Page 28 of The Savior

CHAPTER TEN

“No!” Liam kicked, and his fists flew up. Blinking, he tried to make sense of what was happening, but the suffocating cloud disappeared. His heartbeat drummed. Sweat dampened his chest, and he blinked again, making sense of his surroundings. The guest room. He’d been sleeping. “Damn.”

His fists fell limp, and he kicked away the tangled sheets. He hadn’t had a nightmare since… well, never. He didn’t often dream.

But that nightmare could’ve been real. Linda and Frank and even Chelsea had called for help. They’d begged for a savior. The closer he came, the farther they slipped away.

He walked to a window overlooking pine trees lining the backyard and pressed his forehead against the cool glass as afternoon sun poured over him. He hated the orange glow of the late day. It made rooms too hot and promised time was slipping away.

Liam rubbed his eyes and checked the alarm clock. He hadn’t meant to nap for this long. Though his sluggish mind had cleared, he had a duty to Linda and Frank. He walked to the bathroom, only allowing a few minutes to pull himself together, and hustled downstairs, uncomfortable that he’d burdened Chelsea.

Protecting the Nymans was his duty. The situation was his fault, and Chelsea couldn’t understand the gravity of the threat. At least, not when he couldn’t share information. Senator Sorenson would have his ass thrown in a black hole so fast, he wouldn’t even see the black helicopters swooping in to take him away.

***

“Well, well, well.” Chelsea straightened in the oversized chair. “Good afternoon, Sleeping Beauty.”

Liam slowed, taking her in as though she were the one who needed a psych consult. Perhaps no one had ever called him a Disney princess before.

“I didn’t mean to sleep that long,” he said gruffly. “Sorry.”

Chelsea stretched. Other than quick trips to the bathroom or to snag fast meals from the fridge, she hadn’t moved. “Not a single hiccup to report.”

Rest had brought color back to his face, but his eyes danced around. “Thanks—” He walked to the window and glanced toward the driveway. “They left?”

“Uh, yes.”

“You let them leave?”

She chewed the inside of her mouth, trying to remember that Liam was losing his mind and that swiftly kicking him in the ’nads wouldn’t be kind. “I did.”

He paced and muttered. Chelsea could’ve sworn she heard something about reckless irresponsibility.

“Sorry,” she snipped, all her do-gooder sentiments gone as he continued to grumble. “I forgot my bags of chains and restraints at home.”

He stopped cold and gawked as if she’d thrown off her shirt.

The weird comparison made heat skirt up her neck, but she brushed the awkward thought away. “You should try asking what day it is after you say hello.”

His face pinched. “Excuse me?”

“Or even how long you slept…” She tried to control the snark, but given that the alternative was shouting, Chelsea didn’t fault herself too much.

He hesitated. “How long did I sleep?”

“You walked upstairs yesterday morning.”

His lips parted, but he smacked them together. “Damn it.”

“You’re welcome, Chelsea,” she offered. “Thank you, Chelsea, for taking part in this elaborate charade—”

“You stayed there?” He gestured toward the oversized chair in disbelief.

“The whole time? Yup. Don’t ask me why,” she answered.

Liam cast a self-conscious look her way. “You didn’t sleep.”

“I’m exhausted like I’ve never been. And hungry.”

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