Page 91 of Liam

He presses the gun into my back, reminding me of the cold, hard reality I can’t escape.

“So, here’s how this is going to go,” Elias continues. “I’ll give you one shot to save her. You get rid of her—now. And make sure she doesn’t return.”

My blood runs cold at his words. “Get rid of her?”

Elias’s grin widens, a cruel glint in his eyes. “Yes. If she leaves now, I’ll spare her.”

I feel sick, but Elias isn’t done.

“And remember, if you try to warn her, if you so much as hint that something’s wrong...” He lets the words hang, his grin widening as the threat settles in.

“I’ll put a bullet in her pretty little head, and then I’ll put one in yours.”

The weight of his demand sinks in, and my stomach churns.

My mind races, desperately seeking a way out of this nightmare. But with Elias’s gun against my spine and Aleria so close, so vulnerable, I have no choice. I have to save her.

“Do we have an understanding?” Elias asks, his voice dripping with false sweetness.

“Fine,” I say, my voice sounding like it’s coming from someone else. “I’ll do it. Just leave her out of this.”

“Good,” he says, shoving me toward the door. “Now tell her to leave. And Liam? Make it convincing. Your performance determines whether she walks away alive.”

I nod, bile rising in my throat.

I can’t let her die because of me. I need to make her leave. My chest tightens as I take a step toward the door, each movement heavy and deliberate, like I’m walking toward an executioner’s block.

“Liam?” Aleria calls again, concern creeping into her voice. “I know you're home.”

I clench my fists, trying to keep my hands from shaking. God, what can I possibly say?

I take a deep breath, wincing at the sharp pain in my ribs. I run a hand through my hair, hoping to erase signs of the struggle. There’s no time to check my appearance or clean up. I can only hope I look normal enough not to raise Aleria’s suspicions.

I reach for the door handle, its cold surface biting into my palm. I force a smile and pull the door open, careful not to open it too wide.

The sight of her—standing there in the hallway, her bright smile and soft eyes searching mine—almost makes me break.

“Hey,” she says, her face lighting up, but her smile falters when she sees me. “Are you okay? You seem off. Why are you holding the door like that?”

“Aleria. Hi. I wasn’t expecting you.”

Elias’s gun digs into my back, a silent reminder of what’s at stake. I have to make her leave. I have to protect her.

Aleria’s frown deepens. “Can I come in?”

“No!” I say, too quickly. I take a breath, trying to steady myself. “No, I’m busy.”

Her smile drops completely. “Busy? With what?”

Elias’s breath is on my neck, the gun steady against my spine. “Just busy. Please, you need to leave.”

She narrows her eyes, trying to peek around me. “Do you have someone in there?”

“What? No, of course not.”

“Then let me in.” She takes a step forward. “I’ll wait until you’re not busy.”

I block her view as she tries to look past me again, my heart stopping as I realize how close she is to seeing the gun now aimed at her through the crack in the door.