Page 227 of Between Secrets and Obsession

“It’s not your fault,” I offer. “None of this is your fault.”

“I can’t help but feel somewhat responsible. Victoria killed her own brother. How could she do something like that?” he asks, confused like the rest of us.

Tyler sucks in a deep breath and exhales. “Love sometimes makes you do stupid things. Victoria wasn’t exactly stable. Look what she put you through. But I guess that means it’s over now, Liam. You’re finally free.”

Liam frowns, shrugging. “But at what cost?” He looks down at his bandaged leg and bruised knuckles. “At what cost?”

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

LIAM

It’s beentwo weeks since the fight, and I’m recovering as expected. I was released from the hospital with a pair of crutches but stopped using them yesterday with hopes to find my normal again. Plus, I hated using the damn things.

There have been good and bad days since the fight, and I’m still moving slow, but at least the pain is becoming more bearable. One doctor told me that if I’d been stabbed one inch to the right, I would’ve died before I made it to the emergency room. It’s something that still haunts me. I think about all that’s happened over the past year, and my head is still spinning at the shit I went through. It all started with a poker game and ended with a murder.

I’m still in shock that JJ is dead. I hated the guy, but I didn’t want him killed. Though I’m relieved that I can finally move on and not worry about any of the O’Learys.

I never thought Victoria was capable of killing her brother, but I should’ve known better. She made her own rules in life, and JJ pushed her to the limit by orchestrating one of the dirtiest fights in mob history, hoping I’d kill Mickey DeFranco for him or that he’d end up injured trying to kill me.

The rumor is he found out his sister’s babies were DeFranco bastards and lost his mind trying to get his ultimate revenge. He wanted DeFranco dead without causing a bigger war between the families so he planned the fight. I’d been blackmailed into doing his dirty work for everyone to witness and walked right into his trap. If I died, no one would’ve cared because I was just an O’Leary pawn. If I’d won, JJ’s problems were solved, and his enemy was taken care of. Ultimately, he took a risk, but there’s no way he could’ve envisioned Victoria ending it or ratherhim. She was always a vindictive bitch, though. Even I knew not to cross her at times.

Apparently, she was so enraged that JJ had set up a fight with Mickey that she loaded a gun, drove to the warehouse, and found him. Tyler told me the last thing she said to her brother before killing him was, “You gave me no choice.” After the shots were fired, mass hysteria broke out, and everyone scattered. Victoria won’t go down for murder. Considering she’s Daddy’s little mafia princess, I’m sure she made up some erroneous lie and buried the truth about her brother.

As I roll out of bed, I can’t deny how happy I am to finally be free from it all. I wasn’t sure if it’d really happen, even if I won the fight. There are days when slivers of doubt randomly creep in, and I still can’t go out in public without looking over my shoulder, but I think it’s going to take time. Dealing with the O’Learys has made me more aware of my surroundings, and I learned a valuable lesson. I won’t be trusting anyone I don’t already know anytime soon.

After Maddie left for class this morning, I crawled back under the covers. I’ve been tired lately, and the doctors have told me to rest so I can fully recover. The fatigue comes and goes, but I’m eager to work again and do everyday tasks. The wound was deep, but it’s healing nicely.

Rubbing my hands over my face, I grab my phone from the side table and go to the kitchen where there’s still a half a pot of coffee from this morning and pour a cup. It’s cold, so I place it in the microwave and warm it up while I check my texts. A smile touches my lips when I see a message from Maddie.

Maddie

My last dance class was canceled today, so I’ll be home early!

I check the time and see she sent the message an hour ago. Before I can return her text, the front door opens and closes. I walk to the doorway and see her drop her backpack on the floor, then walk toward me with a smile. Moments later, her arms are wrapped around my neck, and her mouth is gliding across mine.

“I need you,” she admits as I grab a handful of her ass. “I’m dying. It’s been too long.”

I smile against her eager lips, groaning. “Weeks.Toodamn long.”

Before the fight, Tyler implemented a no-sex rule, and I begrudgingly followed it. Afterward, I was in the hospital for a few days, where Maddie refused to leave my side before being released. The last couple of weeks have seemed like a blur while being in recovery mode, but the pain meds had a lot to do with that. Maddie has been sweet while taking care of me and extremely patient with my mood swings, but right now, she’s looking at me with lust in her eyes. There’s no way I can make her wait any longer.

Taking her hand, I guide her down the hallway into the bedroom. No words are exchanged, just pure emotion swirls between us. Our bodies say everything our mouths don’t as I move my fingers to the hem of her sweater and peel it off. Gently, I lay her across the bed, where she smiles and gigglesas I unbutton and unzip her jeans. Maddie wiggles out of them until she’s in nothing more than her bra and panties. I take a minute to study every inch of her beauty, taking her all in, memorizing each and every curve. I’ve missed her so goddamn much, my restraint from holding in was dangling by a thread.

“You’re so damn beautiful,” I whisper, carefully removing her panties as she slips off her bra. Crawling onto the bed, I lay beside her, capturing one nipple ring in my mouth as I cup the other. She writhes beneath me, and our lips crash together. I feather kisses down her body until my face is tucked between her legs. Letting out a cute squeal, Maddie gives herself to me with her eyes closed, enjoying every second as I widen her thighs and dive in. I devour her pussy, taking my time and teasing her clit just enough to push her to the edge without spilling over.

Her breaths become more desperate and ragged, and when her back arches, I know she’s close.

“Come on my tongue, baby. I wanna taste you.” I slip my hands under her ass as she grinds against my face, the stubble from my beard scratching against her thighs. Soon, I’m tasting her sweetness as she unravels, moaning my name between pants. “Goddamn, woman. I’ve missed that.”

“Holy shit,” she pants out, her body limp as she looks at me with hooded eyes. “That was…intense.”

I chuckle as I stand and remove my clothes. I’ve never needed Maddie more than I do right now.

“I feel like a reborn virgin.” Maddie chuckles as I hover above her, teasing her entrance with my cock.

Adjusting herself, she opens wide, giving me permission as I guide myself inside her. My cock is slick with her arousal. Our eyes remain locked as we move in rhythm together, my emotions bubbling over. We’ve been through so much together,and I love her so fucking much that nothing I do or say will ever feel like enough to properly explain it.

Digging her heels into my ass, Maddie encourages me to increase my pace as we both chase our releases. I love how frantic she gets, giving me access to suck on her neck. She’s wild and untamed, the same Maddie I’ve fallen for long ago, and being intimate with her always feels like the first time.