Page 193 of Push

I didn’t say anything.

It hadn’t been like the voicemails for me. This time, I hadn’t been stranded on the side of the road, waiting for my best friend to help me pick up the pieces of my crumbling life. This time, Toby had been there for me. I turned around to peck a kiss on his neck. I hated relying on anyone, so he probably had no idea how much it meant to me that he’d come. It meant the world. It meant everything.

When I peeked up at him, his eyebrow rose, suspicious. “Why are you trying to distract me?”

“I’m not.”

He wasn’t buying it. “Is your leg hurting?”

“No.” I swatted his arm. “I just…” I reached up to touch his cheek. “I really love you, you know?”

His smile was soft, and trying to hide a sniffle, he said, “Come here. I’ve got a secret for your ears only.” His arms tightened around me. “I love you too.”

“Duh.”

Footsteps echoed down the hallway.

Toby’s murmurs of reassurance in my ear didn’t stop me from cowering into him when a long shadow darkened the doorway. Cautiously, I lifted my gaze to meet ice-blue eyes.

Liam took one slow step into the light. He frowned, his lips pressing flatter as he scanned me from top to toe, eyes lingering too long on each jagged scrape of skin. He gave a slight shake of his head, silently turned, and reached behind him.

Another person was thrown into the room.

I gasped, arms protectively pressing Noah closer to me. Romeo stumbled from the force of the push that hurtled him across the floor. At least, I assumed it was Romeo. Bruises and swelling masked his face. Except for the familiar tattoos and mussed dark curls, he could have been any man.

“Christ!” Toby was already untangling himself from behind me, launching off the bed and heading across the hazy bedroom. “Liam, what the f—”

One of Liam’s hands rose to stop Toby in his tracks. The other shot out and shoved the Italian another step closer to the bed. “On your knees.”

Head down, trembling palms raised, Romeo sank to the floor in front of me. His jaw clenched. He fought back a grimace as if every movement was agony.

Horrified, I pushed further back against the headboard. “Liam,” I breathed, squeezing Noah tighter. “What have you done?”

He ignored my question. “Look at her,” he ordered the man cowering beneath him, “and beg for mercy.”

Romeo’s bruised face lifted, swollen eyes pleading with me. “S–Signora…”

My shocked gaze whipped back up to Liam. “Stop this! What happened was my fault—”

“His job is to protect you,” Liam snapped. “And look at you!” Even as he said it, he refused to. He turned away. “His failure is unforgivable.”

“I tricked him. I ran. I—I wanted to…”

Regret deflated my shoulders, and I sank deeper into the mattress. Why did I always think I knew better? Why had I downplayed the risks when so much was on the line? My pride hadn’t just gotten me hurt this time. So many people were suffering.

Still refusing to look at me, Liam shook his head. “Why did you act so recklessly?”

The disappointment in his voice only made my heart sink deeper. “I found out what you did, and… I… I wanted to confront you. I thought this was all…just…” I thought it was a big, dumb game played by people trying to win stupid prizes. My head dropped. “I’m sorry.” I looked at each man in turn but held my husband’s gaze the longest. “So sorry.”

Toby climbed on the bed beside me. The rough swipe of the back of my hand made my tears disappear before his lips found my cheek. “Hey, it’s okay.” He cradled my head against his chest.

Still frowning, Liam sank to the very edge of the bed and, with the toe of his shoe, nudged at Romeo’s heel. “Go see Mama. She aches for someone to coddle.” The Italian’s head turned slightly. “Go before I change my mind.”

With a grunt of effort, Romeo struggled to get up. I couldn’t help the swell of pride when Toby dropped to the floor beside him, lowering his shoulder so Romeo could winch his arm around. Toby puffed out an“Oof”and got them both to their feet. My husband was a good man.

At the doorway, Toby turned and pointed an accusing finger at my brother. “Lay one finger on my girl or my kid, and you’re a dead man.”

Liam nodded and waved him away.

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