Page 81 of Liam

LIAM

Istare at my phone, my stomach churning as I read the threatening message again.

The threat against Aleria makes my blood run cold. I’ve faced countless challenges in my life, but nothing has ever terrified me like this.

The drive to Aleria’s place is a blur. My mind races, trying to figure out how to explain this without revealing too much. How do I keep her safe without pushing her away? By the time we pull up to her building, I still haven’t found the right words.

Aleria turns to me, her face a mix of concern and determination.

“Okay, Liam. We’re here. Now, tell me what’s going on.”

I take a deep breath, steeling myself for the conversation ahead. “Alright. But Aleria, what I’m aboutto tell you… It’s complicated. And potentially dangerous. Are you sure you want to know?”

She reaches out, taking my hand in hers. “I’m sure. Whatever it is, we’ll figure it out together.”

I nod, squeezing her hand. “Okay. Let’s go inside. This might take a while.”

As we walk into her apartment, the weight of what I’m about to reveal presses down on me. I only hope that when I’m done, Aleria will still look at me the same way.

I step inside, running a hand through my hair. “I’ve received some threats.”

Her eyes widen. “What? Why? Who would?—”

“Like I said, it’s complicated,” I repeat, unable to stand still. I pace the small confines of her living room, trapped by the truth I can’t disclose. “It’s tied to my family’s past, events that happened years ago. But I want you to know I’ll do everything in my power to keep you safe. You have my word.”

Aleria crosses her arms, her brow furrowed. “Liam, you’re not making any sense. What threats? What family things?”

I stop pacing, facing her. “I can’t tell you everything. It’s not just my secret to share. But I need you to trust me. I have security measures in place. You’ll be protected.”

“Protected?” Aleria’s voice rises. “Am I in danger? Liam, you can’t just drop this on me and expect me to be okay with it. What aren’t you telling me?”

I reach for her, but she steps back. “Aleria, please. I’m trying to keep you safe.”

“By keeping me in the dark?” She shakes her head, frustration clear in her voice. “That’s not how this works, Liam. Ithought we were in this relationship together. As equals. I thought you trusted me.”

“I do trust you,” I insist, feeling desperate. “But this isn’t just about me. It’s about my whole family. I can’t betray their trust, even for you.”

Aleria’s eyes flash with hurt. “I'm afraid of you doing what you always do—keeping everything locked inside until it becomes too much and then running away.”

“I'm not running,” I insist, stepping toward her. “I'm right here.”

“For now.” She meets my eyes, and the vulnerability there stops me in my tracks. “But what happens when things get harder? When whatever this is becomes too real? You’ll shut down, push me away, just like in college.”

“That was different. I was different.” I run my hands through my hair, feeling like I’m losing control of the situation. “I’m trying to protect you!”

“Well, you’re doing a terrible job,” Aleria snaps. She turns away, her shoulders tense. “You should go, Liam. I need time to process this.”

My heart sinks. “Aleria, please?—”

“I think you should go,” she says, not looking at me. “I need time to think. We’ll talk later.”

Defeated, I walk to the door. I pause with my hand on the knob, looking back at her, but she doesn’t turn.

I leave Aleria’s apartment, feeling like I’ve just made the biggest mistake of my life.

It’s dark outside, and the streets are empty, the city still asleep as I drive to Lucas’s house, my mind a whirlwind of self-recrimination and anxiety.

I rehearse explanations in my head, each sounding morepathetic than the last. “So, I half-told my girlfriend about the death threats, and now she’s mad. Typical Day, right?” I mutter to myself, shaking my head at my idiocy.