Page 57 of A Thousand Cuts

“Liam…” Fix said, guilt eating him up inside.

“It’s fine,” Liam said, finally looking at him. “I just wanted to make sure it didn’t spread around. I just…I don’t want people to know…things about me.”

“I’d never share that with anyone.” Fix ducked his head to meet Liam’s gaze. “I promise you, the only information I have is your name and address and I’m guarding that with my life.”

“I believe you,” Liam murmured. “But I needed to ask him too. He said he didn’t tell anyone else.”

“He wouldn’t.” Fix hated that his own actions were coming back to hurt Liam. “Liam, please believe me when I tell you I’d never put you in danger.”

“I already am in danger though. Aren’t I?”

“I’ll handle the curses.”

Liam shook his head, eyes shining with fear. “It’s not just the curses anymore. Someone…someone followed me home tonight.”

Fix nearly lost his mind. He put his mug down with more force than needed, turning to face Liam, who shrank down into his blanket.

“Did you get a look at them?”

Liam shook his head, tears collecting on his lash line again. “Dark clothes, face hidden. They ran after me, chased me. I…I wasn’t sure I’d manage to escape. I kept seeing these signs to run, run, run. Like they were helping me. I don’t know if that was real or if I panicked and made it up. They got so close to me, Fix. Too close.”

He buried his face in the blanket, the shivers back full force, and Fix tugged the mug out of his hands to set it on the table before it spilled. He was pretty sure he knew who had spurred Liam on to run. A stranger who only revealed themselves digitally, but kept popping up to help them when the chips were down.

Whoever they were, they’d earned themselves some major points with Fix today.

Confident now that King would let him get closer, Fix scooted over to press their sides together. “Liam, can I hold you?” he asked softly.

Liam whimpered once before turning his hidden face to the side, leaning against Fix. Fix lifted his arm and wrapped it around Liam, cradling him against his body.

King didn’t make a sound as Liam plastered himself against Fix’s side.

“Who saw you at Cane’s?” Fix asked.

“O’Malley was there,” Liam said. “I-I was his escort a few times, but I…I didn’t want to do it anymore. He was rude to me. And…rough…”

Fix clenched his teeth. “Rough how?”

“He wanted to get physical and I didn’t. He got angry.”

“Did he touch you?”

Liam curled up tighter.

“Once,” he said. “He…slapped me, and I never accepted his requests to book me after that. He was angry tonight. Said he wanted to finish what we started. He grabbed my arm pretty hard.”

Fix tensed, just about ready to go out there and find the bastard. He knew who O’Malley was. Everyone in Slatehollow did. A fucking prick disguising as a business mogul. He’d dared to touch Fix’s boy. His rational mind reminded him he hadn’t even known Liam existed when this happened, but the rest of him didn’t care. He’d touched Liam. Hurt him. And Fix would repay that in kind.

“Do you think whoever followed you had something to do with him?”

“Hart stopped him from hurting me tonight,” Liam said. “He mouthed off and then Cane kinda…leveled him. Cane told me later not to worry about him, but I know he doesn’t like beingshown up. He doesn’t like being weak. And he can’t go after Hart because of Cane so…”

“He can’t come after you either,” Fix said. “Hart has Cane to protect him. You have me.”

“Fix…”

Fix reined himself back in. “Does your arm still hurt?”

“A little,” Liam whispered.