Page 67 of Between Secrets and Obsession

Victoria explains how much her father loves him, how much of a help he’s been to her family, and builds Liam up to be this amazing, loving, caring husband. As if they’ve been married for years, not days. “We might try to start a family soon.”

I already don’t like her. No, I fucking hate her. And him.

Swallowing hard, I try to get rid of the lump in my throat, but I’m choking on her words. I need fresh air, but I’m being smothered by the thoughts of Liam’s lips on mine while he belonged to another woman.

This must’ve been what he wanted to discuss. To tell me there won’t be anything between us. But instead, he showed me, and I’ll never forgive him for deceiving and lying to me.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

LIAM

THREE HOURS EARLIER

Kissing Maddiebefore I left for Vegas was bittersweet and nearly ripped my heart out. She poured herself into me, and I wanted to devour every inch of her. I closed my eyes, wanting to memorize the way she tasted and smelled, how soft she felt in my arms as our tongues danced together wickedly. A final goodbye, one that was experienced instead of spoken.

There was nothing to say because my lips spilled all my secrets, but I think she knew there was more behind it—passion and pain. That was the last time we could ever do that. That was my farewell, one I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.

The moment I return with Victoria, everyone’s lives will change, especially Maddie’s. All this time, I’ve told her to find someone else, someone who wouldn’t hurt her, and in the end, I’ll hurt her anyway. It will destroy her. Just thinking about that makes me fucking sick to my stomach, but I don’t have any other choice.

I betrayed Maddie the most, though it pains me to keep this from my best friends too. They say the truth will set you free,but no one can ever know because it’d be my death sentence. If the O’Learys suspect this marriage is fake, Johnny won’t think twice about ending me.

Lying to Maddie and telling her I was leaving for a job when I was going to be with Victoria hurt like hell. I told her we’d talk when I returned, but she’ll refuse to talk to me—other than to cuss me out—and she won’t listen to a word I have to say.

Over the years, I’ve made her feel as though she wasn’t good enough countless times, and when she hears I’m married, it’ll be the end for us. There’ll be no more flirty conversations or drives to and from school. I’ll be the last person on this planet she’ll want to see, and I’ll deserve it.

After I play the perfect husband for two days around Victoria’s family, we board a private jet. What I’ve learned from this weekend the luxurious lifestyle isn’t for me. I miss my simple life.

“Sweetie,” she coos as we walk up the stairs to enter the cabin of the private jet, wearing a tiny ass dress that shows off her long legs and hugs her chest. She has no idea what to wear to a small event. “Isn’t this much better than flying commercial?”

Victoria bats her eyes before sitting on my lap. After her bodyguards board and move toward the back of the plane, I gently nudge her to sit in her own seat. An announcement instructs us to buckle up, and soon, the plane takes off after taxiing down the runway. While there are ears and eyes around, Victoria doesn’t dare say a word. Instead, she interlocks her fingers with mine and lays her head on my shoulder. Any bystander would think what we have is real, but it’s far from that.

After an hour or so, we land in Sacramento where a Cadillac SUV awaits. A man dressed in black loads our luggage, and we pull out of the private hangar. Minutes later, we’re dropped off at my Mercedes where I stow our stuff in the back. Then we’reon our way. I notice her father’s men don’t follow us although she claims her dad wants to protect her and keep an eye on me.

“Are you nervous about introducing me to your friends today?” she asks.

The smile on her face is mischievous, and I honestly think she loves this game we’re playing. I bluff, not showing her my cards. One thing I’ve learned from playing poker. Though I owe her for saving my life, I play it off cool as if it’s no big deal I’m about to deceive my best friends and the woman who owns my heart. “No, not nervous at all.”

But the reality is, I’m fucking losing my mind. The thought of seeing Maddie and the people I love witnessing this charade is almost too much for me to handle, but I’ll do what I have to because we’re probably being watched.

Every time Victoria and I are together, I look over my shoulder, wondering who’s following us and reporting back to her father. Being caught up with the mob has made me even more aware of my surroundings. I wouldn’t be surprised if the house is bugged or if the car she’s forced me to drive has a GPS tracker.

Ever since the moment that photo arrived of Maddie, combined with the note passively warning her about me, my paranoia has been at a level ten.

When we pull up to Hunter and Lennon’s house, a massive shot of adrenaline rushes through me. Victoria grabs my hand. “Just play the part, baby. You’ve got this. Remember what we rehearsed.”

I swallow hard, trying to get rid of the apprehension lodged in my throat. Before the wedding, Victoria and I decided exactly what we would tell people who question our relationship. We’ve practiced and have it memorized, but it still doesn’t make the lie any easier to say.

“Let’s do this.” As soon as we get out of the G-Wagon, I wrap my arm around Victoria, and she snakes her arm around my waist.

“Action,” she says as I reach up to ring the doorbell.

Everything happens so fast after Hunter answers and we walk in. The next thing I know, I’m announcing Victoria as my wife. I’m burning at the stake when the entire room goes silent. Thankfully, Lennon speaks up, but I’m not out of the hot seat yet. Lennon eyes Victoria from head to toe, studying what she’s wearing, but maintains her polite façade. While introductions are made, I avoid eye contact with Maddie but when she leaves, Sophie follows. I have to pretend it doesn’t bother the fuck out of me and continue with my act.

Eventually, she returns, but I make sure not to look her way because I can only imagine how angry and upset she is right now. I can’t picture her showing up randomly with a man attached to her waist, and it’s not lost on me how fucked up this situation is. The bottom line is, I’m a piece of shit who made a bad decision, and I deserve all her hatred.

As we eat, Maddie throws glances my way until she eventually pulls my attention her way. When our eyes meet, I lose my train of thought. Seeing her so infuriated kills me. Maddie asks if my trips to Vegas were to visit Victoria, and all I can do is give her a simple yes. They all grill me with questions, as I suspected they would. Victoria plays it off so easily as if she’s been performing and telling lies her entire life, which I’m sure she has. Wrapping my arm around her, I smile and kiss her randomly, acting as if she’s my everything. But the entire time, I’m not thinking about Victoria. I’m thinking about Maddie and what life would’ve been like if we could’ve actually been together, regardless of how wrong I am for her.

Eventually, we finish eating and hang out as Hunter and Lennon talk about the house. I try to pay attention to them,smile when I’m supposed to, and respond on cue as my arm is around Victoria.