Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 79575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
“Not a chance, baby.” He presses a kiss to my hair. “I’ve got you. You’re safe.”
I nod, my cheek rubbing against his vest and shirt.
I’m safe.
It was just a video.
Finn can’t get to me.
Chapter 37
Liam
Jesus fucking Christ.
I keep pressing kisses to her hair, then shoot Declan a look. “Bring me the phone.”
He turns and rushes out of the office.
“Should I bring her something to drink?” Denise asks, concern etched over her face.
I shake my head. “You can go. Shut the door.”
When we’re alone, I lean down, and taking hold of Kiara’s chin, I lift her face. “You’re safe, baby.”
She nods, lost sobs escaping her every couple of seconds.
My fucking heart.
I wrap her against my chest again. “What can I do?”
“Just hold me,” she whispers.
I do what she wants until she calms down and pulls back. “I’m sorry. It just brought everything back.”
He fucking triggered her trauma. Rage detonates in my chest, my need to end the fucker becoming a living force of its own.
“Don’t apologize.” Lifting my hands to her face, I wipe her tears away.
Declan comes rushing back into the office, holding the phone out. I grab it from his hand, and definitely not wanting to see the fucker jerking off, I throw the fucking thing as hard as possible. The device shatters against the wall, not offering me any satisfaction.
I’m going to crush Finn like the fucking bug he is.
“We’re leaving,” I tell Declan.
While he calls to notify the other men, I wrap my arm around Kiara. Pulling her to my side, I say, “Let’s go home, baby.”
“I want to go to my apartment,” she says. She gives me a pleading look. “My belongings. I want them out of there.”
What the fuck could she possibly want from that place?
“Another day.”
She shakes her head, wild determinations starting to burn in her eyes. “No. I want my belongings. They’re important.”
“I understand, but not tonight, Kiara,” I say with finality. “I’m taking you home.”
Her chin trembles. “It’s all my memories of my dad, Liam.”
Jesus Christ.
Letting out an unhappy breath, I look at Declan, who only shrugs at me. The fucker is no help.
Unable to say no to Kiara when she’s in such a state, I give in. “Okay. But I’m only giving you ten minutes in there.”
“Okay.”
“Ten minutes, Kiara.”
She nods frantically. “Okay. I only need five. I just want a box, then we never have to go back,” she whimpers, the trauma from the video threatening to drag her under.
If the box will make her feel better, then we’ll go get it.
Leaving Byrne Enterprises, I’m already regretting agreeing to Kiara’s request. This is not the time to go to her apartment. She needs to be at home where I can do damage control on the trauma Finn subjected her to.
When I park the SUV in front of the apartment building, Declan and his team stop behind us. I don’t give a rat's ass that we’re double-parked.
“Ten minutes,” I remind Kiara. She’s still white as a ghost but seems to have her emotions under control.
Climbing out of the vehicle, I take her hand while constantly scanning the area for threats.
“Ezra, Ryan, stand guard by the building’s entrance,” I order. “Declan, you and Waylon are with us.”
I tighten my hold on Kiara’s hand. “Let’s get your box, baby.”
When we walk down the hallway, I instantly notice the door to Kiara’s apartment standing wide open. I’m about to yell retreat when she pulls free from me, running into the fucking apartment.
“Kiara!” I shout, darting after her while pulling my Glock from behind my back.
I chase her to the bedroom, and before I can grab hold of her, she drops to her knees, hauling a shoebox from beneath the bed. She cradles the fucking thing to her chest like it’s a baby.
Then I notice the underwear scattered over the bed, and… is that cum?
My eyes snap up to the wall.
You will be mine.
Jesus.
I grab Kiara’s arm, yanking her to me, but I’m too late as she glances at the bed and the wall. She makes a strangled sound, and I’m about to wrap my arms around her when Declan shouts, “Boss, we gotta move!”
Tightening my hold on Kiara’s arm, I shove her out of the bedroom. When we burst into the hallway, I start to run, tightening my grip on her. I hold my gun raised as we take the stairs down.
The moment we reach the lobby, Ezra motions for us to move faster. “There was a drive-by. They’re watching the building.”
Jesus H. Christ.
I can fucking guess what the video was about, and now more than ever, I regret not watching it. I would’ve fucking known not to come here.
“Fuck!” I snap angrily as I drag Kiara out of the building.
It was a trap, and I fucking walked right into it.
Chapter 38
Kiara
Liam shoves me into the passenger seat, straps on the seat belt, then slams the door shut. With wide eyes, I watch as he runs around the front of the car.