Page 165 of Between Secrets and Obsession

“Yeah,Hulk,” Tyler singsongs.

“If I didn’t owe you my life, I’d deck you right now,” Liam taunts, keeping his arm around me.

“Which means I have lifetime privileges to tease the ever-living shit out of you,” Tyler retorts.

Liam smirks, then scoops me up. “You’re right, man. Now excuse me while Iproperlyreunite with my girlfriend.”

Tyler grimaces. “Seriously?”

“Don’t worry, we’ll keep it down.” Liam chuckles, then carries me to the bedroom.

I’d feel bad for leaving Tyler all by himself, but I need time alone with Liam right now.

“Tell me what happened,” I say as he walks into the bedroom, then kicks the door shut. “I’ve been anxious thinking about how it went down.”

He sets me on my feet, then gently cups my face. “I will, but we need to talk about us first.”

We have a lot to discuss, considering everything that’s happened since the last time we were together.

Liam cradles my face, bringing our foreheads together. He sucks in a breath. “I was so distraught when I thought you left and wouldn’t talk to me.”

“Imagine how I felt when I heard Victoria was pregnant.” My stomach sinks remembering that moment.

Liam’s face drops. “Mads, I know, and I’m so goddamn sorry.”

“I only agreed to leave for your sake,” I tell him. “She would’ve punished you even more if I hadn’t obeyed. It was the only way to save you from her wrath, because I knew she was capable of hurting us all if she didn’t get her way.”

Liam shakes his head, cupping my cheeks. “I don’t deserve you. I hate myself so much for lying to you and fucking things up between us. You deserved to hear it from me, but?—”

“Your heart was in the right place,” I finish for him, resting my palm on his chest. “Now knowing the truth, that they aren’t yours and how she used you to facilitate this whole picture-perfect family, I understand you were just trying to protect my feelings.”

“I never want to hurt you.” His hand wraps around my neck, pulling me against his chest before pressing a single kiss to the top of my head. “These past two weeks were the worst ones in my life. You’re all I could think about, and it was the thought of finding you that got me through every miserable day. I hated that you were blackmailed into leaving, but once I knew Tyler was with you, I was more determined than ever to get back to you.”

Liam’s voice is sincere, and I hate how we were both thrust into this madness. I have to hope it’ll only make us stronger, though.

“Please let me make this right. Tell me we can get through this. I can’t lose you.”

“You have some groveling to do,” I taunt, but when we lock eyes, I see the heavy emotion in his gaze.

Liam’s rarely vulnerable and remains strong on the outside, but this Liam looks more broken than I’ve ever seen him.

Then he surprises the shit out of me when he falls to his knees and grips my hips with his strong hands. “I’ll do anything. I meant what I said on the phone. You know I’ve never been in a relationship before and have definitely never told a woman those words before.”

My eyes water at this tender side of him. I can’t stay mad at him. He told me the truth when I found the photo of the target over my face, and although I was blindsided by Victoria, he’d never intentionally hurt me. Liam’s all I’ve ever wanted. He’s not perfect, and both of us will screw things up sometimes, but it takes a real man to admit and apologize when he does.

“We’ll get through this,” I assure him, leaning down to softly brush my lips against his. “She can’t break us apart.”

Liam pulls me toward him and deepens the kiss.

“Thank God. She’s fucked so much. I don’t know what I’d do if she ruined my chances after I finally got you.”

His sincere words hit me straight in the gut. For years, I fought for Liam, but here he is, fighting like hell for me, so I’ll give him another chance to make things right.

He stands and holds me. It feels so good to be back in his arms. I soak in his touch that I’d been so desperate to have again.

“Before I knew Victoria had something to do with you leaving, I thought you’d left me,” he confesses. “I was going out of my mind thinking that I’d fucked everything up for good. I’ll make all of this up to you.” He brings his forehead to mine. “I love you, Mads.”

“Say it again.”