Page 73 of Darkest Game

“I just… told you,” I say. “He didn’t do this… to me.”

“Honestly?” Nico says. “I believe her. Why would she lie? If Liam did that to her, why not tell us? Why protect him then?” Hesets his intense eyes onto me. It’s a wonder how Sasha can even stand to make eye contact with him. Nico is a very handsome man. But he’s not the one my heart flutters for. “If Liam did this to you, wouldn’t you want him dead?”

I hesitate. “I… I don’t want to… wish death on… anyone.”

He sighs. “Fine. If Liam did this to you, wouldn’t you want him out of our life? Is that better?”

I nod.

“See? If Liam had done this to her, then she wouldn’t be fighting so hard to protect him. I think we have to consider that –,”

“Don’t say it,” Mikhail snaps.

“That we might be wrong.”

Mikhail slams his hand against the wall. “I promised to protect Natalya’s sisters. I couldn’t protect Sasha from you.” He throws Nico a dismissive look. “But I can protect Irina from Liam.”

“You’re not taking her from me,” Liam says. “I realized something today. I’m not going to let Irina go.”

My heart feels like it’s going to beat right out of my chest. Liam is fighting for me. Once more.

“He saved… my life,” I say. “Don’t kill him.”

Mikhail sighs, running a hand down his face. “I promised I would protect you.”

And you can, I write.But don’t kill Liam. Let me be with him. And let me be with my family.

“You can’t have both,” Mikhail says.

“Why not?” I ask.

“Because I don’t trust Liam not to backstab me.”

“I trust him even less,” Nico says. “I know you want me dead, Liam, for Cillian’s death.”

“I do,” Liam responds, not sugar-coating it. “I don’t trust either of you to not stab me in the back either.” He inhales deeply and lets it out slowly. “But… I know I want Irina in mylife. The fact that you’re not shooting me in the head right this second is a good sign. Maybe we can come to some sort of agreement.”

“What agreement?” Nico asks warily.

“We work together to kill Elaine Finnigan.”

Mikhail shakes his head. “We spoke to Elaine. She says she’s innocent in everything. That you’ve been trying to kill her.”

“And you believe the word of a woman you barely know?”

“I don’t trust your word, Liam.”

“Irina is literally telling you that I saved her life. Which I have. Many times now. She’s my wife and I’m willing to do what I have to do to protect her. Elaine wants us both dead. If you want to protect Irina, it’s not me you need to protect her from. It’s Elaine.”

“Yes,” I say. “He’s telling the truth.”

Mikhail looks down at me with a softness he usually only reserves for Natalya. “Elaine tried to hurt you?”

She gave me over to men to rape me,I write honestly.But Liam saved me from that. I give Mikhail a pointed look. He has to believe me now.

“Why would another woman do that to you?” Nico asks.

“Because Elaine is insane,” Liam answers for me. “She’s jealous that her husband wanted Irina. Plain and simple. You want to protect Irina? Then help me kill Elaine. And then we can go back to hating each other. But I have no desire to hurt Irina. None.”