Page 110 of Royal Bargain

We run. He hauls open the car door, shoves me in, then dives into the driver’s seat.

The engine growls as he slams on the gas.

We tear off into the night.

The city blurs. And Liam doesn’t say a word.

His jaw’s locked, one hand gripping the wheel like he might snap it off. The other keeps twitching near his phone, like he’s torn between calling someone and throwing it out the window.

He doesn’t look at me. Not once.

Back at the safehouse, I’m out of the car before we’ve even stopped.

I fumble with the door, race inside, heart in my throat. “Lily?” I shout.

Movement in the hall—one of the guards, awkwardly holding my daughter like she’s radioactive.

“She started crying,” he mumbles. “I changed her diaper but she, uh… she doesn’t like me.”

Lily wails on cue and I rush over and take her, pressing kisses everywhere I can reach. She’s warm. Real. Breathing.

“She’s fine,” the guard adds. “Didn’t let her out of my sight.”

I nod. “Thank you.” My voice cracks.

Once she’s down again, soft and sleepy, I stay a second longer. Just watching her. Letting the world slow down, even if my heart won’t.

Then I turn back into the living room.

Liam’s still in his coat. Standing near the fireplace. Staring out the window.

I brace myself.

“I know what you’re going to say,” I start, voice barely a whisper.

He doesn’t move.

“I had to?—”

“Don’t.”

His voice is quiet. Dead calm.

“I’m afraid if I open my mouth, I won’t be able to stop.”

That lands like a punch.

He moves to the cupboard. Takes out a mug.

No clatter. No slam. Just calm, quiet movements.

The kind of quiet that’s way scarier than yelling.

“I didn’t mean for it to go like that,” I say again. “I thought I’d be back before you even noticed.”

Still nothing. Not even a twitch of acknowledgment.

My chest tightens. “Are you really not going to say anything?”