Chapter Ten #3
‘But I do. It’s not possible.’ He leans forward, and suddenly I’m leaning forward too, and his hand is on my knee and our lips are meeting and the wind is buffeting my hair around us and it’s a storm of sensation.
His knee goes between mine, and I clamp it there, my body overloaded with feelings, trembling as he cups my face gently with his hand, tugging me closer, deepening the kiss.
A sudden flurry of hoots, whistles and applause pulls us apart – ah. We’re swooping past the bottom of the ride, and the people in line have noticed us.
Liam grins, and I offer the cheering onlookers a weak smile. The truth is, I feel emptied out. Raw.
The bucket ascends for another round. It’s darker.
The wind is stronger. The world beneath us goes tiny again, and it’s incredible that all these lives are playing out down there, each with their own dramas, their own tragedies.
I wonder how many disappeared women are right down there, somewhere, in the dark, if my eyes were just sharp enough to find them.
We complete the ride in silence, and when we get off, I don’t even know what I’m feeling.
‘You’re shaking,’ Liam says, rubbing my arm, which is covered in painful goosebumps.
‘I’m cold,’ I whisper.
‘We could go back to your place.’
‘Or your place.’ My heart is racing, because all of a sudden, my plan seems very flimsy indeed. If we go back to his place, he might expect that we’ll sleep together. And I’m sure as hell not doing that, no matter how much half of me seems to want to. ‘Where do you live, anyway?’
‘Wicker Park.’
‘Let’s go there.’
‘Or we could grab a bite to eat first. You hungry?’
Why is he stalling? Then again, I could use some nosh. Maybe a hot dog from a stand with mustard and relish, Chicago style.
‘Yeah. Sure.’ We’ll eat. I’ll fortify myself. Then, I’m gaining access to his apartment. Just like I planned.
As we walk hand in hand back up Navy Pier, a yank on my shoulder pulls me forward.
‘Ouch!’ I cry, and in the ensuing stumble, I realize what happened. ‘Fuck! My purse!’
A guy in a black sweatshirt is sprinting off. It happened so fast, I can’t even process. Like a bolt, Liam springs after him.
‘Wait! Liam!’ I shout just as the adrenaline catches up with me, burning my skin. ‘It’s not worth it!’
But Liam is insanely fast, and before I can wrap my head around what’s happened, he’s tackling the guy.
I jog forward even as a little circle of people gathers.
Phones are coming out, and a woman is saying, ‘Should someone call the police?’ The two men are a shadowy blur on the ground.
There’s grunting and tousling – then Liam is on top, straddling the guy.
‘Fucking thief!’ he grunts, swings an arm back, and punches the perp right in the face. The thief groans and releases my purse, which goes flying somewhere off to the left.
‘Let me go, man!’ says the guy, trying to protect his face. Liam draws back his arm like he’s going to hit him again.
‘Liam!’ I shriek. ‘Stop!’
He turns his face to me. I almost don’t recognize him.
He’s all harsh angles and dangerous fury.
For a second, we look at each other. He blinks once, like he’s waking up.
Shakes himself. Then nods. Climbs off the guy and dusts off his pants.
The wannabe thief scrambles away, skidding off into the crowd, and a kind stranger hands me my purse.
‘You OK?’ Liam says, brushing off his shirt.
My heart is going to gallop out of my chest. ‘Yeah,’ I say. But I’m not. Watching Liam transform like that and so easily overpower someone has me scared. It’s a little too easy to imagine the person he was straddling could have been me, alone, in his apartment. Or Zoe.
‘Want to make sure everything’s still in there?’ he says, gesturing to my bag.
My voice comes out shaky. ‘Sure.’ I rummage through my purse to check, but it’s just for show. Liam got the guy so fast, he wouldn’t have had time to remove anything. ‘All here.’ Weaponry included. Even Ramone the squirrel is miraculously intact.
Liam gives me a small nod. He looks away from me. I can’t read his mood.
‘So … quick bite to eat, then back to your place?’ I say, trying to keep my tone light.
He pauses a beat too long. ‘Actually, I’d better call it a night.’
‘Oh. You’re not hungry any more?’
His eyes finally lock on to mine. They’re like smoldering coals, burning with dark energy. ‘I just remembered I have an early meeting.’ He cracks a grin, but it seems forced, like a mask. ‘Better get home and get some beauty rest.’
I swallow. So I’m not getting into his apartment tonight. Maybe that’s for the best.
‘Well … see you later.’
‘Yeah. Get home safe.’ He eyes me, almost like he’s considering if he should lean in for a hug or a kiss. Then, before I can respond, he stalks off into the dark.
I stand there until he disappears into the crowd.
Now I’m legitimately shaking. From cold, from fear, from overwhelm. From the violently teetering seesaw of thoughts and emotions that has pulled me all night between extremes. Zoe is dead. Or maybe she’s not. Liam’s a killer. Or maybe he’s not.
The first two dates, Liam was Mr Perfect. A well-mannered gentleman who always said the right thing. But tonight I saw a different side. A side that feels dangerous.
Who are you, Liam Porter?