CHAPTER XXXIX
“ S enora,” Jerimiah announced.
I set my violin down, turning to meet his gaze with a smile.
“Mr. Liam is here to see you,” he said with a respectful bow before leaving the room.
“Hey, Liam,” I called out as he stepped inside. I stood, wrapping my arms around my best friend in a hug that lingered longer than usual.
“How have you been?” he asked as we pulled apart.
“I’m good,” I replied.
He glanced around, his brow furrowing slightly. “Where is everyone?”
“Nico and the guys went to handle some business at the club,” I explained. “Mya and Tabi are watching a movie with the kids.”
He raised an eyebrow. “And why aren’t you with them?”
I shrugged, a small smile playing on my lips. “Just wasn’t in the mood for a movie marathon.”
He nodded knowingly. “Want to take a walk outside?”
“Yeah. Just let me grab my jacket.”
Liam followed me to the closet at the front entrance to retrieve my jacket. We stepped outside, the cool air embracing us, and Demon trotted happily at my side.
“So, how far can we go?” Liam asked, hands shoved in his pockets as he glanced out at the yard.
I pointed toward a red flag fluttering at the far end of the tall fence. “See that? That’s as far as we’re allowed.” It was Nico’s way of reminding everyone of the boundary we could not cross.
He chuckled softly. “Wow, that’s not very far at all.”
I laughed along with him. “Yeah, Nico’s a bit overprotective.”
“A bit?” Liam scoffed, shaking his head. “That man is a menace.”
I couldn’t argue with that.
We settled on the swing in the gazebo, Demon lying contentedly at my feet. The world around us fell into a serene silence.
“So, what brings you by?” I asked.
“I miss you,” he murmured. “And I wanted to apologize.”
I turned to face him, my hands instinctively curling beneath my thighs. “For what, exactly?”
He leaned back, setting the swing in motion, his gaze distant. “For not protecting you when I saw you at the warehouse…” His breath caught, the unfinished thought hanging heavy between us.
He turned to me, his face full of anguish. “I wanted to save you, but I knew if I intervened, I would be dead, and no one would ever know what happened to you.”
“Liam,” I said softly, my heart aching for him. “It’s not your fault. You don’t need to carry that burden. I don’t blame you.”
He met my gaze, his eyes clouded with sadness. “Really? You don’t hate me?”
I shook my head fiercely. “No way. You’re still my favorite person.”
I rested my head on his shoulder, trying to offer him comfort.
“Of course I am,” he said with a chuckle.
We swayed gently, the world around us fading.
“So, what’s it like having your father back in your life?” Liam asked.
“Honestly? Weird, but awesome at the same time.”
He raised an eyebrow. “It must feel good having him around, especially with everything that happened... with your mom.”
“It does,” I replied.
“As soon as this mess is behind us, do you think you’ll go back to Italy with him?” Liam asked.
It had crossed my mind. The future with Nico felt uncertain, and I sensed that he wouldn’t let me go easily if I left.
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “I haven’t thought it through all the way.”
“I imagine Nico would have quite the opinion about that,” he said, letting out a light chuckle.
“Honestly? I couldn’t give a shit what Nico thinks,” I scoffed.
“Wow!” Liam laughed heartily. “I’ve never heard you swear like that before.”
Sticking my tongue out playfully at him, I couldn’t help but grin. Ever since my abduction and the torture I’d endured, something within me had shifted. I had adopted a carefree, I-don’t-give-a-damn attitude. Whether that was a blessing or a curse, I couldn’t quite tell.
Before I could share that with him, Demon’s ears perked up, and he dropped down onto all fours, adopting a defensive stance.
“What was that?” Liam halted his rocking and stood, peering out toward the edge of the gazebo.
“What did you hear?” I asked, standing up and pulling my jacket tighter around me.
Then another noise sliced through the night—like a twig snapping and the rustle of leaves.
“It’s probably just a rabbit or something,” I said uneasily.
“If it were an animal, Demon would be bounding out there to catch it,” Liam countered. “Let’s head inside.” He took my hand, and I felt a surge of comfort in his grip.
We rushed down the steps, and I glanced back and saw Demon still standing sentinel, his gaze fixed on the shadows. “Come on, boy,” I called, patting my knee. He trotted over to my side, staying close.
We’d only taken a few steps when there was a crashing sound behind us, followed by something heavy hitting the ground.
Demon started to bark, and my eyes widened. A guard’s decapitated head rolled toward my feet and stared up at me.
“What the hell?!” Liam shouted. “We need to get out of here!” He yanked my hand and propelled me forward.
“Security breach!” he bellowed.
“Over here!” the guard stationed by the door yelled, sprinting toward us. Just as we reached the back door, an arrow zipped past me, grazing my ear before striking the guard in the chest, sending him crashing to the ground.
“We’re under attack!” Liam continued to shout. We burst through the door, hurling ourselves inside.
I glanced over my shoulder, my heart racing as I took in Liam’s frantic movements. “Go!” he barked. “Get the girls and the kids into the panic room! You too!”
“No! I won’t leave you, Liam!” I shot back.
“Damnit, Gigi! You don’t understand—just do it or?—”
Glass exploded around us, and in an instant, a man yanked Liam out through the shattered window.
“No!” I screamed.
Demon erupted into a frenzy, barking wildly at the door.
Tabi and Mya burst into the kitchen. “What the hell is happening?” Mya screeched.
“Take the boys and get to the panic room! Now! And call Nico!”
“What? Why?” Mya stammered.
“Gigi! Watch out!” Tabi screamed as I turned to the back door just in time to see a man cloaked in black, his face hidden behind a sinister mask. He struck me hard in my chest, sending me crashing to the ground.
Demon lunged at the intruder, barking ferociously, but the man delivered a swift kick, and he yelped in pain.
“Guards!” Mya’s voice rang out as she ran out of the kitchen.
“You asshole!” Tabi shouted. She snatched the nearest object and swung, but it went wide.
“Tabi, don’t!” I cried.
He seized her by the throat, lifting her effortlessly off the ground. She gasped for air, her legs flailing helplessly.
“Let her go, you son of a bitch!” I snarled.
I sprang to my feet, every muscle tense with fury. Snatching the knife from the table, I lunged toward him and slashed at his hands. The blade cut through the skin, and he howled.
He released Tabi, and she tumbled to the floor, gasping for breath. I drove the knife into his side, feeling the resistance of flesh and the warm spray of blood. He staggered back, his face contorted in pain, and stumbled over his own feet.
Gunshots erupted outside, and Mya returned to the kitchen and let out a piercing scream before throwing herself to the ground.
“Come on!” I yelled as I snatched Tabi’s hand and propelled us toward Mya. “Get the kids and hide, now!”
Mya dashed down the hall, Aurelio clutched tightly in her arms. Tabi quickly scooped up Tristan, and they raced toward the panic room.
I pivoted sharply, and my heart raced as I spotted a man charging at me. Before I could react, he lunged forward, his hands closing around my neck. He hoisted me off the ground and slammed me down onto the unforgiving tile floor, knocking the breath from my lungs.
“Fuck!” I hissed, kicking at the asshole.
Gunfire continued to erupt in rapid succession.
“Come here, you little bitch!” the man snarled.
“No!” I delivered a swift kick, aiming for his groin, and unleashed a series of punches with all my might. But his massive frame pinned me down.
Demon lunged forward, his jaws clamping down on the man's face. The man howled.
“Move, Demon!” I commanded, scrambling to reach for the knife that laid by the man’s side. With a growl, I plunged the blade deep into his neck.
“Die, motherfucker!” I spat.
The man’s eyes widened, his life slipping away as blood gushed from the wound.
Footsteps echoed behind me. I snatched up the man’s gun, adrenaline surging through my veins as I aimed it at the sound of feet bounding into the room.
“Whoa! It’s okay, Gigi!” one of the guards called out.
I bolted toward the back door.
“Liam!” I shouted as I flung open the shattered glass door. The guards were yelling, urging me to return, but I was already outside; I needed to find my best friend.
Panic coursed through me as I scanned the area. Where the hell was he?
Someone grabbed my arm. “Stop. Get inside before—” A blade went through the guard’s neck, and his eyes widened. The man in a mask yanked the knife out, and the guard fell to the ground.
I glanced back as I ran, my heart pounding, and witnessed the stranger’s menacing approach, each step deliberate and sinister as if hunting his prey. Demon barked fiercely and leaped at the man, but a brutal blow to his head silenced him.
“No,” I screamed. I sprinted toward the guards, but a rough rope tightened around my throat from behind, yanking me backward.
I struggled, clawing at the coarse fibers, but the asshole’s strength overpowered me.
He began to pull me backward. I planted my feet firmly on the ground and dug in my heels, determined to resist being dragged away.
“Let her go, you son of a bitch!” Liam hollered. The stranger dropped the rope, and grunts and the sound of flesh colliding filled my ears.
I rolled onto my stomach and saw Liam wresting with the stranger, who was built like a tank.
“Gigi, run! Run toward the guards!” Liam screamed.
Then a gun caught my eye. My heart stopped as I realized what was about to happen. “Liam! Watch out!”
But it was too late. Liam’s body jerked violently with each shot. He stumbled, his knees giving way as he crumpled to the ground.
“NO!”