Page 91 of Royal Bargain

“You’re sure?” I ask, though I already know the answer.

Liam’s expression is haunting, sad. “Yeah.”

My breath catches. I blink down at Lily, her little face so soft, so unaware of the world trying to claw its way to her. To me.

They were looking for me. In a crowd. Surrounded by people. One wrong move, and?—

I press a kiss to Lily’s temple and shut my eyes, trying to block out the rising tide of panic. It doesn’t work.

“They would’ve killed me,” I whisper.

Liam crouches down in front of me, voice low but steady. “I don’t know if that was the plan. Could’ve been a warning. A grab attempt. But whatever it was—it wasn’t good.”

I nod numbly, barely able to form words. There’s this horrible, hollow feeling in my chest like the air has been sucked out of me. “Someone in my family really wants me gone.”

Liam’s hand finds my knee. “Not all of them. But someone, yeah. And until we know who, we assume the worst.”

My throat tightens.

And still, all I can think about is Sasha. Her message. Her asking to meet alone.

How the hell am I supposed to trust anyone now?

Especially her.

Especially me.

I swallow down the lump in my throat and manage to lift my eyes. “Thank you… for getting us out of there. I mean it.”

Liam doesn’t say anything at first. He just looks at me—really looks—like he’s trying to memorize every inch of my face, or maybe check for damage. I can’t tell which.

Then he shrugs, but it’s too stiff to be casual. “I told you I’d protect you. That wasn’t a promise I made lightly.”

I nod, but the unease is still curling beneath my skin. “What now? What are you going to do?”

He exhales, slow and deliberate. “I’m going to find whoever sent that bastard to the polling party. Whoever framed you. And I’m going to eliminate them.”

His voice is flat, cold. Final.

“To send a message,” he adds. “To let the Russians know if they come after you again, they don’t get to walk away.”

My blood runs cold. “Liam, no.”

“I’m not asking permission, Ana.”

“You can’t just go after them like this?—”

“I can,” he says, voice like steel. “And I will. You think they’ll stop if we play nice? If we talk it out? You’re dreaming.”

I stand, still holding Lily, my voice sharp now. “You have a daughter now, Liam. You really want to get yourself killed playing vigilante?”

His jaw clenches. “This isn’t about revenge. It’s about survival. It’s about making sure no one ever dares to try this again.”

“And what happens if they retaliate?” I shoot back. “What happens if you escalate this and Lily grows up without a father?”

“I’d rather die than let someone take you or her from me.”

I flinch.