“What if he doesn’t love me?” Nimue’s throat closed around the words. “He had a ticket, Em. Was through security.”
“Trust me.” Emberly’s knuckles went tight, voice barely audible over the monitors’ beeping. “I saw his face when they said you’d made it through surgery. That man’s coming back.”
“I kept everything from him.” Nimue’s fingers found the bed rail, metal cold against her palm. “The money, Teresa’s threats, the gold. I thought I was protecting him, but?—”
“I’m not going to say that isn’t a big deal. Love isn’t only about shielding someone from danger—it’s about facing it together.” Emberly’s eyes fixed on her. “I learned that with Steinbeck. But now God has made us a team, and we’re stronger together. I have to trust that. Trust that God is there for him. But Liam loves you, trust me.” She leaned back, her chair creaking again, her gaze unwavering.
A phone’s shrill ring sliced through their conversation. Emberly snatched it up.
“Stein?” She paced to the window. “It’s over?” Her expression gave nothing away, but then she spun back to face Nimue. “Liam’s where?” Pause.
Nimue’s world contracted to pinpoints of light.
“Is he okay?”
Everything stopped. The monitors, her breathing, her heart. Teresa had him. Game over. She’d lost?—
Emberly’s mouth twitched. Almost a smile. “Send him up.”
Emberly turned, shoulders dropping half an inch. “Teresa’s in custody. But Liam walked into the middle of the takedown and—well, the Caleb Group doesn’t take chances. They thought he was one of her men and took him down before Steinbeck could stop them.”
“They hurt him?” Nimue tried to surge upright, pain lancing through her ribs like lightning. Her fingers clutched the bed rail, knuckles screaming.
“He’s fine. A little roughed up, but fine.” Emberly’s palms came up, surrender position. “On his way up now.”
The door whispered open.
And there he stood—filling the doorway like he owned it, bottom lip swollen, hoodie torn at the shoulder. Battle-worn but breathing.
And those eyes. Those heartbreaking blue eyes just landed on hers, so much in them that she might lose her breath, again. “Liam.”
“Your security team packs a punch.” His voice carried that familiar rumble that tunneled right under her skin, all the way to her bones.
Nimue’s heart monitor picked up tempo. “You came back.”
“I should’ve never left.” His fingers found hers—warm, steady, real. “Biggest mistake of my life.”
“Where were you flying to?” She had to know. Had to understand.
Confusion flickered across his features. “Flying?”
“Teresa showed me footage. You at the airport, through security?—”
He was already shaking his head. “I went to see my brothers. Bought the cheapest ticket they had just to get past the checkpoint.” His face went serious. “I won’t lie—part of me wanted to get on that plane. Run like I did after Switzerland.”
Her breath caught.
“Last night when you were dying and I couldn’t—” His voice broke. “I was helpless. Nimue, losing you would have destroyed me. But that’s the risk, right? Loving someone means you might lose them. I’m done running from that.”
“You love me?”
His thumb traced gentle circles over her knuckles. “Less than three weeks and you’ve turned my world upside down. I don’t know what tomorrow looks like, but I know I want you with me.” His eyes searched hers. “Unless you want me to go?—”
“No.” The word came out fierce, desperate. Her fingers tightened around his. “Stay. Please.”
“I want to kiss you.” His gaze dropped to her lips, then tracked the maze of tubes and wires. “But I’m thinking logistics might be an issue.”
“And you’re still bleeding.”