Page 5

A Few Minutes Ago

I meet Liam’s intense stare head-on, refusing to back down. We stand there for a long moment, sizing each other up. I can see the protective fire burning in his eyes, the same fire I feel when it comes to Meadow.

“You know why I’m here,” Liam finally says, his voice low and dangerous.

I nod. “I do. And I respect it. You’re looking out for your daughter.”

His eyes narrow. “Are you?”

“With my life,” I say without hesitation. “Meadow means everything to me, Liam. I’d die before I let anything happen to her.”

Liam studies me for a long moment, searching for any sign of deception. I hold his gaze, letting him see the truth in my eyes.

Finally, he gives a small nod. “You better mean that, boy. Because if you hurt her…”

“You’ll kill me,” I finish for him. “Get in line. I’d do it myself first.”

A ghost of a smile flickers across his face. “Good answer.” He takes a step closer, his voice dropping to a menacing tone. “But make no mistake. If you ever betray her trust, if you ever make her cry… there won’t be a place on this earth you can hide from me. Understood?”

I stand my ground, meeting his threat with one of my own. “Crystal clear. And the same goes for you, old man. Meadow’s mine now. Anyone who tries to hurt her, family or not, will answer to me.”

For a tense moment, I think Liam might take a swing at me. But then he breaks into a grudging smile. “You’ve got balls, kid. I’ll give you that.”

He extends his hand. I take it, both of us squeezing hard enough to make knuckles crack.

“Take care of my little girl,” Liam says as we release the handshake.

I nod solemnly. “Always.”

He pauses, looking back at me over his shoulder. “Prove it,” he says simply, before disappearing into the night.

I take a deep breath, centering myself before heading back inside to Meadow. As I open the door, I can’t help but smile.

She is waiting on me when I walk back inside her apartment with a smile on her face.

Yeah, I’d take all the shit her dad throws at me if I can keep that smile on her face.