Page 37 of Ignite
“You think this is your fault?” His eyes widened. “Ali, I was the one who fuckedup.”
Frowning, I ran over the events of the past months. I was the one who was stupid. I’d walked into The Underground like a lamb to the slaughter. I’d placed my trust in a man who warned me not to. I’d slept with him, believing I could handle it when he inevitably moved on to other conquests. The only person who fucked up was me. I wasnaive.
Liam closed his hand over the handle on the security door. “Can I please comein?”
Making a snap decision, I unlocked the security door and retreated into the living room. Liam came in, his footsteps heavy on the laminateflooring.
Peering at him out the corner of my eye, I watched as he stood in the middle of the room, glancing around before turning to faceme.
I couldn’t meet his gaze, so I stared at the wood grain between my toes. “Explain.”
“At first, it was all about saving you from Mountain, but you cameback…”
Remembering the moment I’d had my naivety shoved down my throat, Icringed.
“You were interesting,” he went on. “A breath of fresh air if you believe in that kind of shit. I could tell straight off the bat you needed some confidence, and that’s why I introduced you to Faye. I thought you would become too attached to me.” He snorted. “But I couldn’t leave you alone. I just wanted to tap that. I used you, Ali. None of it was your fault. I used your vulnerability to getlaid.”
I scowled, his words slicing into my already battered heart. It sounded like he was rattling off items on a grocery list. His confession read like a script he was reciting off a teleprompter, and it rubbed me the wrong way. Either this was a cruel joke or he was hidingsomething.
“We can’t see each other anymore,” he continued. “You can’t go back to The Underground. I’m a bastard, but I’m not about to let you get molested by Mountain or Viper. There are lines even I won’tcross.”
“You still don’t understand,” Imuttered.
“I’m doing you afavor.”
“Stop it!” I cried, finally able to look him in the eye. “Why even come here if you’re only going to shit all over me? Is this your fucked-up idea ofclosure?”
“I’m saving you from worse, Ali. I’m exactly like Viper,” he replied. “I only care about using women for a quick fuck, winning in the cage, getting rich with my fists, and being adored by a bunch of criminals. I’m shallow, arrogant, and completelyworthless.”
“You’re nothing likethat!”
“Yes, I am,” he said angrily. “That’s why I’m not any good for you. You’re different, so you’ve gotta get out before you’re sucked anydeeper.”
“You’ve got to stop this self-destructive bullshit!” I cried. “You’re notworthless!”
“It’s not self-destructive if it’s thetruth.”
“How would you know? You didn’t eventry!”
“You didn’t try, either,” he said, his lipcurling.
“I didn’t try to start anything after that night because you made it very clear you didn’t want anything more,” I said, fighting back tears. “You made it clear even though I wanted you. I knew it was a dangerous path to follow, so I tried to put you out of my mind. ButI…”
“Don’t lay this all on me. I was trying to protectyou.”
“I don’t need protecting!” I yelled. “Not fromyou!”
He jabbed a finger at himself. “Especially fromme.”
“Stop lying! Just stop it,Liam!”
He was seething, his chest rising and falling as he sucked in short, sharpbreaths.
“Tell the truth for once in your life,” I pleaded. “You come here tonight wanting to set things straight, you keep showing up when I try to move on, you help me, you seek me out… Yet you push me away at the same time, sabotaging yourself. Is it so you have an excuse not to start something with anyone? With me? I would hate to be arrogant to think you gave a shit since you were fucking my friend behind my back while you practically led me on, showering me with excusesand—”
“Because everyone leaves!” he roared, fisting his hands into his hair. “Everyone leaves.Everyone. Youhappy?”
“If you wanted…” I flinched away, my back hitting the wall. “If you wanted me to stay, I wouldhave.”
