Page 38 of Liam (The Valeur Billionaires #4)

Chapter Twenty-Four

LIAM

I stare 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 about to 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. I thought 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 more pathetic 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.

When I pull up to Lucas and Ava’s place an hour and a half later, it’s barely 5 AM. I sit in the car for a moment, trying to compose myself, before calling Lucas’s cell. He answers on the fourth ring, his voice groggy with sleep.

“Liam? What’s wrong?”

“I’m sorry,” I say, my voice tight. “Can I come in? I really need to talk.”

Silence. Then a weary sigh. “Yeah, sure. Give me a minute.”

A few moments later, the front door opens. Lucas stands there in rumpled pajamas, looking concerned. Behind him, I see Ava in a silk robe, her hair tousled from sleep.

“I’m so sorry for waking you both,” I say as I step inside, guilt piling on top of my already tumultuous emotions.

I follow Ava into the living room, collapsing onto their plush sofa. Lucas joins us, looking concerned as he settles into an armchair. As I explain the situation, Ava’s expression cycles through disbelief, amusement, and something close to sympathy.

“Let me get this straight,” she says, pinching the bridge of her nose. “You told her just enough to freak her out but not enough to explain anything? Brilliant strategy.”

I groan, burying my face in my hands. “When you put it that way...”

“Well, how else am I supposed to put it?” Ava retorts. “You Valeur men, I swear. It’s like you’re allergic to clear communication. ”

Lucas leans forward, his brow furrowed. “Liam, you can’t tell her everything. It’s too dangerous. For her and us.”

“I know,” I say. “But I can’t lose her either.”

Ava sighs, her tone softening. “You messed up. Big time. But it’s not irreparable. You need to fix this, and fast.”

Lucas stands, a determined expression on his face. “I’ve got an idea. Why don’t we go for a ride? Clear our heads, come up with a plan.”

I groan, knowing I should have expected this. “Now? It’s barely dawn.”

He shrugs. “No time like the present. I’m already awake. Ready to escape your problems via exercise, Little Brother?”

I manage a weak smile. “It’s either that or develop a drinking problem. I guess cycling is healthier.”

“Marginally,” Ava mutters, but she’s already heading to the kitchen. “I’ll have some protein shakes ready for when you two idiots get back. Try not to solve all the world’s problems without me.”

Twenty minutes later, Lucas and I are pedaling along a scenic route, the fresh air already clearing my head a bit. Our bodyguards follow behind as we ride in companionable silence for a while before Lucas breaks it.

“So, spill,” he says, glancing over at me. “What happened exactly?”

I sigh, focusing on the road ahead. “I got another threat. This time it was aimed at Aleria.”

Lucas’s face hardens, his grip tightening on the handlebars. “Are you sure?”

I nod. “Yeah. He knows about her and me, and I haven’t told anyone. Someone’s following me, Lucas. I had to tell her something, so I told her about the threats. Not anything else, just enough to warn her so she can stay safe. And now she’s furious that I won’t tell her more.”

“Are you insane?” Lucas hisses, his voice a mix of anger and concern. “The less she knows, the safer she is.”

“Ava knows,” I blurt, the words tumbling out before I can stop myself.

Lucas’s expression hardens. “Yes, but Ava is my wife. She’s a Valeur now. She was there when I got hit. It’s different. Are you planning to marry this woman?”

“I don’t know.” I rub the back of my neck, the weight of everything pressing down. “We’re definitely not there yet. She doesn’t even want to see me right now. And our relationship?—”

“Won’t matter if Dad ends up in jail because of what she knows, and the Valeur empire crumbles. Liam, I can tell you care about her, but this is bigger than that. We’re talking about our entire family here.”

“Don’t you think I know that? I’m trying to protect everyone, but I’m running out of options here. Aleria believes I don’t trust her. She doesn’t understand why I can’t tell her everything. And I can’t protect her if I can’t even be near her.”

Lucas is quiet for a moment, then says, “We still haven’t found him, you know. Elias. It’s like chasing a ghost, but a furious, vengeance-driven ghost.”

“Great,” I mutter. “So we’re basically starring in our own thriller movie. Always wanted to be Jason Bourne.”

Despite the tension, Lucas’s lips curl into a challenging smirk. “Well, you’ve got the brooding down pat. Race you to the next bend? Or are your relationship troubles weighing you down too much? ”

A familiar competitive fire ignites in my chest, pushing aside the worry. “Oh, it’s on. Prepare to eat my dust, old man.”

We take off, the world blurring around us. The wind roars in my ears, drowning out everything but the pounding of my heart and the rhythmic whir of spinning wheels. For a few glorious moments, there’s nothing but the burn in my legs and the single-minded desire to win.

As we approach a sharp turn, I lean into it, pushing harder. But as I round the bend, a flash of movement in the trees catches my eye. A figure, dark and indistinct, seems to watch us.

My front wheel hits a rock with a sickening jolt. The handlebars wrench in my grasp as I veer off course, hurtling toward a thick cluster of bushes. Time slows to a crawl. Every leaf, every branch rushes to me with terrifying clarity.

“Shit!” The yell tears from my throat as I wrench the bike to the side, my body tilting. For a heart-stopping moment, I’m sure I’m going to crash. Then, by some miracle, I regain control, skidding to a stop in a spray of gravel and leaves.

My chest heaves as I gasp for breath, adrenaline surging through my veins. Lucas pulls up beside me, his laughter dying as he takes in my wide-eyed expression.

“You okay?”

I nod, brushing debris from my shirt with trembling hands. My gaze darts back to the trees, searching for any sign of the figure I saw. But there’s nothing there. I’m losing it.

“Yeah, just distracted, I guess.” I glance over at Lucas. The weight of our family’s secrets presses down on me once more. “How do you do it, Lucas? Balance the family secrets with your marriage? ”

Lucas’s smile fades, replaced by a more serious expression. “Lots of expensive gifts and a wife who’s smarter than both of us combined,” he jokes, but then sighs. “Honestly? It’s hard. But Ava trusts me enough to know that if I’m keeping something from her, it’s for a good reason.”

I lean against my bike. “Aleria doesn’t trust me. I might have ruined everything before we even had a chance.”

Lucas puts a hand on my shoulder. “Hey, don’t count yourself out yet. Aleria’s a smart woman. Give her some time to process things.” He glances at his watch. “It’s time we headed back. Ava must be wondering where we are.”

When we return to the house, sweaty and tired, Ava is waiting with protein shakes and a contemplative look. As Lucas and I gulp down our drinks, I fill her in on our conversation.

Ava’s eyes narrow. “I thought about this while you two were gone. As much as I enjoy watching you squirm, Liam, perhaps there’s a way to smooth things over without spilling state secrets.”

I perk up, my eyes wide. “I’m all ears.”

Ava rolls her eyes. “Don’t look so shocked. I occasionally do nice things. Just don’t expect it to become a habit.” She takes a sip of her own shake before continuing. “But first, I need to ask you something.” Her gaze fixes on me. “Do you love her?”

I swallow hard. But as I think about Aleria—her brilliance, her quirky humor, the way she lights up when talking about her work—I nod. “Yes,” I admit. “I do.”

A small smile tugs at Ava’s lips. “Alright then. Here’s what I’m suggesting. What if I invite Aleria for a girls’ night out? I could feel her out, maybe help her understand the family dynamic without giving away the details. Let her know she can trust you.”

I stare at Ava, stunned. “You’d do that?”

“Well, someone has to save you from yourself,” she says. “Besides, I might like this Aleria. Sounds like she’s got spunk. And she clearly has the patience of a saint to put up with a Valeur.”

I ignore the jab, too grateful to care. “Ava, I... Thank you. Really.”

Ava waves a hand, a hint of a smile on her lips. “Yeah, yeah. Save the sappy stuff for your girlfriend. Assuming she still wants to be your girlfriend after all this.”

I wince, but nod. “Fair enough.”

Ava’s lips curl into a smirk. “Alright, Operation Girl Talk is a go. But you owe me big time, Little Valeur.”