Page 152 of Fighting With Light

“Shit,” he says and runs out of the room.

Still in my pajamas, I glance at Esmarie and take off after Liam. I hear him rummaging around down the hall and pull myself to a stop at the door.

It’s a room full of guns, ammo, and all kinds of weapons. Liam is wearing only his shorts, has a vest strapped over his chest and a belt around his waist. I don’t know what’s going on, but I reach for a pistol.

“Liam.” My voice is tight, and I hardly recognize myself.

“He’s coming. I don’t know how he has anyone to send. Your brother wouldn’t do that…right?” he asks, holding a clip in his hands.

I shake my head.

“Yeah, thought so,” he grunts.

“Mom! Text my brothers! Tell Clarence!” he yells.

I lean back and look down the hall. Esmarie, still white as a sheet, is typing on her phone.

“Liam, what’s going on? Who’s coming?”

He pauses and looks right at me with red-rimmed eyes, and I’ve never seen that look before. It scares me. Of all the things we have faced, he has never looked at me that way.

“We pushed too far,” he says tonelessly.

Then, in the distance, I hear a gun go off. A rush of adrenaline enters my veins as if I pushed the plunger myself. Then the lights go out, submerging us into darkness.

If anyone understands what that means, I do. But that also means we have Fred Coldwell scared. I could call my brother, but there is no way he could send people here fast enough.

Liam flips on a flashlight from the ammo room and points it at me. “I want you and Mom to go to the safe room. You do not come out until I or one of my brothers comes and gets you. Do you understand?” Liam asks, gripping my chin with gentle fingers.

I shake my head in his hold. “Don’t ask me to do that, Liam. Don’t do that to me.”

He takes a shaky inhale. “I can’t lose you, princess.”

I push his hand away and grab the top edge of his vest, yanking me to him. Our lips slam, tongues clash, and teeth click. Then I rip myself away and look him in the eye.

“You know I’m not a sideline woman, Liam. Don’t ask me to become one.”

His jaw ticks and he stares at me. His protective instincts are in overdrive, and I get that. But I’ve been sticking up for myself for a long time. I’m more than capable of fighting with him.

“Fine. But go change. The last thing I need is your boobs to pop out.”

“The same could be said for you, Rambo. Where’s your shirt?” I ask him smugly.

He rolls his eyes. “Fine, wear that, but then I’m going to have to kill everyone or at least blind them.”

I nip at his lip and pull at it. “I love it when you talk dirty to me.”

Liam curses again and kisses me hard and fast. He pulls away, spins me around, and slaps my butt to hurry.

56

Liam

Aelia hurries out ofour weapons store room, and I finish hooking my rifle to my vest and sliding clips into the elastic holders. I buckle a holster and a knife to my thigh and start to leave, but then I think twice and grab Aelia a vest, another pistol, and a blade.

I step out, and she’s already walking towards me in black cargo pants and a t-shirt, with my boots in her hand. We trade. I hand her the vest, and she tosses the boots at my feet. Aelia straps it on and takes the other pistol from me, then straps the knife to her thigh as I slip my boots onto my feet and lace them up.

She stands and checks the pistol again, flipping the safety off before sliding it into the holster.