41. The Note
The Note
SARAFINA
Liam, uncharacteristically, pretended not to notice as we stole fruit from the tray he was neatly arranging with little bits of pretty foliage and edible flowers.
But I knew the truth. He didn’t even have the energy to snap back with some clever response because of what he’d shared with Carter this morning—the heartbreaking news of him and Gina. They’d broken up.
At the kitchen counter, Jules leaned back in her chair and raised a knowing brow. “So, Sloane, tell me about you and Cade.”
“I have no idea what you mean.” Sloane shrugged with a grin.
I laughed and threw a grape at her. “Sure you don’t.”
“Oh, we’re going to get to you next.” Jules chuckled, shaking her head. “You and Carter were awfully cozy last night. All over each other, in fact.”
“Jules!” I hissed, shooting a nervous glance in Liam’s direction. He thankfully didn’t notice because he was zoned out on his phone—in fact, something smelled like it was burning on the stovetop.
“Liam,” I called gently. Nothing.
“He’s out of it today.” Jules said absentmindedly, playing with the necklace she always wore. “I think what happened last night really upset him. ”
I shook my head no and lowered my voice. “Him and Gina broke up yesterday morning.” I grimaced and my heart broke, realizing he’d put on a brave face all day yesterday, probably because he didn’t want to ruin my birthday redo.
“Oh, shit.” Sloane sat up. “Do you think they’ll work it out? They’re so great together.”
“No, I think it’s been a long time coming.” I admitted. “Gina’s career is really taking off, and so is Liam’s, and neither of them can really move in the foreseeable future.”
I grimaced as Jules shoulders sagged and wondered if she was thinking the same thing I was.
Long-distance relationships seemed next to impossible to maintain.
It made me wonder how Carter and I would fare.
We hadn’t even made plans for his upcoming deployment.
I hadn’t even hugged him goodbye. Not really.
The stove was really smoking now. “Liam!”
“Oh, shit.” He startled, shoving his phone in his pocket.
He yanked the smoking pan off the burner, grumbling under his breath as he carried it across the kitchen and chucked the entire thing into the sink. It hissed with steam as he gripped the edge of the counter, and his head hung between his shoulders in defeat.
Oh Liam.
“Don’t say anything.” I murmured, hating that he hadn’t told me himself. I only knew because I’d eavesdropped from the stairs at Carter’s. “He’ll say something when he’s ready.”
Jules nodded sympathetically, and Sloane zipped her lips.
I changed the subject with a grin. “So Sloane, how was your motorcycle ride with Cade?”
“Fast.” She chuckled, shaking her head, and I didn’t doubt it.
“You two have been hanging out a lot lately.” Jules prodded with a smirk.
“It’s been quiet around Briar Rose.” Sloane shrugged. “We bump into each other a lot.”
“I’ll bet you do.” I grinned, but Sloane quickly changed the subject, looking at Jules. “So, are we going to talk about what happened with you and Douglass last night?”
“What can I do?” Jules sighed, twirling a long silky strand of auburn-brown hair around her finger. “I love him.” She looked so conflicted.
“Love can only go so far.” I countered carefully, but Jules eyes heated in defense. Why was telling your friends the truth so damn hard sometimes? “You deserve so much more than you’re getting.” Sloane nodded in agreement, shooting me an encouraging look.
“I’m not entirely sure that’s true.” Jules admitted, staring down at her plate.
Sloane reached out to touch her arm. “It’s true.
” She hesitated. “Can I say something brutally honest?” Jules nodded, clearly holding back tears.
“Watching you with him this last year—I’m worried you’re like a frog in boiling water.
” Sloane said so gently. “I know you love him, but he’s hurting you.
Just because it’s not with his fists doesn’t make it okay. ”
“Sometimes he’s actually really, really sweet.” Jules whispered. “It’s not always bad.”
“Of course not, that’s what makes this all so difficult.” I said quietly. “If it were just the bad, you would have left him a long time ago.”
“It’s complicated.” Jules admitted tearfully. “And I’m just so fucking tired.”
“I think that means something.” Sloane said. “You should feel clear. He should make you feel clear. Not confused.”
“I don’t know.” Jules pushed her food around on her plate. “Maybe this is as good as it gets.”
“Oh Jules, it gets so much better than this. I just know it.” I slid off my chair and wrapped my arms around her. “I’m here for you. Always.”
“Thanks.” She sniffled, and I found Liam giving us a long look.
I didn’t envy either of them.
Heartbreak was the fucking worst .
I hoped I wasn’t next.
I was retrieving my suitcase from the side porch when Liam came out of nowhere, startling me.
“Everything alright?” I asked, hoping he didn’t ask why I was bringing my suitcase in from outside. Carter had dropped it off before he left.
Liam didn’t, he was far too distracted. Poor thing. “Yeah, everything's great. Why?” He forced a smile, and my heart crumpled a little, realizing he wasn’t going to tell me about Gina.
Fine, I wouldn’t push. Not today, at least, but I hated how he shouldered the weight of the world, worried about burdening anyone else. Especially me. Though I supposed I was busy keeping my own secrets.
“Sara,” He hesitated. “I need to show you something.”
My skin immediately prickled with anxiety. “What is it?”
“It’s better if I show you.” The anxiety I thought I’d conquered rolled over me in a massive wave. Something was very wrong.
I followed Liam down the corridor, into our father’s office, feeling like my stomach was going to fall out of my nether regions.
Liam went straight for the desk and opened a drawer. The air became so charged I wondered if I was going to puke as he pulled a folded note out.
“Liam?” I demanded, panic clawing at my throat. “What’s this about?”
His jaw fanned, eyes darting between mine. “I’m not even sure I should be showing you this. I don’t want to give you more than you can handle, but I’m assigning you a bodyguard, and the only reason I’m telling you is because I know you won’t let this go unless I explain.” He didn’t extend the note.
“Liam, you’re scaring me.” My voice wobbled, wondering what the hell was going on .
“Just,” He gripped my arm, and my mouth went dry. “I need?—”
“For Christ’s sake.” I grabbed the note out of his hand, unable to wait a second longer.
I mean, how bad could it possibly be? Our mother was already gone. There was no undoing that. I’d been photographed nude. What could possibly be worse than any of that? My hands trembled, and the room might have been spinning as I tried and failed to read that damn note.
I stared at the words written on the page, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t make my eyes focus on the words. I couldn’t think. Couldn’t breathe. “Who wrote this?” I asked, willing my eyes to bring the letters into focus, that little smear of red at the bottom, but they just wouldn’t.
You know those moments where you’re trying to read a restaurant menu—but the server is approaching the table and the very fact that you’re running out of time is making it damn near impossible to read the words on the page?
This was like that, only so much worse. I could have been trying to read hieroglyphs as I stared at that one line note, and it wouldn’t have made a difference.
Liam jerked as heavy footsteps sounded down the hall, and he grabbed the note out of my hands as I whirled towards the door.
A wary figure appeared. “Dad?” I wasn’t actually sure when I’d seen him last.
My father eyed both of us in his office, and the air felt oddly thick as Liam shifted forward towards my father. “What are you two doing in here?”
“What are you doing home?” Liam asked, with an unprovoked bite in his voice.
I glared at Liam over my shoulder as I rushed across the room. “I missed you.” I threw my arms around my father, and he returned the hug with an awkward pat on the back.
“I heard about your exhibition.” My dad pulled back .
I swallowed hard as guilt hit me like a freight train. “Who told you?” The words nearly got stuck in my throat.
“A colleague.” My father said, “They told me it’s going to auction.” I nodded, feeling smaller than small. “That’s good.” His words were filled with something I couldn’t quite decipher. He looked at me for a long minute, his expression unreadable. “I’m disappointed I didn’t get to be there.”
Shit. I’d messed up big time. Carter had been right, I should have told him. I hadn’t meant to hurt his feelings. Hadn’t meant to push him away when I already felt like he was impossible to reach. “I’m sorry.” I started stumbling over my words. “It’s just, I didn’t mean to?—”
“You had a gallery showing?” Liam looked utterly gutted, and my stomach bottomed out with immediate regret. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
It was one of those moments that I suddenly wished I could take back. I’d been overwhelmed and didn’t know how to let them in. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.” I said quietly.
“You should have.” Liam said emptily. “I wanted to be there for you.”
“I’m not the only one keeping secrets.” I near whispered under my breath.
“I won’t apologize for protecting you—” He gritted and cut himself off.
A wave of emotion overcame me as I raised my voice. “You don’t have to do all this on your own, you know.”
“Except that I do.” Liam bit out.
“Pretty necklace.” My dad commented tightly, trying to diffuse the building tension, “Opal was your mother’s birthstone.”
My heart thundered. “Since her birthday is coming up, I thought maybe we should all do something…” I trailed off, not knowing where I was going as my father tensed, withdrawing slightly. I opened and closed my mouth with no idea what else to say .
My father ignored my invitation entirely. “If you two could excuse me, I have some work to do.”
I nodded, heart breaking that this was all he could give me. I hadn’t really seen him in months, and he didn’t even seem to care.
My mother had clearly been the glue in our family. Did he even want a relationship with me when my mother wasn’t encouraging him to participate in my life?
Liam waited for me to leave the office first and then followed closely behind me, the note safely tucked into his bag.
I opened my mouth.
“In the car.” Liam said under his breath as we headed for the foyer.
Down the street, we sat in Liam’s Bugatti, and he handed me the note. I forced out a slow, steady breath and read the simple but damning note.
I know what you did. I have evidence, and if you don’t give me what I want, I’ll take it anyway.
It was signed with a thumbprint.
In blood.
I looked at Liam and swallowed hard, my lip trembling.
“Liam, what does this mean?” His jaw flexed while the questions poured out of me like water, my mind spinning a million miles a minute.
“Who wrote this? Who did they write it to?” It had been in my father’s office.
Did he have something to do with this? But why?
“Did Dad do something? Does he know?” I caught myself realizing Liam was carefully monitoring my reaction.
I had to keep it together, had to make sure he didn’t cut me out of this, thinking I couldn’t handle it.
“I don’t know anything for sure.” Liam grimaced. “But I promise you, I’m going to get to the bottom of this.”
“Thank you for sharing this with me.” I carefully steadied my breath. “I’m surprised you told me, but I’m glad.” What the hell was going on? I could feel myself starting to shut down again, but I wouldn’t let him see that. I couldn’t burden him with my emotions any longer, especially not now.
“There’s a reason I told you.” He said, his voice was low and tense, and I realized Liam’s eyes were locked on the rearview mirror.
I froze. “What is it?”
“Don’t look.” He said, pulling out onto the road. “Someone’s been following us.”
“Liam, what the hell is going on?” I breathed shakily.
“Everything’s going to be fine.” He said, “I’m going to make sure you’re safe. I promise.”