Liam's back was pressed firmly against the wall; he had one leg drawn up, and his arm draped over it. Mike sat across from him in the easy chair, which he'd turned sideways so that his long legs dangled casually over the side. He was smoking a cigarette, the ashes drifted to the floor as he ignored the ashtray in his hand.

"Well," Mike said. "I'll take care of Jacob's body."

"Thanks."

"No problem. What about her?"

"She'll be all right."

"You said she was pretty shook up. Great way to tell her too. I mean, you drop a bombshell on her and then transform yourself into a monster. That's not easy to take."

"She wouldn't believe me."

"Did you honestly expect her to?"

Mike took a long drag of his cigarette. The smoke curled out of his nose as he finally remembered the ashtray and snubbed it out. "I don't know what I expected."

Mike snorted, pulled out another cigarette and lit it. "Well, I guess you had to tell her."

"Yes."

"I don't know what to say to you Liam."

"Then don't say anything."

"You know this goes against all of our rules."

"Of course I know it. I made the rules!" he barked.

Mike took another drag and flicked an ash to the floor. "Yeah, I guess you did."

Liam rubbed at his throbbing temples. "You'll understand one day."

Mike chuckled. "I don't think I will. As long as you think that it'll be all right, then I won't argue with you. But, I don't like it. I don't want to see either one of you get hurt."

"She won't be hurt."

"I hope you won't be either."

"I won't."

"Yeah well, I'll stand by you, no matter what."

"Thanks."

Sera stirred slightly and he looked down at her. His hand ran through her hair as she rolled over and buried her head in his lap. She opened her eyes and looked dazedly up at him. She sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

"Hi Sera," Mike greeted.

She started and her hands fell to her sides as she turned to look at him. He appeared casual in the chair, but there was an air of tension around him that belied his demeanor. Her heartbeat kicked up a notch as she suddenly understood why he had been there last night. "Hello Mike," she greeted.

He smiled as he flicked an ash to the floor and swung his legs leisurely back and forth. "How are you doing today?"

Her eyes jumped to Liam, and then back to Mike. "Sera," Liam said as he clasped her hand.

Mike's eyes were an intense blue as they burned into her. He snuffed his cigarette out and dropped the ashtray to the floor. "I suppose you've figured out that I am too."

Sera's gaze flew back to Liam's. He squeezed her hand, willing her to be okay. For a minute she simply stared at him. Then her eyes sparked, and a smile curved the corners of her full mouth. She turned back to Mike. "I have."

Liam pulled her into his arms, nestling her against his chest as he met Mike's gaze above her head. Mike stared back at him as he lit another cigarette and took a long drag. He looked down at Sera, his brow furrowed in puzzlement as he studied her carefully.

"I didn't know you smoked," Sera mumbled.

He blew a small smoke ring. "Only once in awhile."

Liam was glad that Mike refrained from telling her that he only smoked when he was agitated, and troubled. "Good thing you don't have to be concerned about lung cancer."

Mike's eyebrows shot up, he grinned as he took another long drag. "Yep."

"So who are the other three?"

"What?" Mike asked.

Sera lifted her eyes to Liam. "You said that there were four others that needed to be protected. Obviously Mike is one, but who are the other three?"

Liam's hands tightened on her. They had never exposed themselves before. Mike's eyes focused upon him and narrowed pointedly. Liam silently dared Mike to make any sort of objection, but he didn't. Instead, he took another long drag of his cigarette and snubbed it out.

"You haven't met David. He's going to college in Pennsylvania," Liam said.

"And the other two?"

"Doug and Jack," Mike answered. Sera felt as if someone had just punched her, but she didn't say anything. "Look, you're obviously taking this rather well, but..."

"You don't trust me."

"No, I don't."

Sera bit into her bottom lip as she lowered her eyes from his intense stare. Liam's arms were warm and secure around her. Liam trusted her, he would keep her safe, but she wasn't sure that it would be enough. He had said that he wouldn't be able to protect her from all of them. That he couldn't keep them all away. If they decided that she was a threat they would kill her, and Liam, in order to get to her.

She lifted her head to gaze up at him. His eyes were turbulent, but the love in them was unmistakable. "Do you trust Liam?" she inquired.

Mike's eyes flickered toward Liam. "Well yeah," he said hesitantly.

"Then you should trust the fact that he trusts me."

Mike frowned thoughtfully. "I guess I should."

Sera dropped her head against Liam's chest and snuggled closer to him. He smiled as he met Mike's startled gaze. "Amazing," Mike mumbled.

Liam didn't have to ask what was amazing. He was holding it securely in his arms. The piercing ring of her phone caused them all to jump in surprise. Mike grabbed it off the desk and tossed it over to Liam. "Hello."

"Where is Sera?" Kathleen demanded loudly.

"She's right here, hold on," he said, handing the phone to her.

"Hello," she said.

"What is going on?"

"Nothing."

"Don't give me that! Something is going on. Liam came in last night and took Michelle out of the party, did you know that?"

"Yes Kathleen, I know that," Sera replied tiredly. "I was in the car."

"Why?"

"We had a few things to straighten out, that's all."

"Oh, that's all! Really? There's more going on, and I want to know what it is."

"There is nothing else going on Kathleen," she said firmly. "I wouldn't lie to you, you know that." Sera closed her eyes and took a deep breath as guilt washed through her. She was lying now, but there was no way that she could tell Kathleen that. "I'd had it with all of Michelle's crap and decided to confront her on it. I knew she wouldn't leave the party with me, so Liam came to get her."

"Why did Liam want to know if I had said anything about Jacob?"

Sera bit her lip and closed her eyes as memories flowed over her. A shiver so fierce wracked her and almost caused her to drop the phone. Liam grabbed her shoulders and tried to take the phone from her. She shook her head, holding up a hand to ward him off. She had to deal with this sooner or later, and Kathleen would only become more adamant if Liam took the phone now.

"He called me," she managed to say.

"Oh Sera, that must have been awful!" Kathleen cried. "Did Michelle tell him where you were?"

"Yes."

"Oh God, I swear I didn't say anything to her Sera. I swear it!"

"I know you didn't."

"How did she find out?"

"It's a long story Kathleen. Can we talk about it later?"

"Oh, oh yeah." Sera could hear the unhappiness in her voice, but there was nothing that she could do to ease it. "Um Sera, the door to the room is broken. What if it was him? What if he came here? I should call campus security and..."

"No!" Sera nearly shouted.

"But what if he came here?"

"He didn't."

"Sera..."

"Kathleen please, there is nothing to worry about. Liam broke the door last night. I was so upset after Jacob called that I accidentally locked myself out." She was normally a horrible liar, but suddenly they were pouring off her tongue as if she was accomplished at it. She had never felt so awful before.

"Oh, okay. Well that's good then. I'll just have maintenance come and fix it. Your sheets are gone too, but I guess I don't have to ask what happened to those if Liam was here," she added with a laugh.

Sera winced as she vividly recalled Jacob's body wrapped within those sheets. "No," she mumbled. "No you don't."

"Are you sure you're all right?"

"I'm fine," she answered tiredly. "I'll be back later today, okay?"

"Okay. If you need anything, call me."

"I will," she promised.

She hung the phone up and tossed it back to Mike. He placed it on the desk and turned to face her, a look of admiration on his face. "Well," Mike said. "It's good to know that you think fast in a pinch."

Sera rubbed at her pounding temples. "I hate lying," she mumbled.

"You're going to have to get used to it." Liam and Sera glared at Mike. He held up his hands in surrender. "Well you are!" he protested. "And trust me it doesn't get any easier. Wait till people start to ask questions about what happened to Jacob. I just hope that no one knew he was coming here, or saw him."

Sera hadn't even begun to think about that. Her mind had been too overwrought with everything else that was going on, to even begin to wonder what would happen when Jacob was reported missing. "I doubt he let anyone see him," Liam said. "He came here for a reason, and he wouldn't want anyone to be able to testify against him."

"But he might have told someone. He might have even told Michelle," she whispered.

"No, he wouldn't."

Sera spun toward him. "You can't know that!"

He clasped hold of her hands. "No, I can't," he said. "But we also can't know if he told anyone. Worrying about it now isn't going to do any good. If something happens, we'll worry then. Okay?"

She searched his face before nodding her consent. "What about the body?"

"I'm going to take care of that," Mike answered. "Speaking of which, it's getting pretty late. I'd better go."

"Thanks Mike," Liam said.

"No problem. I'll let you know how everything goes."

He climbed to his feet and left. Sera turned to look at Liam, her hopelessness radiated from her body. He pulled her down onto the bed with him. "Things will be all right," he assured her. "I promise."

She lifted her head to look at him. Her eyes burned into his as she leaned down and kissed him. "I don't want to think about it anymore," she whispered. "I don't want to think about anything right now."

She kissed him again, her mouth warm and lush against his as she opened to him. His passion built rapidly as she melted against him. He rolled her over, resting himself on top of her as his mouth savaged hers. He needed her with a hunger that was nearly consuming him. His hands roamed over her body, relishing in the feel of her warm skin as he hastily shoved her shirt up.

Sera pulled eagerly at his shirt in her craving to feel his skin, to feel his solid body flush against hers. He sat up and ripped his shirt and jeans off. Sitting beside him, she pulled off her own clothing to expose her splendid body. He studied her before pulling her against him.

He was wild with need, desperate to feel her, to be inside of her. Frantic to have her ease the torment of the past day and to wash away the dismal memory of blood on his hands. He pushed her back on the bed, kissing her savagely, as his hands explored every inch of her satin skin. She moaned and lifted herself against him, her body begging him for more.

He drove himself into her with such force that for a moment he was afraid he had hurt her. But she showed no signs of discomfort as she arched beneath him and her hands dug into his back. Her moans and furious movements urged him to a faster pace as he drove in and out of her. He forgot everything as he was swept up in her body, in her movements, in the pleasure that she gave him. Her hands grasped his buttocks, begging him for more, bringing him closer against her.

She cried out as the orgasm ripped through her. Her muscles tightened around him exquisitely as her body began to shake. He drove forcefully into her, emptying himself with a loud groan of pleasure.

She collapsed on the bed, her body still trembling from the waves of pleasure that racked her. She smiled sleepily at him as she caressed his face. Sweat beaded along his brow, matted his black hair, and made him look even sexier. She shivered as he nibbled on her lower lip.

His heart swelled with love as he rolled her onto her side. How he had ever gotten so lucky to find her, to have her, he didn't know. She should have run screaming from him, from everything that he was, from everything that he had done, and could do.

Instead, she had given him her heart, her body, and her soul. Even before he had become a monster, he hadn't been a good man. There was nothing in his life that could explain the kind of wholehearted love that she gave to him.

"I'll always love you," she whispered. Liam's heart skipped a beat as his arms convulsed around her. "But you have to promise me, no more lies, no more secrets."

"I promise that I will never lie to you, or keep another secret from you."

"Good."

"I love you too," he whispered.

***

Sera glanced up from her history book as Mike slid into the seat across from her. "Hey," she greeted.

He smiled as he leaned back in his seat and draped an arm casually over the back of it. "Cafeteria food will kill you."

Sera grinned as she pushed the remains of her salad aside. "Not all of us are lucky enough not to have to eat it."

He snorted a chuckle. "True."

"So to what do I owe the pleasure of your company?"

He glanced around the crowded cafeteria. Sera had been there for so long that she had tuned out the noise level; it now penetrated her ears again. "Not much. Just saw you sitting here and thought you might like some company."

"Keeping tabs on me?"

He frowned as his arm dropped from the back of the booth. "No. I don't understand why you're taking this so well, but I do trust Liam, which means that I trust you."

"I didn't take it well at first," she admitted.

"I know, Liam told me." She bit into her bottom lip as her gaze fell to the table. "Do you love him?"

Sera's eyes flew up to his. "With all my heart and soul," she said fervently.

Mike's eyes clouded as he leaned across the table. "You do realize he won't age, he won't..."

"I know Mike," she interrupted briskly. "I know everything."

"Then what do you plan to do?"

She chewed nervously on her lip as she scanned the cafeteria. "I don't think this is the best place to be talking about this."

"They're not listening to us," he replied flippantly. "Besides, I doubt they could figure out what we were talking about anyway. So, what do you intend to do?"

"I don't know."

Her eyes flew to his as he took hold of her hand. "I trust you Sera, I do. But you need to think about this. This way only leads to unhappiness."

"I know that," she whispered. "I do. I tried to leave Mike. I was at the door. He would have let me go, but I couldn't. I just couldn't. I know what I did when I went back to him, because I did it. I can't let him go."

"And he can't let you go."

"He would have let me go yesterday."

Mike opened his eyes to stare at her. "I don't think he would have Sera."

She swallowed heavily. "You didn't see him," she whispered. "He would have let me go."

"I honestly don't think he would have. I have never seen him like this. I've known Liam our entire lives. I was there the day he broke his arm, the night he lost his virginity." Mike's face reddened as he looked at her with chagrin. Sera met his gaze with a slightly amused smile. For all his bluff and bluster, Mike was more like a giant teddy bear.

"I don't think I want to know the circumstances surrounding that."

He snorted as he smiled. "No, I don't think you do either, but my point is that he's my best friend, and he threatened to kill me if I hurt you." Sera gasped loudly. Mike laughed harshly, released her hand, and leaned back. "That was my reaction too. He won't let you go Sera, but his life is going to be a lot longer than yours."

She swallowed heavily. "So, what are you saying?"

"I don't know exactly. Look, most of this is none of my business, but some of it is. I like you Sera, and I trust you to do the right thing. I think that you will."

"And what would the right thing be?"

"You'll figure it out in time. Just don't take too long."

"I won't."

"Good."

She felt extremely uncomfortable in the heavy silence that followed. "How did everything go last night?" she asked.

He frowned as he ran a hand through his hair. "Good. It's all taken care of, there's nothing to worry about."

"Where..."

"It's taken care of."

Sera knew that he wouldn't tell her anything more. "Trying to make the moves on my girl?"

She smiled as Liam slid into the booth beside her and draped his arm around the back. Doug and Jack slid in beside Mike, shoving him against the wall. He scowled ferociously at them. Sera's heartbeat picked up as she realized that she was surrounded by four men that could easily kill her.

She instinctively moved closer to Liam. He cast a curious glance at her before draping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her closer. "Hey guys!" Kathleen cried as she bounded eagerly up to the table. Danielle looked a little breathless as she came up behind her. "I'm glad I found you!"

"So am I," Danielle muttered.

Sera stifled a laugh as Danielle slumped into the booth beside Liam. She knew how difficult it could be to keep up with Kathleen when she was in a mood. Kathleen chose to ignore Danielle as she grabbed an empty chair and pulled it over to sit down. "What do you guys have planned for tonight, and tomorrow?"

"Classes," Sera answered instantly, not liking the way this conversation was starting.

"Nothing much, why?" Mike asked.

Kathleen grinned cheerfully as she practically hopped up and down in her chair. "I have an idea."

"That doesn't sound good," Mike said with a grin.

"Oh, it's a very good plan. If you're willing to miss a couple of classes." Kathleen's glance was pointed as she looked at Sera. "You want to have fun, relax, and get away."

"So far it does sound like a good plan."

Sera groaned.