Chapter 119 Liza #2
“Absolutely,” Persephone’s gaze remained steady and determined.
“That’s why I commend you, Liza. You’re doing something I wish I’d had the courage to do when I was younger.
You’re standing up for yourself and your beliefs, and you’re refusing to let anyone, even your own mate, dictate your life for you. ”
“Thank you,” I said, my cheeks flushing with pride. “I just… I don’t want history to repeat itself. I don’t want us to lose everything we hold dear because we were too afraid to fight for it.”
“Nor do I,” she said. “That’s why I believe in you. You are challenging the status quo, and that might be exactly what we need to ensure our survival. The world is changing, and we can either adapt or die. I, for one, would rather adapt.”
“Me, too,” I said, a renewed sense of purpose filling me.
I was certain the road ahead wouldn’t be easy, and there would be plenty of obstacles to overcome, but with the support of people like Persephone, I was more confident than ever that we could get through this.
Persephone and I would make sure that history didn’t repeat itself. Not on our watch.
The door to our bedroom creaked open, and I glanced up from the suitcase spread out on the bed. Ty stood in the doorway, his panicked eyes darting between me and the clothing strewn across the room.
“What are you doing?”
I continued folding a sweater, my heartbeat quickening at the alarm in his voice. “Packing.”
“Why are you packing? Where are you going?” he took a hesitant step into the room.
“Because, Ty, it’s obvious you’d rather have a mate who’s just in the background.” My anger bubbled beneath the surface, but I fought to keep it in check. We needed to have this conservation, and I wouldn’t let my emotions derail it.
“What. No? That’s not true,” he protested. “I never said that.”
“Actions speak louder than words.” I paused to look him straight in the eye.
“You made a huge decision about this war without even consulting me. You dismissed my concerns when I confronted you about it.” I shook my head.
“You don’t care about my opinion at all.
” He needed to understand that I wasn’t just some fragile flower who would wilt under the pressure of our situation.
Despite the tremor of emotion threatening to break through, I remained steady and calm.
“I don’t want to leave, but you have to understand that we’re a team.
We’re supposed to be in this together, and that means making decisions as a couple, especially when those decisions put all our lives on the line. ”
I paced the floor of our bedroom, my thoughts racing as I considered what Ty’s newfound alliance with Hiram, Sven, and even Liam could mean for our future.
The air around me was heavy and stifling.
The decisions that had been made were physically pressing down on me.
My chest ached with worry, not just for Ty, but for all of us.
We were walking a dangerous path, and I couldn’t shake the notion that we might be heading toward a point of no return.
“Ty.” I stopped in front of him as he sat on the edge of the bed and cradled his head in his hands. “I need you to listen.”
He looked up, exhausted, and there was a small part of me that didn’t like that I was adding to it. “What is it, Liza?”
“There’s something else we need to address.
” I tried to find the right words to convey my concerns without sounding accusatory.
“You’re not a mob boss like my brother. He was built for that life, and he thrives in it.
You? I don’t think you’re capable of living that life, and you’re getting too close to a line you won’t be able to come back from. ”
Ty’s expression shifted to one of defensiveness. “Liza, I did what I had to do. We needed their help, and they were willing to give it.”
“I understand that,” I said. “You need to remember that Hiram, Sven, and even Liam are still mob bosses, though. They have their own agendas, their own goals. Eventually, they may want something from you now they think you’re willing to play dirty.”
Ty’s gaze dropped to the floor, but the conflict played out inside him—I could feel the warring emotions through our bond. He was a good man, an honorable leader, but in his desperation to protect our pack and me, he’d ventured into dangerous territory.
“Maybe you’re right,” Ty said quietly. “But what do you suggest we do about it now? We can’t just walk away from the alliance.”
“I know we can’t.” I sat down beside him on the bed. “But we can be cautious. We can keep our eyes open and make sure we don’t get pulled deeper into their world than we absolutely have to be. Most importantly, we need to remember who we are, not just as individuals, but as a pack… and as mates.”
I studied the worry lines etched into his forehead and the tiredness in his face. He’d been carrying so much pressure on himself, trying to protect our pack, and maintain alliances with people like Hiram and Sven, who were more dangerous than we’d ever imagined.
I rubbed his arm. “I understand that you needed to send a message. Please, don’t lose sight of who you are in the process. You’re not like them, and you shouldn’t be.”
He looked at me as if he was trying to find reassurance in my words. Slowly, he nodded. “You’re right. I’ve let myself get caught up in all of this, and it’s not who I am or who I want to be.”
“Good.” I smiled softly at him. “We need to find our own way through this mess, not just follow in their footsteps.”
“Thank you for reminding me of that.” Ty pulled me into a tight hug, his warm breath ruffling my hair as he said, “I’m sorry for the way I spoke to you earlier. I’ve just been so stressed out, and it came out wrong. I promise I’ll never leave you out of the loop again.”
“Apology accepted,” I murmured against his chest, feeling his heartbeat slow and beat steadily beneath my ear. “Just remember that we need to support each other and make decisions as a team.”
“Absolutely. Now, I think I need to go for a run. Clear my head a bit. Would you like to join me?”
“Maybe later.” I knew he needed some time alone to sort through his emotions. “You go ahead, and we’ll talk more when you get back.”
“When I get back? So, you’ll be here? You’re not leaving?”
I nodded, and he pressed a tender kiss to my forehead before releasing me from his embrace. “I love you, Liza.”
“Love you, too, Ty.”
I sighed, allowing a rare moment to bask in the quiet that settled around me. Ty’s scent still lingered in the air, but it was fading as he distanced himself from the house on his run. I appreciated the solitude, even if just for a few minutes.
My phone rang, shattering the silence. Glancing at the screen, I saw Sabrina’s name and immediately answered, expecting her usual upbeat greeting.
Instead, I was met with a gut-wrenching sob, my best friend’s voice cracking under the strain of her pain.
Instinctively, my hand clenched around the phone.
“Sa-Sabrina? What’s wrong?” I said, fear slamming into me.
“Please…” she said between sobs, and my stomach clenched painfully. I wanted nothing more than to wrap her in my arms and protect her from whatever was causing her this agony.
“Shh, don’t say anything,” a low, menacing, familiar voice cut in.
The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, and ice replaced the blood in my veins.
Castro.
“Your friend is in a rather precarious situation, and I’d hate for things to get… messy.”
“Castro,” I snarled. “What have you done to her?”
“Nothing. Yet,” he replied calmly, though the threat was clear. “That depends on you, doesn’t it?”
A cold sweat broke out on my forehead. “What do you want?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” There was an edge to his voice that sent shivers down my back. He sounded completely unhinged. “I’ll call off this little war, Liza. Nobody else has to get hurt. All you have to do is come to me.”
“Or what?” I was shaking, betrayed by my fear, despite my best efforts to remain strong.
“Or I’ll kill Sabrina, then every member of your family, and every other person you love. If that’s not enough, I’ll move on to your precious Keller pack, and take them out one by one.”
My knees buckled, and I sagged against the wall, my legs too weak to support me.
He paused for a moment, as if savoring the torment he was inflicting upon me. “I’m giving you the choice to come to me, Liza. That being said, if you refuse, I won’t hesitate to activate you. And I’m sure you are aware what that means.”
The dormant power within me stirred restlessly. If Castro activated me, I would become a weapon of destruction capable of annihilating everything I loved.
I clutched the phone in my hand, Castro’s ultimatum bearing down on me. The threat of Sabrina’s death hung in the air, and beneath it all was the unspoken menace…
He would take me against my will if necessary.
“Two days,” Castro drawled. “I’ll text you an address. If you don’t show up, Sabrina is dead, and your pack will share her fate.”
“Fine.” I tried to remain steady. “Just… just don’t hurt her.”
“Tick tock, Liza.” With those chilling words, he ended the call.