Page 158 of Between Secrets and Obsession

“Maddie, I’m really fucking sorry about this, for lying to you and ultimately getting you involved. I never wanted this to happen, and I’m kicking myself for not staying away from you, but I fucked up. I don’t think I can apologize enough?—”

“I know you are,” she interjects. “I was upset and hurt at first, but after processing everything, I understand why you couldn’t tell me. If the positions were reversed, I would’ve done the same thing to protect our relationship. I trust you, Liam. You’ve always had my best interests at heart, always tried to keep me safe and protected me. I can’t fault you for any of that. I do hate the way things ended between us the last time, though.”

My emotions get the best of me, but I tuck them away as usual. “I’ve only always wanted the best for you, and there are times when I felt like that wasn’t me and would never be good enough regardless of how much you insisted I was. Doesn’t help your sisters are scary as hell,” I admit.

“Trust me when I say they already want to castrate you,” she slyly mentions. “Especially Sophie.”

“I can’t wait to tell them everything and clear the air. They deserve to know the truth. I’m sick of lying to them, and I hate the way they looked at me like I’m a monster.”

Maddie snickers. “You’re not the monster. You’re just married to one.”

I sigh. “That much is true.”

“You’re breaking up a bit,” she says, and Tyler mentions they’ll lose service soon. Considering they’re more than likely traveling down remote mountain roads, it doesn’t surprise me. While I want to talk to her all night long, our time is coming to an end.

“Alright. I’ll let you go then.”

“Okay, please take care of yourself. As long as you’re in Vegas around that psycho, you’re not safe.”

I grin at how adorable she is for being concerned about me. “I can handle her especially now since Tyler got me a Get Out of Jail Free card. Be careful, and listen to him, as hard as that might be for you.”

She snorts. “Whatever you say,Hulk.”

I grin at her sassy tone. Classic Maddie.

“And Mads?”

“Yeah?”

I hesitate for a moment because I imagined a much better way for telling her this for the first time, but if I’ve learned anything this past year, I can’t take anything for granted.

“I love you,” I tell her softly. “I love you so fucking much.”

The other end goes silent, and for a moment, I’m scared she didn’t hear me because we lost connection, but then she sniffs.

“Says the man who thought he was incapable of love,” she says. “I love you too. I always have.”

Hearing her say those words back means more than she’ll ever realize. It meanseverything.

“Good night, sweetheart. We’ll talk soon.”

“Okay, good night.”

I sit on the edge of my bed, my body buzzing with relief and nerves. Every text message and call from that number is deleted before I place my phone on the charger. There’s no way I’m leaving any sort of evidence behind for Victoria to find. I’m filled with shock and awe, and I’m so damn grateful for Tyler. The man is honorable and loyal, and without him, I’m not sure how I would’ve gotten us out of this mess.

After a while, I lie on my bed, adrenaline pumping through my veins as I figure out what to do next. Somehow, I have to break away from Victoria’s hold and go to Tyler’s to get his laptop. The only problem is time because it’s running out fast, and she’ll want to retaliate any way she can once she discovers Maddie is gone. Eventually, I’ll have all the cards in my hand, and she’ll have nothing. It’s about damn time.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

MADDIE

We’ve been drivingfor hours, and my back is killing me from sitting for so long, but I’d sit for days if it meant escaping Victoria’s wrath. The only thing I regret is not being able to see her reaction when she learns what Tyler did and that she no longer has a hold on us.

Thinking about it brings an evil smile to my face, but I’m sure Liam will fill me in on her reaction when we’re reunited.

Liam.

Just the thought of him causes my breath to hitch and my body to tingle. Although we’re miles apart, he still affects me. Liam told me he loved me, and I knew with every fiber of my being that he meant it. The words burrowed deep into my soul, implanting themselves on my heart.