Chapter Eleven
LIAM
Maddie walks downstairs, and I see the sadness and frustration written all over her face.
I’ve let her down so many times, and I don’t know how much more disappointment she can take. I hate myself for hurting her, but at this point, there are no other options. I have to keep her close to protect her, but it’s hard when all I want to do is kiss her.
It won’t matter anyway because what I’m about to do will ruin everything between us.
Not that there is an us, but any potential or future for us will be long gone.
After nearly getting myself killed earlier this week, I made a deal with the devil, and there’s no getting out of it now.
Keeping Maddie safe is my only priority, and if that means also breaking my heart in the process, then it’s what I have to do.
As promised, I watch Glee with her the next day. Sophie joins our marathon, and soon, they’re singing and dancing around the living room. It makes me laugh, easing the tension for a moment before reality settles back in.
Maddie’s so carefree as she shakes her hips and belts out the lyrics to old classics I actually recognize. It’s the most chill Sunday I’ve had in a long-ass time, and I soak up every minute, accepting things will never be the same after I fly back to Vegas this week.
Once I saw the note Maddie got, I one hundred percent knew they were still following us.
Though the boss told his men to back off, it was for nothing more than show.
They’re going to stay on my ass for God knows how long.
Even after I do the unthinkable to get my debt paid off, I’ll always be looking over my shoulder.
Knowing they purposely put it on Maddie’s pile of clothes in the dressing room had me seeing red.
The temptation to tell her the truth hit me hard, but I couldn’t.
Revealing my secret could get her killed.
She hasn’t pieced together what’s really happening, but she suspects something.
This time, the need to kiss her was uncontrollable and different from the night we met or even on her birthday.
Kissing Maddie is all I think about. The memories haunt me in my dreams when I’m with her and away from her.
Twenty-four fucking seven, she’s the forbidden fruit I want to taste over and over again.
It took all the willpower in the goddamn universe to stop because I was two seconds away from carrying her into my bedroom and taking that pesky V-card she’s always complaining about.
But that can’t happen. It can never happen.
That kiss was the final goodbye.
“Now where are you going?”
Speak of the devil.
I glance at Maddie, who’s wearing skintight leggings and a tank with a small crop top over it. My imagination goes crazy, thinking about my hands roaming over her curves and my mouth sucking on the soft skin of her neck.
As I continue stuffing clothes into my bag, she leans against the doorframe of my bedroom, looking irresistible as always.
“Gotta head out for work,” I tell her flatly. “Fugitive in SoCal.”
Maddie narrows her eyes, but I look away to avoid her stare down. She doesn’t believe me, but I’m not going to give her any more reason to doubt me.
“When will you be back?”
I shrug, zipping up my bag. “Few days probably.”
“I’ll keep Glee warm for ya then,” she quips, and when I look back at her, she’s wearing her infamous Maddie grin. The one I fucking adore.
“I want all the highlight reels on the hot cheerleaders,” I taunt.
“Of course you do.” She rolls her eyes, and when I swing my duffel bag over my shoulder, she straightens and frowns.
“Stay out of trouble, okay? Stick with friends, and don’t go anywhere sketchy. Don’t make me worry,” I tell her.
Maddie crosses her arms, pushing her tits up higher, and then clears her throat when she catches me staring. “And what kinda trouble am I supposed to stay away from, Hulk?”
“If it were up to me, you’d stay home and let me put a GPS tracker on you, but since you’d only defy me on purpose if I did that, just be careful. Okay?”
She pokes a finger into my chest and sighs. “You know you’re the most confusing person on the planet?”
The corner of my lips tilts up at her sassy tone.
“Yeah, Mads. I know.” Flashing her a wink, I lean down and kiss her cheek. “See you in a few days.”
Being back in Vegas only brings bad memories to the surface, which is saying a lot, considering how much I used to love being here. The flashy lights, the sounds of the casinos, and the endless number of women are what brought me here before the gambling sucked me in.
Now, I’d rather be anyplace than here and am counting down the minutes until I fly home.
Victoria
Parked outside baggage claim. Meet me here.
Liam
Got it. Be there in five.
Once I make it through the crowd, I walk outside and notice the black stretch limo.
Fucking great.
A large man in a fancy as hell tux and sunglasses opens the door, and she steps out.
Victoria’s wearing at least six-inch heels, a glittery black dress, and bright red lipstick.
She looks like a million bucks—Las Vegas royalty, to be exact.
I should’ve expected as much, considering who her father is.
“Well hello, darling,” she muses, raising a brow at my attire. Jeans and a T-shirt with Converse shoes.
“Hey,” I murmur. “What’s with the flashy ride?”
The guy grabs my bag and nods for me to get moving.
“Let’s talk inside,” she says, and I follow her back to the limo.
After my bag is placed in the trunk, we take off, and my gut clenches. I don’t have a good feeling about this, but I have no other choice.
Johnny had a gun to my head, and if it wasn’t for Victoria barging in at the very last possible second, my brain would’ve been splattered all over that hotel room.
It’s all I can think about, and it’s haunted my every waking moment since.
I owe her my life, but that doesn’t mean the trade-off is a hell of a lot better. It isn’t.
“Wait!”
“Victoria…” Johnny looked up, shocked to see her here. As far as I knew, she didn’t get involved in the dirty work of the “business,” but she wasn’t dense enough not to understand what her father did. “What are you doing here?”
I risked a look over my shoulder and saw her standing there with red-rimmed eyes. Tears fell down her cheeks.
“Daddy, please! Don’t hurt him. I love him!”
I blinked hard, glancing at Johnny and watching his face distort.
What’d she just say?
Johnny lowered his weapon, and I finally released a breath.
“You know him?” I couldn’t tell if he was pissed or if that was just his natural expression.
“He’s my lover, Daddy. JJ just told me what was happening and…” She stepped closer until she was next to me. “I’m sorry for not telling you, but I love him, and we’re getting married.” Her confession sounded so genuine even I believed it.
“Is this right, Liam?” Johnny asked, narrowing his eyes as if he wasn’t sure she was telling the truth.
I cleared my throat, sitting taller. “Yes, sir. I’m in love with your daughter.” The words tasted like betrayal, but the fact was, Victoria was giving me an out, and I’d be stupid not to take it.
“You asked for my daughter’s hand in marriage before asking my permission?” His brows rose in warning.
Before I could answer, Victoria spoke up. “I asked him, Daddy. I planned on telling you this weekend.” She stepped closer to him. “He lives in California, but we’re going to make being together work long distance until he can move here.”
I think the fuck not.
“When is this wedding taking place?” he asked, and I was ready to say in the far, far future, but once again, Victoria spoke before me.
“Very soon,” she said, grinning wide. “We wanted to get married as soon as possible. I know you want me to have a traditional Catholic ceremony, but we just can’t wait that long. We’re in love, Daddy.”
Johnny remained silent as he eyed his bodyguards, and with a slight tip of his chin, they crowded me to untie my wrists and ankles.
I brought my hands in front of me, twisting and rubbing the discomfort away. Victoria was Johnny O’Leary’s only daughter and obviously his princess. He’d do whatever made her happy, even if he was shooting me murderous glares.
“You know that means you’ll be my son-in-law,” he stated, narrowing his eyes at me. “You better learn some respect if you’re going to be a part of this family.”
I swallowed hard and nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“You marrying my daughter won’t exempt you from your debt…”
“Of course, sir.”
“No, Daddy,” Victoria harshly demanded, her gaze hardening on him.
I watched as they had a silent stare down, and I wanted to tell Victoria to shut the hell up. I’d pay every cent if it meant not getting a bullet to my head.
“Fine. Your debt will be forgiven once you’re married. Until then, you’re still a target,” he declared.
“What about Maddie?” I asked, speaking up. If whatever plan Victoria had up her sleeve didn’t protect Maddie, then I wasn’t agreeing to it. “She’s only my roommate and has no idea about any of this. She’s an innocent bystander.”
I needed to pretend I had no emotional connection to her so they left her the hell alone.
Johnny looked at me, then shifted his gaze to his bodyguards with a hard nod.
“When your nuptials are finalized,” he stated.
Goddammit.
“Daddy,” Victoria scolded again, walking toward me and pushing the bodyguards out of her way.
“She’s not a threat to the family, nor are any of his friends. Let them be so Liam and I can be together without any issues,” she pleaded, and I wanted to hug the shit out of her for defending not only me but Maddie too.
However, the ache in my stomach knew it wasn’t going to come without some kind of deal.
Not even Victoria was immune to using her father’s tricks.
She saved my ass, and it wouldn’t be without something in return.
Our one-night stand weeks ago didn’t mean anything, and I had no doubt she was up to no good.