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His emotions grew distant as he withdrew further, resisting her intrusion—shutting her out.

Shadows darkened his expression. “Alexandra, this can’t happen again for so many reasons. It’s just…” He hesitated as though he were bracing to explain, only to look away, scrubbing his face. “Liam deserves better. We cannot dishonor him this way.”

For a moment, she’d been sure he was about to say something else. “Yes, of course. I didn’t mean to… That is…”Liam. How could she have forgotten about Liam? Her lie, with its arms, legs, and tentacles. That lie had just grown teeth, biting her in the ass.Excellent plan, Alex.

Since the day Jericho had claimed her, he’d been respectful of herrelationshipwith Liam. Time and again, Alex had pushed those boundaries, counting on Jericho to have enough control for them both. While that kiss had meanteverythingto her, it had brought him nothing but misery.

She needed to ease his guilt and set this right, even if it provoked his anger. Her stomach churned at the thought of his reaction. “Jericho.” She drew a deep breath, forcing herself to meet his troubled gaze. “There’s something I need to tell you. Something I wasn’t completely honest about. You see, Liam and I, we never—”

Jericho’s pocket chimed, interrupting her confession. Alex fell silent as he extracted his cell phone and pressed it against his ear.

Caught up in her own thoughts, she paid little attention to what he was saying. He ended the call and stared at the screen, brows raised, jaw slack.

“What is it?”

“That was Doc Randall.” His deep voice registered surprise. “Liam’s awake.”

“Liam?” She pressed her hand against her soaring heart. She’d started to believe he might never wake up. “Liam’s awake! I should be there.”

She spun and took off at a run. It took a moment to realize that her racing feet were the only ones she heard. She glanced over her shoulder to discover that Jericho hadn’t followed. The growing distance between them said it all.

Alex was running to Liam.

Jericho was letting her go.

Sixteen

Liam smiledto see a familiar face peek around the door. Alex took halting steps into the room. Gods, she was a sight for sore eyes. Alive and well and…what the hell was she wearing, a scrap of tinfoil?

“Hey there, Sunshine,” he said, voice a hoarse croak. He turned his hand, palm up, and lifted it from the bed, using far too much effort. Weak as a babe at its mother’s tit. Was there any inch of him that didn’t hurt?

At his invitation, she rushed to his side. Her smaller hand gripped his fingers, and images of a frightened little girl in a dark alley flicked through his mind. He’d never forget the humbling moment when a six-year-old had wrapped him around her wee finger.

Doc Randall looked up from his charts and moved to a polite distance, giving them space to talk.

Alex sank into the chair at his bedside. No doubt she’d spent many hours there keeping vigil over his sorry ass.

“About damn time you woke up,” she choked through a watery smile.

“Hey, now, enough of that.” He swiped a tear from her cheek with his knuckle. Feminine tears. There were few things capable of weakening him faster.

His smile spread when the door swung open once more. He figured his old friend wouldn’t be too far from Alex’s side. She cast a glance over her shoulder, tensing when Jericho stood next to her.

“Jericho. Good to see you.” He released Alex’s fingers and extended his hand.

Jericho latched on, holding tight. “Likewise, my friend.” The words were thick with emotion.

Alex raised tear-filled eyes to Jericho, then glanced away, her expression clouded with guilt.

Liam watched the exchange with curiosity. “You look good, Sunshine. You had me worried there for a bit.”

“You were worried about me?” Her brows arched into her bangs. “Next time you decide to play Superman, you might want to remember you’re not made of steel.”

Liam snorted. It might not have been one of his brighter ideas, but Alex was safe, and that was all that mattered. “Yeah, well, I bet Superman would have stopped all the bullets. I’m just glad Jericho got to you in time. How are your injuries? Has he been taking care of you?”

Cheeks reddening, she shrugged one shoulder, coming nowhere close to pulling off the indifference she was striving for. “Um, yes, Jericho’s taken excellent care of me.”

Jericho shifted and scowled at the floor.