Page 52 of Look My Way (Bloody Desires #1)

Zavier

T hree months later

After dropping off another piece that my boy cut from my big brother’s body in a random field, under some cow shit, I drive home with the windows down. The cool breeze from the change of seasons feels good on my skin and I turn up the radio, singing “Smile” because it’s all I can do.

It was for comfort before, and because I thought I needed it in order to feel more like everyone else, but now it’s because I enjoy the tune.

It reminds me of how far I’ve come and what I have waiting for me in my bed.

It belongs to me like he does, and I’m also his.

We’re each other’s and there’s no breaking us apart.

Too many have tried. I’m sure others will too, but we’re too strong against all of them.

My phone buzzes, and I wait until I’ve stopped in front of the driveway to check the message. It’s a picture of my new niece. She’s wearing the Christmas sweater I bought her, paired with a knitted Rudolph hat Liam insisted she needed. My lips shift higher, and I write back.

Me: The cutest little niece in the world.

Felice: Sh e misses her uncle, and so do I!

Me: Maybe we can meet up somewhere next week. I’m sure Liam would also love having more company for dinner on the weekends.

Felice: Hey, if you’re offering me cook-free nights and free food, I’m sold.

A chuckle escapes me.

Me: See you Friday at 7 then.

Felice: We’ll be there. Tell that cute boyfriend of yours I said hi.

Me: Will do. And see you in a few days! Don’t be surprised if Andrea gets more animal-themed hats and onesies when we do.

Liam has a blast shopping for her. He leaves the house a lot more now.

He’ll message me while he’s having lunch at the diner alone, and whenever he’s working at a nearby library and he wants a little company from afar.

I keep my phone on me at every job, for him more than any other reason.

There are times I still need to check the doc too, and the new book he’s working on has been filled with so many good surprises.

The first book we created together gets an occasional visit too, because that story may have ended for the characters but not for us.

His old editor never recovered, coding a week ago and not responding to CPR or any of the staff’s other efforts.

How unfortunate for him. Liam has an editor he found on his own now and is working for him.

He requested the rights back from his publishers for his older books and has hit high on the charts with new releases he’s put out on his own.

His confidence has really shone through over the past few months, and I tell him how proud I am of him every chance I get.

My stomach bubbles when I get out of the car and get closer to what waits for me on the other side of the door.

It pulls open before I can touch the knob, and Liam is wearing his apron with nothing underneath.

“I made us a special dinner.” He hands me a note card, and it’s the recipe I added to his blue box.

I gaze at him lovingly, stroking his cheek.

The car crash that killed Lex’s boyfriend happened after he made it.

That means Daniel has finally taken his last breath and Liam was there to watch it slip away.

He needed to be the one to end it all and needed me to come so he could share it with me. There’s so much power shining in his eyes as he moves gracefully back to the kitchen, stirring the posole.

“It smells good, carino.” I follow him inside and shut the door behind us, looking forward to not only eating a meal my sweetheart made specially for us, but also to being the only man Liam will go to and make bleed when he needs to feel strong and powerful.