Page 99 of Sinfully Yours

"This wasn't just personal," he finally mutters, his voice dangerously calm. "She was forcing me out of the industry."

I suck in a sharp breath, realization hitting me all at once. That's why she wanted me to break. That's why she wanted me to think Liam was hiding something from me. If Liam would remain busy comforting me, he'd have no time to check what was happening to his business until it'd be too late.

Vanessa understands Liam, and she was using me to get to him.

"She wanted me to doubt you," I murmur, my chest tightening. "She wanted me to think you were lying, that you were part of something bigger. She wanted me to leave you, didn't she?"

Liam's silence is answer enough.

I squeeze my hands into fists, my nails biting into my palms. "That psychotic, manipulative?—"

Just then, my phone buzzes with a text from an anonymous number. Even before reading it, I know.

Liam and Tyler both lean in to see as I lift the screen.

You think you're safe now? Think again.

My hands shake as I read the message twice over and stare at the attached photo. The faces staring back at me from the screen—Dean, Ryan, Nate—are blurred slightly by the dim lighting, but they're unmistakable. They're at the construction site, completely unaware of the eyes watching them.

I swallow the panic rising in my throat and immediately move to dial Dean's number, but before I can press call, Liam's fingers wrap around my wrist, firm but careful.

"Ava, wait."

"Wait?" I snap, my voice thin with disbelief. "Liam, my brothers?—"

"I know." His jaw tightens. "But think. If we call them now, if we tell them everything, what do you think they'll do?"

"They'll stop her!"

"Or they'll go looking for a fight they're not ready for."

That stops me cold. Because he's right. Dean and Ryan especially wouldn't sit back and wait. They'd storm into the situation headfirst, fists first, demanding answers and throwing punches before we even know who's on the other end of this.

And that could get them killed.

I inhale sharply, forcing myself to think.Breathe. Don't react. Don't play into their hands.

"Okay," I whisper. "Okay. Then what do we do?"

Liam glances at Tyler, who's already typing furiously, digging deeper into the files. "We use what we have on Vanessa, force her into a corner, and cut off her leverage before she can make a move."

I nod, my fingers tightening around my phone. It's the smart plan. The logical plan.

But I feel helpless.

Liam must see it because his hand shifts from my wrist to lace our fingers together, grounding me. "We'll keep them safe, Ava. I promise."

I close my eyes for a second, absorbing his strength. Then I exhale and nod.

Tyler lets out a low whistle from his corner. "Well, I've got more news."

Liam turns. "Spill."

Tyler grimaces. "There's a mole, someone who's close to us—could be me, you, Ava, or her brothers. They're good. Whoever's been feeding Vanessa intel knows how to cover their tracks. I'm still working on identifying them, but it's not going to be easy."

21

LIAM

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