Page 85 of Lethal Threat

Leave it to Liam to see right through me. He was intuitive before he became a doctor. He’s downright maddening since. “There’s just some things that she’s working through and I’m not quite sure how to deal with it.”

He motions to the leather couch. “Sit.”

I grumble but drop onto the sofa. “When did you become a counselor?”

“When I was born, I guess. I’ve been listening to the four of you since you were old enough to talk.”

But the truth is, if there’s anyone who can understand what’s happening at my house, it’s Liam. So, I spill. “Sierra’s got near total amnesia.”

His hand freezes with his mug halfway to his mouth. “Well, I’ll admit, that is thelastthing I expected you to say.”

Wrapping my hands around the heat of my mug, I lean forward until my elbows are on my knees. “I know things she wants to know.”

“Bad things, I take it?”

“Remember, I said Sierra isn’t an old friend?”

He nods once.

“She’s my former girlfriend. Our relationship imploded about seven months ago because I got her drug addict brother arrested for physically assaulting her. I did it to protect her. She never wanted to speak to me again because she wanted to take some soft approach. She wouldn’t admit to herself how violent or dangerous he was. Until he hurt her. And I had him arrested, so I didn’t kill him myself.”

Liam leans back in his chair. “Fuck. That’s some serious shit. So why is she here?”

“I’m all she has. A buddy who knew us both called me to come get her. She had nowhere else to go.”

He slugs the rest of his cider. “No wonder you look as friendly as a roll of barbed wire.”

I shake my head slowly. “Things were going… well, let’s just say the chemistry between us never died. And me, being the penis-owning caveman that I am, got right back on that party train. But she wants answers and I don’t think she’s ready for the truth.”

“Because it’s too traumatic?”

“She’s going to go crazy when she finds out her one living relative is probably on the streets somewhere, addicted to some hard as shit drugs. Even if she can’t remember him. She’s not the kind of person to let that go.”

Liam just watches me as I work my fingers around the mug. Loosening my fingers from the thing so I don’t accidentally crush it, I open up to my worst fears. “I’m not ready to let her go.”

His serious eyes drill right into me. “Hurts like a bitch when they hit you right in the heart, doesn’t it?”

I finish the cider. “Worse than any bullet I’ve taken.”

“What can I do?”

My shoulders feel about ten thousand pounds heavy. A crane might be nice. But I say, “Nothing.”

“She’s probably going to remember. Most amnesia patients get near full recall.”

I nod. “I know. And the selfish fucker in me doesn’t want that. Because I always knew she wasthe onefor me.”

There’s a soft knock on the door. “Hey, you two.” Sophia, Liam’s wife, steps quietly into the den. “This looks serious. You hiding out from your girl? She seemed a little put out when I asked her about you.”

I chuckle. “If onlyput outwas all it was.”

Liam stands and goes to his wife, wrapping his arms around her small waist. She sighs and leans into him. Whenhe turns back to me, his face is much more optimistic looking. “Maybe a little girl-time would help this situation. I’m sure Sierra’s feeling a bit isolated.”

Sophia rests her head against my brother’s shoulder. “She’s from Virginia?”

“Yes. And?—”

Liam nods his chin toward me. “Tell her. She’s better equipped with knowledge about the brain than I am. She did specialty work in neurology in her residency.”