Page 108 of Sinfully Yours

The last thing I needed was another tick tock message with a photo of Liam sprawled out somewhere, unconscious.

I was going.

And since charging in alone was an objectively terrible idea, I made the second stupidest decision of the day.

I called Ryan.

Of course, in retrospect, I should have started with Nate. The voice of reason. The calm one.

But I was in full-on panic mode, so I dialed the hothead first.

And now I'm paying for it.

Ryan answered on the second ring, his voice already wary. "Ava?"

"I need backup."

A beat of silence. Then, sharply, "Where are you?"

"Liam's loft."

His voice dropped into that lethal, protective tone—the one that meant someone was about to die. "Did something happen?"

"No, but Liam?—"

And that's where I lost him.

"Liam?" Ryan's tone turned acidic. "What did he do?"

I groaned. "Nothing! I mean—kind of—ugh. It's not about that. It's about Vanessa."

Silence. Then, with sharp understanding, "He's with her?"

I hesitated. "He went to meet her alone."

That was enough. Ryan didn't need more. I heard movement on the other end, keys jingling.

"Where?"

"Café Leclerc."

Ryan muttered something violent. "I'll be there in fifteen. Don't move."

I did, in fact, move.

And I made one more call.

Nate, who at least had the sense to ask, "Are you absolutely sure you want Ryan there for this?"

"No," I admitted, "but I also don't want Liam there alone."

Nate sighed. "Fine. I'm coming too."

Which is how I ended up speed-walking through downtown, heart hammering, dragging two very different but equally overprotective older brothers toward an extremely bad idea.

And as soon as we stepped into the café, I knew I'd messed up.

Because Liam was already mid-conversation with Vanessa.

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