“I will be your light when you set the world on fire,” she said, her lips brushing against mine once more. “And I forgive you.”
She had slipped her way into my dark soul like a beacon of light, opening my heart once again. A heart I thought was deadwas now thrumming with an intensity I hadn’t felt in years, beating solely for one person—my angel.
“Senora,” Jerimiah announced.
I set my violin down, turning to meet his gaze with a smile.
“Mr. Liam is here to see you,” he said with a respectful bow before leaving the room.
“Hey, Liam,” I called out as he stepped inside. I stood, wrapping my arms around my best friend in a hug that lingered longer than usual.
“How have you been?” he asked as we pulled apart.
“I’m good,” I replied.
He glanced around, his brow furrowing slightly. “Where is everyone?”
“Nico and the guys went to handle some business at the club,” I explained. “Mya and Tabi are watching a movie with the kids.”
He raised an eyebrow. “And why aren’t you with them?”
I shrugged, a small smile playing on my lips. “Just wasn’t in the mood for a movie marathon.”
He nodded knowingly. “Want to take a walk outside?”
“Yeah. Just let me grab my jacket.”
Liam followed me to the closet at the front entrance to retrieve my jacket. We stepped outside, the cool air embracing us, and Demon trotted happily at my side.
“So, how far can we go?” Liam asked, hands shoved in his pockets as he glanced out at the yard.
I pointed toward a red flag fluttering at the far end of the tall fence. “See that? That’s as far as we’re allowed.” It was Nico’s way of reminding everyone of the boundary we could not cross.
He chuckled softly. “Wow, that’s not very far at all.”
I laughed along with him. “Yeah, Nico’s a bit overprotective.”
“A bit?” Liam scoffed, shaking his head. “That man is a menace.”
I couldn’t argue with that.
We settled on the swing in the gazebo, Demon lying contentedly at my feet. The world around us fell into a serene silence.
“So, what brings you by?” I asked.
“I miss you,” he murmured. “And I wanted to apologize.”
I turned to face him, my hands instinctively curling beneath my thighs. “For what, exactly?”
He leaned back, setting the swing in motion, his gaze distant. “For not protecting you when I saw you at the warehouse…” His breath caught, the unfinished thought hanging heavy between us.
He turned to me, his face full of anguish. “I wanted to save you, but I knew if I intervened, I would be dead, and no one would ever know what happened to you.”
“Liam,” I said softly, my heart aching for him. “It’s not your fault. You don’t need to carry that burden. I don’t blame you.”
He met my gaze, his eyes clouded with sadness. “Really? You don’t hate me?”
I shook my head fiercely. “No way. You’re still my favorite person.”
