Page 153 of Corrupted Pleasure

I struggled, Garrett’s deadweight hard to crawl out from under. The next thing I knew, the weight was gone and Liam’s hands gripped my shoulders, yanking me to my feet.

The shock of what just happened set in, knocking my feet from under me, but Liam caught me. He crushed me against his solid chest, supporting my weight. Burying my face into his chest, I lost the fight and my sobs tore through me.

“I got you, my céile.” Liam’s voice was hoarse with relief. “I’ll always come for you.”

My eyes landed on Garrett’s dead body and bile churned in my stomach, a tense ache settling into my muscles and bones.

“He’s dead,” I croaked, as I hid my face against Liam, not wanting to see the face of death.

“He led the Italians to you,” he said, rage coating his words. “If he wasn’t dead already, I’d kill him with my bare hands,” he growled.

“Garrett?” I rasped, confused. How would he know any Italians?

“Yes.”

He lifted me up in his arms, and I wrapped my arms tightly around his neck. I held on to him like he was my sanity. My rock. Scared if I let go, I’d sink to the bottom of the ocean. He held me as he climbed into the backseat of a black SUV.

I clung to him tighter, needing him now more than ever.

CHAPTER59

Liam

Motherfucking DiLustros.

They tried to kill my wife. Goddamn cowards. Every single fiber in me burned with rage and wrath vibrated in my chest. I wanted to tuck Davina safely into my tower and then go on the warpath.

“Liam.” Davina swallowed, unused to seeing me so enraged.

I didn’t trust my own voice. Every ounce of rage ran through my bloodstream, and I was sure it’d spill into my words.

“Liam.” She took my hand and shook it gently.

“It’s okay, love.” I tried to soften my voice but failed. I gently sat her on the couch. Her arms came around herself and she tucked her legs underneath her.

Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I dialed Alexei. Aurora had been blowing up my phone for the past thirty minutes.

“You got her?” His monotone voice was a welcome reprieve to the fury boiling inside me.

“Yes, tell your wife that Davina’s unharmed.”

“Are you okay?” Alexei asked.

“They shot at her,” I roared, unable to hold my rage back any longer. “They fucking shot at her. Tried to kill her!”

“They didn’t succeed,” he stated calmly. “You know the way to eliminate the threat, and it would eliminate the threat to your entire family.”

“I do,” I gritted. “I will check in later.”

The call ended, and I started pacing around the room. Davina’s eyes were wide, following my every move. For the first time in my life, I felt like losing something or someone would be the death of me. My breathing ragged, my vision tunneled and my body trembled with the all-consuming rage. And fear.

I almost lost her.

Jesus.I almost lost her. I’d go to church and thank anyone above and below who spared her. She was my other half.

Finally, I understood why my father became a shell of a man after Winter died. She was his oxygen, his heart.

Then I remembered Wynter. I dialed her up. She answered on the first ring.