. The last thing they need is to worry and stress. Sophie already wants to kill me for kissing you, and if they find out why I had to marry Victoria, it’ll change everything. Fuck, I’ve been lost in my head about this for weeks, and I’m so fucking sorry.”
“I know you are, Liam. Anyone who’s met you would say you’re an amazing friend and wouldn’t intentionally put any of us in harm’s way. Do you think we’re in danger?” I ask softly.
“Not immediately. But if I step out of line, Victoria could destroy everything, and they’ll come for me. Possibly you and anyone else in my life that they fear I’ve told. Which is why this has to remain a secret. If they’re following me and you’re with me, you’re a target. It’s why I’ve been pushing you away while wanting to protect you at the same time.”
“It’s why you’ve been so strange,” I clarify. “Asking me where I am and when I’m coming home.”
“Yes,” he confirms. “I care about you, Maddie, even when it seems like I don’t. Not getting closer to you was so they’d leave you the hell alone, and when I tried to act indifferent, it hurt you. But I’ll never forgive myself if something happens to any of you.”
Liam’s tense and breathing rapidly. I take his hands and wrap my palms around them, scooting as close to him as possible. “Thank you for telling me,” I say. “I won’t say anything, okay? You can trust me.”
“I hate putting you in the position to lie to your sisters, but it’s for their own good.”
I nod, agreeing. “They’d freak out, and that’s the last thing we need right now.”
“If I just go along with whatever Victoria wants, you’ll all be fine. She gets her money, my debt is forgiven, and I get to live, then once we’re divorced, everyone can pretend this never happened,” he says reassuringly, and I hope it’s as easy as it sounds. I don’t know Victoria and have avoided her when she was here, but after hearing the whole story, I wouldn’t want to cross her either. Especially if she has her daddy’s money and “business” to back her up.