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CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

LIAM

I slam Sasha’s back into the icy wall of the elevator with a thud before the doors finish closing. She claws at the skirt of her dress tucked between us as I fumble with the belt and zipper of my trousers. Freeing my cock, I tear her panties to the side and stare into her eyes as I slide into her.

“I’ll worship you like you deserve when we get home,” I pant into the side of her neck as I plunge my cock into her. “But right now… I need to make sure you know you’re mine.”

I drive my cock into her fast and deep, grunting as I repeatedly bottom out inside of her. Her legs flex around me, and sweet whimpers spew from her with every brutal thrust.

“God, I fucking missed you.” I kiss along her neck. While sloppily claiming her mouth, I increase the speed of my hips until my savage thrusts fill the small cab with our primitive moans and cries. Her tight cunt quivers around me, and I know she’s teetering on the edge. I’m not far behind. “Come for me, sweetheart. I need to feel you squeezing around me when I come.”

“Yes… Sir…” Sasha painfully replies. I palm her ass and bury the entirety of my cock in her, and she cries out in sheer bliss.

“Fuck,” I grit, sliding through her quivering cunt and spilling my release into her. Sinking into her a final time, I still when I’m buried to hilt and relish in the feel of her trembling around me as I taste her sweet lips. Pulling back with a smirk, I whisper, “If your pussy is going to milk my fucking cock like this, I’m going to make due on my promise in no time.”

I never thought I’d find myself in this position. Standing in front of my brothers with a heavy heart, knowing that everything we’ve worked for—sacrificed and spilled blood for—has gone. And that I would’ve given so much more to get back what I wanted.

I didn’t know how to begin to tell them. We’ve been through hell and back together more times than I could list. This life, we’ve built it together. Every decision we’ve made has been with all of us in mind because it wasn’t about any of us. It has always been about all of us. What I did was different. It wasn’t business. It wasn’t for my brothers. It was for her.

Meeting them in the lounge, the weight of the deal I made with Ivan sits heavy on my shoulders. I don’t need to say anything. The way they are looking at me, they know something is wrong.

“Spit it out, Liam,” Tristan gruffs, his usually calm demeanor replaced with a sharp bite. He shifts in his seat. “What did you do?”

Fuck… That tone is generally reserved for Finn and the unhinged shit he does without thinking.

I swallow, the words caught in the back of my throat. “I gave it away.” My voice is flat, almost numb, as I look at my brothers. They all glare back at me in silence, glancing at each other, trying to comprehend what I have just said.

“Gave it away?” Declan repeats me, his brow furrowing as if he didn’t hear me correctly.

Running my hand through my hair, I try to find the right words. But there aren’t any. How do you explain to your brothers that you have given away the thing that defines you and has been the biggest part of your lives so you can have a chance at love?

“I gave our empire to Ivan,” I blurt. Nope, those definitely weren’t the right words. “Not all of it. Half: Merging our families when I marry Sasha.”

“You what?” Conor’s voice booms over the grumblings of my brothers.

“Quinn and I told you not to be a fucking idiot. To go and get her back,” Declan scoffs. “Not to give him everything we’ve built like a fucking idiot .”

Tristan stares at me over his glass as he leans back in his chair. “Merging our families with his is no small thing, Liam. It comes with a price. And I’m not just talking about money or territory.”

“I know.” My eyes meet his, filled with the understanding of the gravity of my decision. “I love her. I love Sasha. So much that I don’t give a fuck about rivalry, about power. About anything. I want to be with her. And I’ll do whatever it takes to make that happen.”

There is a long pause as my brothers exchange glances, considering what I said. They are weighing the risks, the consequences, and what this decision means for all of us. Something I probably should have done before impulsively throwing the option on the table.

“I don’t know what the lot of you are grumbling about.” Finn breaks the silence. “We’d all do the same for Layla, Quinn or Cat. Well, I probably would’ve fucking shot him, but that’s a me problem.”

Declan rolls his eyes at Finn’s confession, but none of them argue with him. They aren’t angry. Not one of them is condemning me for so recklessly making this decision without them. Instead, they’re giving me the two things I should’ve expected. Unwavering loyalty and support.

“We’ve all been there,” Tristan exhales. “Not in the same way, and not giving away half our empire… But we’ve all had to make sacrifices for the people we love. I have for Layla. And Declan?—”

“I don’t need to tell you what I’d do for Quinn or my kids,” Declan interrupts. “And all of you were at my side when I did it. We were there for Finn when Catlin needed us. We’ll be there for you, even if this is fucking stupid.”

“I stood by them, and I’ll stand by you,” Conor announces. “I mean, I’d rather get shot than give away everything and have to work with the fucking Russians, but you’re my brother. If that’s what you needed to do to bring her home, I get it. Rud ar bith do mo dheartháir .”

“We all get it.” Finn shrugs.

“But I’m going to count the portion I’m apparently giving to Ivan as a down payment on the unlimited wanks I’m going to have thinking about Sasha,” Conor taunts.

“Deal!” Declan, Tristan, and Finn chorus.