Page 17 of Trust In Me

My terrified screech of surprise echoes around the room, and Liam takes a giant step back, holding his arm outstretched and his palms out, showing me he’s not a threat. He looks around tentatively, and that’s when he sees my phone on the floor. Luckily, it’s only the tempered glass screen that’s broken.

Liam reaches down to pick up the phone, and even though I don’t think he would read it, I’m pleased the screen is locked and he can’t get into it without a passcode. “Looks like it got damaged when you dropped it. What has made you even more skittish than usual, Mia?” Liam asks, his eyes and his voice a lot gentler than you would expect when you look at him. Liam may have been raised by shitty parents, taught to murder at a young age, to turn his emotions on and off as needed, but in spite of all that, Liam is actually an emotionally well-balanced guy. He’s also one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met, with a morality streak and a hero complex. I have no idea if he’s secretly screwed up on the inside. I think I secretly hope he is because the idea that it really is possible to survive a shit childhood pisses me off. Then again, to the outside world I had the perfect life. Sometimes scars aren’t visible but they burn deep into our soul. It’s the type of pain that intrinsically alters a person so they’re never the same again.

“Oh erm, nothing. But thanks for picking my phone up.” I reach out and take the phone out of his hand, quickly putting it into my back pocket while Liam stares at me. He’s looking at me, assessing my body to try and find out if I’m hiding something. I used to be good at hiding my secrets, schooling my face so that nobody would know I was different. But, the more time I spend with Kellan, Bree, and Liam, the more human I feel. I’ve spent the last five years getting comfortable, and now my father has pulled the rug out from under me, terrorising me all over again.

Fuck, maybe that is why he let me run?

When I first ran away from my family, and the obligations that came with it, I was shocked that he didn’t drag me back. I changed my last name legally, but that didn’t mean, with his connections, he couldn’t easily track me. Yet, he never did. Now I’m wondering if he let me go because I’d become immune to his bullshit. For years I cried, I fought back, I lost sleep as the terror and pain spread through my body, causing me to feel ill constantly. This went on for years, until I realised that instilling the fear in me, and seeing the terrified expression on my face, that was all part of the game to him. Part of the abuse, and he got off on it. When I finally realised that, I learnt to school my face, to pretend that the horrendous shit he put me through each and every day wasn’t too bad, and with each day that passed, I could see his annoyance grow.

When I finally stopped caring, that’s when he grew bored with me and I saw my opportunity to run. But, now that I’ve tasted freedom, I have a lot more to lose.

Liam clears his throat to get my attention, and I realise he just said something that I missed entirely. I mutter an apology, but he repeats his question anyway. “I know you aren’t as close to me as you are Kellan and Bree, but I want you to know there’s nothing you can’t tell me. I consider you like family now, and I protect my family. I can tell I walked in on something here, but I completely understand if you aren’t ready to talk about it. However, I need to know that the rest of my family is safe too. Has Kyle Fratacello been in touch again since the other day that Kellan told us about?”

Releasing the breath I didn’t realise I was holding, I wait for him to say something. For him to realise that me being here is a danger for not only him but the people we both care a lot about. Even though the idea of leaving Kellan, Hallie, and Bree causes a deep ache in my chest, I also know it’s probably for the best. They are better off without the shit I bring with me. I keep thinking Liam will tell me to leave, but he doesn’t say anything.

“Yes,” I whisper, not bothering to lie anymore. What’s the point? I’m going to be in danger regardless, and maybe this way Liam can keep the people I care about safe.

Liam uses his free hand to lead me over to the sofa, Hallie sits peacefully on Liam’s knee, as she strokes his face and pulls on his hair. Every time he gives her even the smallest smile, she chuckles and giggles like a lovesick school girl.

“Why didn’t you tell any of us?” Liam asks, and I avert my eyes from his piercing green gaze.

Taking a deep breath, I try to school my nerves so I can reply as honestly as possible. “I was afraid. Not of them, but of you guys. When it was just me, I had nothing left to lose. But, now that I have all of you, I have so much more to lose. I can’t let any of you get hurt because of me. These are dangerous psychopaths, and I don’t want any of you anywhere near them.”

I see the moment my words register with Liam, and it’s like a red mist descends across his face. Fury etched there for all to see. Fuck, looks like I better get my shit packed. But, as he opens his mouth to speak, I’m stunned by what he says. “What do you mean bythem? Is Kyle not the only person threatening you, Mia?”

Oops! I obviously didn’t tell him about my father’s involvement.

“My father has been in touch with me. He is the one who made it very clear that my familial obligations are to marry Kyle. I ran away from them both five years ago, but with the exception of changing my name and trying to keep off social media, I didn’t exactly hide. My father left me alone to complete my course, but he’s always made it clear that when I finish, I have to return home. Now my course is almost finished, he wants me to come home and plan my wedding to Kyle. I don’t think he knows exactly where I am. Kellan has been working on hiding my location, but he has a good idea I’m with Bree. I know I shouldn’t have brought this shit to your door, and I can only apologise.” My words rush out and I can’t hold back the sob that racks my body at the end. Tears I didn’t even realise had formed begin to stroll down my cheeks.

“Listen, Mia. Am I happy you brought this shit to our door? No. But I also acknowledge that it isn’t your fault. Besides, we all bring a fair share of baggage to this house, but we get through it all as a family. You don’t have to go back to them, Mia. Talk to Kellan and have him block the numbers. Okay?” he asks, as he very tentatively lays his hand on my shoulder. He obviously remembers from before that touch isn’t something I’m used to or comfortable with. Strangely, the sensation of having his firm hand on my t-shirt-covered arm isn’t startling this time because I know it's coming, and I’m not as repulsed by him as I am with strangers. I think it’s because I don’t fear him.

I whisper words of thanks, which Hallie finds hilarious and she giggles for no reason, lightening the mood around us. But, Liam still has that no-nonsense look on his face, and I realise he isn’t finished. “Mia, we have respected your wishes so far, and we haven’t told Kellan the details of who your father is. Bree hasn’t even told me his name, only that he’s a bad guy. The type of guy that has his sticky fingers in a lot of pots, but never gets caught. He is the type who is quick to push others under the bus to save himself. If he’s a danger to us, all I ask is that you divulge who he is, so we can do our research and get properly prepared. We will go to bat for you, but we can only do that if we know the enemy we are fighting against.” His words are stern but honest, and I know he’s right. The longer I keep them in the dark about my father, the more risk I put them in. But, I am also worried about the danger they will walk into if they do start looking into who my father is. To say he is a bad guy is a massive fucking understatement. Even I don’t know the true extent of his evil, but I know what he did to me. If he’s capable of inflicting such horror on his only daughter, then in my opinion his evil knows no bounds.

“When the time is right and we have no other alternatives, I will tell you everything. It’s a lot to deal with, and I don’t want you all to see me differently if you don’t have to,” I mutter, averting my eyes from his penetrating gaze. I can tell he isn’t happy with my response, but I think he understands. This is more than me just being ashamed of my background. Thankfully he nods understandingly. Even if he isn’t happy, or doesn’t agree with my choice, he respects it. I like Liam.

“You know, Kellan won’t ever trust you completely until you open up. I’m not telling you this to talk you into telling us, that is your own decision and I respect that. I’m not stupid, I can see that you like Kellan, and he likes you. I think that’s why you scare him so much. He will kill me for saying this to you, so please don’t ever repeat it. I’m not going to tell you the whole story, because it’s not mine to tell. But before Hallie, he had never had a girlfriend. He was quite happy sleeping around and not forming any real commitments. His mum abandoned him at just six years old. He bounced around to several foster homes before I eventually brought him home with me, and my parents adopted him. He had severe abandonment issues before Hallie came into his life. The woman who carried Hallie for nine months doesn’t deserve the title of Mum. She steamrolled through Kellan's life, and when she fell pregnant, Kellan knew he had to settle down. I think he really thought he had feelings for this girl. I don’t believe he did, but the point is, he did. Then she did the worst thing imaginable, she abandoned him and Hallie, only further adding to his already harmful abandonment issues. So he closed himself off, and he vowed never to let anyone else in. That Hallie would be his priority, and I believe she always will be. Then you come along, and you make him feel, which is what scares him. He will push you away, that’s what he does. If you like him, you have to let him push you away until you are strong enough to trust him implicitly. Until you are strong enough to hold on and fight for him, you need to let him go.”

Fuck. Liam isn’t telling me anything I didn’t already know, but hearing him say the words out loud, warning me off Kel, it makes me feel like shit. The sinking feeling in my stomach seems to grow, and it feels like a black hole’s opening up inside my chest, and I’m about to sink into it. I already know I'm not good enough for a guy like Kellan. He’s smart, funny, kind, caring, and unbelievably hot. He’s the type of guy that girls like me fantasise over. He isn’t the type of guy we ever get to take home, no matter how much we fucking desperately want to.

“I know I’m no good for him. I’ve made that very clear to him. Besides, whatever happened before is in the past. He’s my boss now. I can promise you, I won’t risk my career for any guy,” I say passionately, and I mean it. The only difference is that, where Kellan is concerned, I know I don’t even have to consider risking my career. Guys like him don’t end up with girls like me. He may enjoy flirting with me, and the thrill of the chase, but we both know that between us we barely make up one whole person. Two people as broken as us can never work together.

Before Liam has a chance to reply, Bree comes bouncing down the stairs, her eyes wide with a look of shock and terror etched across her face. She’s holding her phone out in front of her, and it looks as though she is on a video call. Whatever the other person is saying has obviously scared the shit out of her. As soon as she reaches the living room, she leans down as though she’s about to kiss Liam, but places her lips on Hallie’s forehead. It’s such a sweet gesture, yet Liam looks hurt that he missed out, and Hallie is obviously a jealous baby because she whacks Bree around the face with her little chubby hand. Apparently Hallie feels threatened by Bree, and is determined she won’t stand between her and Liam. I can’t help but chuckle as they both stare at a giggling Hallie like they can’t quite believe she just did that. This girl is going to be a fucking nightmare when she’s a teenager!

An indistinct, muffled voice escapes from Bree’s held out phone, and that’s when Bree looks at me with fear in her eyes. “Ryleigh is on the phone. She wants to know about the hen party. Apparently she wants to organise a stripper. Help me,” Bree pleads, a comedic look of fear spread across her face.

I hear a giggling from the comfy chair in the corner of the room and look over to see Kian has joined us. I know that it’s the guy's job to be Bree’s bodyguard, and that covert behaviour is a skill in his world, but if that boy jumps out at me one more time, I’m going to smack him around his head. My heart stops beating every time he shows up unexpectedly, and it’s frying my bloody nerves to shreds.

“I don’t know what you are laughing at, Kian. You are going to be at this bloody event, and you are damn sure going to be by my side every fucking second. So if some muscular guy, covered in baby oil, with a thong shoved up his ass starts thrusting in my face, your face better be fucking millimetres away too. What I endure, so do you!” she shouts, but Kian just laughs harder, as he almost creases in half on the chair.

Liam, who clearly has no sense of personal safety, starts to laugh too, and the evil gaze that Bree throws this way is enough to kill. Before she has a chance to throw down with Liam, and it’s very fucking clear she’s willing to tear him a new asshole for laughing and not helping her, Ryleigh’s voice echoes through the speaker. “There isn’t supposed to be any boys at a hen party, other than very naked strippers,” Ryleigh moans like the spoiled little baby of the family that she is. I may have only known her a few months, but I know that everyone sees her as the baby of the family, and they wrap her in cotton wool to protect her. As a result, she rebels. That’s why she currently has her hair dyed a bright purple colour, she wears very provocative clothing, flirts with anyone who moves, and isn't above doing things just to shock her family. This is the only version of Ryleigh I’ve ever got to know, but there will be a real version in there, the one hidden beneath all the bravado and teenage angst.

“Wait, does that mean I’m not invited?” shouts a male voice over the phone. Bree’s face lights up into a smile and it’s clear the person just became visible on her phone screen. I recognise the voice as Vinnie Marcushio, or Shane as he is now known. He’s the reason Bree is here, alive.

After the dust settled, the Marcushios wanted revenge for what happened, hating the idea their name was dragged through the mud. Half of them blamed Vinnie, and wanted his head on a platter, the others still acknowledged him as their leader. But, Vinnie is just a terrified kid who was put in a shit position, he was manipulated by Vernon after his dad’s death. He’s far too young to be involved in our world. So, Liam enrolled him in Ryleigh’s boarding school, and now they are doing their final year together. They are the best of friends, but it’s obvious to everyone except Liam and Vinnie—shit, I need to remember to call him Shane now—it’s obvious to all except them that they are head over heels in love with each other.

“You are invited to my stag do the week before, Shane,” calls Liam from beside me on the couch.

“Sweet, thanks for that, Liam. God, you aren’t letting Kellan organise it, are you?” Shane shouts with a groan. Kellan appears out of nowhere, bouncing down the stairs just in time to hear his name being mentioned.

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