"What happened?" Mike demanded the minute that Liam entered the room.

"Don't," he said coldly.

"Don't! Are you kidding me? Liam, he's dead!"

"I know that!"

Mike took a deep breath to calm himself. "What happened?"

Liam stared dispassionately at Jacob's corpse. If he wasn't already dead, Liam would kill him all over again. He had finally met Jacob, and done exactly what he had wanted to do, but it suddenly didn't seem like enough, not nearly enough. He wished he could bring the bastard back to life so that he could destroy him all over again.

"He was attacking her," he grated.

Mike ran a hand through his hair. "Who is he?"

"Jacob."

"Who is Jacob?"

"I don't have time to explain now. We have to get him out of here before Sera comes back."

"She doesn't know he's dead?"

"In case you didn't notice she's in shock. Now help me get rid of him."

"Fine, but I had better get a full explanation later," Mike said.

"You will."

Mike helped him strip the sheets from Sera's bed and wrap Jacob within them. "Your car's out back, in the alley."

"Can you take him down by yourself?"

Mike lifted him easily and flung him over his shoulder. "Yeah. I'll meet you down there."

"Is Michelle at the house?" he asked, stopping Mike in the doorway.

"I don't know."

Liam nodded as Mike strode out the door. He instantly busied himself with cleaning up the mess in the room. He sopped up Sera's blood, and the little bit of Jacob's with towels that he tossed into a plastic bag. She'd been in the bathroom for awhile, but he could still hear the shower. He had one more thing to do before he could make sure that she was all right. He crossed the room, picked up the phone, and dialed the house number. His eyes searched the room for anything he might have missed, but the room appeared to be spotless.

"Is Kathleen there?" he yelled into the phone the minute that someone answered.

"Who?" someone drunkenly yelled above the music, and the distinct chant of, "Strip, strip, strip!"

"Kathleen! Little blond, big chest!"

"Oh, yeah, hold on."

The phone was dropped with a clatter that made him flinch at the harsh noise. "Hello!" Kathleen called into the phone.

"Kathleen, its Liam."

"Hey! Whassup?" she asked drunkenly. "You comin ta join the party?"

"Kathleen, sober up!" he snapped.

The sounds of the party began to fade. "What's wrong?" she asked, no longer having to scream into the phone.

"I just need to ask you a question."

"Is Sera okay? What's wrong?" Her voice raised an octave with every word.

"She's fine, everything is fine. I was just wondering if you had told someone about Jacob?"

"Jacob who? Wait a minute, oh, the ass?"

"Yes."

"No, of course not! Why? Don't tell me he tried to contact her. Bastard! No, I never told anyone. I wouldn't do that. She doesn't think I did, does she?" she asked in a shrill rush.

"No, no," he assured her. "Nobody thinks you did, I just had to make sure."

"What did he say to her?"

"Nothing, don't worry about it right now."

"Of course I'm going to worry about it. I'll be right there."

"No. Stay there, we're coming over."

"Are you sure? Does she need me? Are you sure she's okay?" Kathleen demanded.

"I'm positive. Just stay there. Is Michelle there?"

"Yeah, she's here. Where else would she be?"

"I'll be right there."

"Okay."

Liam hung up the phone and walked over to the door. He fiddled with the latch and put the screws back in as he fixed it to the best of his ability. There was nothing he could do about the splintered jam, but he didn't really care. He looked into the hall as Sera emerged from the bathroom with a towel draped over her arm. Her hair hung wetly around her shoulders; her clothes were wrinkled and damp. The bandage was placed securely against the wound in her neck, a fact he was extremely grateful for.

He stepped away from the door as she walked into the room. Her eyes still looked a little dazed, but she seemed calmer. Her skin was a livid red. His teeth ground together as he realized that she had scrubbed herself raw. "Feeling better?" he asked.

She looked around the room before focusing on him. "Yeah."

"I need to go to the frat house. I need to talk to Michelle."

She looked at him questioningly as she dropped the towel on the floor. "Why?"

He clasped hold of her arms. "I just do and you're coming with me."

"Okay," she mumbled.

He was desperate to ease the lost look in her eyes, but he didn't know what to do to help her. He pulled her against him as he attempted to comfort her. "It'll be all right," he whispered. "He's never going to bother you again."

"Where is he?"

"He's gone."

She didn't seem to know how to take this as her forehead furrowed. Taking hold of her arm, he led her out the door to the elevator. They descended and he walked her out the back, avoiding the main lobby, and the party. His car was parked by the door. Mike was leaning against it, his arms crossed over his chest as he stared at them. Liam opened the door for Sera and helped settle her into the car. She sat numbly as he hurried to the other side and Mike slid into the back.

He drove back to the frat house and pulled into the driveway. Throwing the car into park, he turned to look at her. "I need you to stay here."

"Why don't I take her in?" Mike suggested.

Liam shook his head as he squeezed her hand. "Will you be okay here?"

"Yes."

He kissed her as his hand lingered on her cheek. He hated to leave her but he had to go inside and take care of this. "Stay with her," he ordered Mike.

He forced himself to release her as he flung the door open and climbed out. Mike hopped out of the back seat and slammed the door shut. "Liam, let me take her in," he said quietly.

"No, she stays here."

"Liam..."

"I have something that I have to do. She's staying with me. Just watch her, I'll be right back."

Liam turned away and hurried into the house. He climbed the stairs; the music became louder as he went. Making it to the attic, he flung the door open to a packed room that shook with music and reeked of alcohol.

He moved rapidly through the crowd as he searched for Michelle. Kathleen found him first. "Where is Sera?" she demanded, her hands on her round hips.

"Outside," he answered as he peered over her head through the crowd.

"Is she all right?"

"She's fine. Where's Michelle?"

"She was on the dance floor. I'm going to see her."

He grabbed Kathleen's arm and halted her in place. "Not right now, okay?"

Kathleen glared up at him. "She's my best friend!" she protested.

"I need to do something first. Let me do this Kathleen. I promise it will be worth it."

Kathleen relaxed in his grasp. "All right, but you tell her that I love her, and I'll talk to her soon."

"I will, I promise."

"I'll help you find Michelle."

He found her first though. She was surrounded by a group of men by the back wall. He moved through the group and leaned against the wall beside her. He took her drink out of her hand and sipped from it.

"Did I say you could have that?" she asked coldly.

"I'm used to taking what I want." He smiled at her as he handed her cup back.

"Where's the wife?"

"Who?"

"The little wifey. Where is she tonight?"

"I don't know and don't care."

"Did you two have a lover's quarrel last night?" Her voice was husky and seductive.

Anger blazed through him at the reminder but he managed to keep it under control. "Can't quarrel with a lover unless they are your lover."

Michelle glanced through the crowd, and he followed her eyes. Kathleen was standing off to the side watching them. Doug stood beside her, his mouth hanging open. Kathleen grabbed his arm and pulled him away as she shot Liam a look over her shoulder. Liam didn't know if Kathleen had done it on purpose, or if she was really pissed, but the look she gave him could have frozen Hell.

"Is that why you're here?" Michelle inquired through lowered lashes. "Need a little relief?"

Revulsion washed through him at the thought, but he managed to keep his face impassive as he turned back to her. "Thought we could both use a little relief."

Her eyes flew to his as she smiled slyly. "That may be true, but I don't plan on going there again, not after the way you treated me last time."

"We both know we only wanted one thing that night."

"Maybe so," she whispered huskily. "But you didn't have to be so mean to me after."

"Ah, but I had to."

"And why is that?"

"Because I can't resist a challenge."

She lifted a delicate brow as her mouth curved. "A challenge?"

He laughed coldly and turned to face her as he propped his hand on the wall beside her head. He leaned in close to her so that his chest brushed against hers. Her body arched into him as her mouth parted. He pushed down a shiver of revulsion as he forced himself to smile. "Everyone said that I couldn't get near Sera. I proved that I could. I never refuse a challenge, and now it's gone."

"So she finally gave it up," Michelle purred. "I thought you cared for her."

"Now Michelle, you should know better that that."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

He rested his lips against her ear. "I'm just like you. All we really want to do is please ourselves."

She laughed and tossed back her hair as she stared up at him. "I'm not like that."

"Oh really?" He brushed back her hair. "Well, I know that you pleased me, and I know that I really pleased you."

"Oh really?" she inquired sweetly as she took another sip of her drink. "What makes you think that?"

He glanced pointedly down at the hardened nipples pressed against his chest. "You do. I think we need to do it again."

She touched his chest lightly. "So you can make me look like a fool again. No thanks."

He grinned and leaned closer to her. "Whatever you say, sweetie. It's your loss."

She stared at him as he took a step back. "I can't leave this party with you," she said.

He had her. "I understand beautiful. We'll meet somewhere else."

"Where?"

"Meet me in the park, by the gazebo. We'll have a little picnic, and enjoy each other."

"All right."

"Ten minutes." He rubbed his finger along her lip. "Don't be late."

"Oh, I won't. You be ready for some real pleasure."

"I already am."

He turned and walked rapidly through the crowd. Kathleen was standing by the keg with Doug, Jack, and Danielle. They were all staring at him with mixed expressions of surprise, and distrust. "You had better know what you're doing," Kathleen grated.

Liam poured himself a drink and took a long swallow. "I do."

"If you hurt her again, I'll kill you," she said flatly.

Liam shot her a look as he tossed the rest of his beer in the trash and walked away.

***

"Where are we?" Sera murmured.

"The park."

"What are we doing here?"

Liam sat back in his seat and turned to face her. Her eyes were a vivid purple in her pale face. Her bottom lip trembled but her eyes were dry. "I need to take care of something."

"What?"

"Michelle."

"How?" she whispered.

"She's going to meet me here."

"What are you going to do?"

"Try not to think about that right now. Come here."

He pulled her into his arms. She laid her head in his lap, her small hand curled around his thigh as her eyes drifted closed. He stroked her hair as he took in her pale face and the thick bandage on the side of her neck. His hand clenched as he ground his teeth.

He lifted his head to meet Mike's gaze in the rearview mirror. Liam looked away from him before Mike could see how close the demon in him was to breaking free. He looked out at the night. It was eerily hushed. There was no moon, or stars, but he could clearly see the trees. A steeliness stole its way through his body. He wanted to kill Michelle and anyone else that had ever caused Sera harm. He continued to stroke her hair as he tried to keep himself grounded with her.

He glanced at the clock. "I have to go," he said. "I'll be back soon, will you be all right?"

"Yes."

He took off his jacket and lifted her head to slide it underneath her. "I love you," he whispered. She curled into a ball as he opened the door and stepped out. "Come on," he said to Mike.

Mike looked dumbfounded before he thrust his door open and stepped out. "You don't want me to stay with her?"

Liam glanced back at Sera. She looked incredibly small, tiny, and so wounded that it tore at his heart. He hated to leave her alone here, but he couldn't leave Mike behind. He shut his door and waited for Mike to do the same. "No, I need you with me." Mike looked warily back in the car. It was obvious that he didn't like the idea of leaving her alone either. "I'll kill her Mike. I need you there to stop me."

Mike closed his mouth and nodded.

***

A pair of headlights swept over the interior of the car. Sera listened as another car pulled up and turned off. A door opened and shut. She rose to watch Michelle hurry down the path toward the gazebo with a case of beer in hand.

For the first time Sera felt some emotion penetrate her numbness. She had to fight the urge to get out of the car and confront her. She didn't know how, but she knew that Michelle had something to do with Jacob showing up tonight. She looked at the keys in the ignition and was half-tempted to start the car up and run her over with it.

Instead, she sat back in the seat and watched her disappear.

***

Liam watched as Michelle walked toward him with her hips swaying seductively. "Hello sexy," she purred as she placed the beer on the gazebo step.

"Hello, Michelle."

She smiled as she hurried up the steps. She froze just inches before him as terror spread over her features and she gaped at him.

***

Sera grabbed the keys from the ignition and climbed out of the car. She was freezing and she needed something to do in order to take her mind off of what was going on in the park. She walked around to the back of the car and slid the keys into the trunk. Pulling Liam's jacket closer, she inhaled his pleasant, reassuring scent as she flung the trunk open.

She reached in to look for a blanket, or clothes, and froze. Jacob stared back at her. He was wrapped in her clean, white sheets, his head turned toward the side and his eyes open in unseeing horror. Sera stumbled backward in revulsion as a scream caught in her throat. She tripped and fell to the ground. A guttural cry ripped out of her as she scrambled backward like a crab.

Her breath came in heavy, lurching wheezes, and she couldn't stop the rolling revulsion that raced through her. She turned onto her knees and vomited, her whole body heaved as she knelt upon the cool ground. When her stomach was completely empty, she wiped the back of her hand over her mouth. She couldn't find the strength to stand.

Liam was a murderer. He had killed Jacob. Jacob was dead. Her mind spun, one thought would not stay for more than a second or two. Nothing made sense. Everything was wrong.

Finally, when she was able to breathe normally again, and move without feeling nauseous, she shoved herself to her feet. Stumbling to the car, she slammed the trunk closed without looking in it again. She knew that she wouldn't be able to handle that awfulness once more. The keys fell to the ground, but she didn't notice as she took a trembling step back.

Her gaze drifted to the path that Liam, Mike, and Michelle had gone down. She didn't want to go, but she knew she had to. She had to see Liam; she had to know what was going on. Stumbling forward she headed toward the path. Her heart lurched with every step, and her breath came in heavy pants as she broke into a run.

Tree branches slapped her face and hands as she stumbled blindly through the night. She tripped over a log and fell to the ground. Her hands and knees stung from the impact but she didn't notice through the panic constricting her heart. She climbed back to her feet and started running again. The gazebo loomed before her as she finally made it to the park.

She froze as something inside told her not to go any further. She could see Liam and Michelle in the gazebo. Michelle was gesturing excitedly, her voice drifted through the night, but the words were indiscernible. Liam's voice was angry and insensible.

Sera started to creep forward. A part of her told her to run, to leave, and to never look back. Another part of her, the bigger part, told her to keep going. This was Liam, he loved her; he would never hurt her.

Liam looked up and spotted Sera standing at the edge of the woods. He froze as his eyes latched onto her. Michelle turned toward Sera, Michelle's body stiffened, and then relaxed. Liam's arms remained locked on the banister behind her as Sera approached.

Sera looked like a ghost, pale and ethereal as she moved toward the steps of the gazebo. Her long hair billowed like a banner behind her as it whipped in the wind. Michelle turned back to Liam, her eyes were still filled with apprehension, but there was a glimmer of hope in them now. Sera climbed the steps; her eyes were turbulent as they met Liam's before going toward Michelle. Sweat beaded her brow and matted her hair to her face. Her breath was coming fast, and he knew that she had run all the way here. He just didn't know why. He turned his attention away from her and back to Michelle.

"I think you have something to tell her," he said.

"I called Jacob," Michelle admitted.

Sera's jaw clenched. "How did you know?" she grated.

Michelle looked at the ground as she wrapped her arms around herself. "I knew that something had to have happened to you," she whispered hesitantly. "You never spoke of your home, you never go back there; you were always so skittish around men..."

Her voice trailed off. Sera's breath was frozen in her lungs. Liam's face was completely inhuman, deadly, as he stared at Michelle. She bit down on her bottom lip, willing him to look at her, willing him to show some sign that he was still the man that she knew and loved. But his gaze never traveled to her as he kept Michelle pinned in.

"Tell her everything!" he barked.

Michelle jumped and tensed. Sera shivered and buried herself deeper into Liam's jacket. Her gaze flew to the back of the gazebo as Mike took a step forward. She hadn't seen him standing there. Relief washed through her as she realized that there was at least someone else here to help. Nothing bad was going to happen.

"I... I did some investigating," Michelle stammered, drawing Sera's attention again. "I called your old high school and got in touch with your parents. At first no one would tell me anything. But, a couple of weeks ago I got a hold of one of your yearbooks, and I managed to get in touch with someone from your class..."

Michelle's voice broke off. "Who?" Sera asked.

"Lisa Evans."

Sera closed her eyes against the wave of sorrow that crashed through her. Lisa had been her best friend and it had been Lisa's party they were at that night. Lisa had seen her leave with Jacob. Yet, she had never said a word, and she had been one of the first to accuse Sera of lying. Betrayal, fresh and new, tore through her, wrung tears from her eyes, and shook her body.

Liam turned his head to gaze at Sera. Her eyes were closed as tears slid down her pale cheeks. She looked so small, vulnerable, lost, and hurt. The impotence he felt caused his hands to clench upon the rail. It took everything he had not to rip Michelle's throat out. A gasp escaped Michelle as she gazed at him in wide-eyed alarm. Her body began to tremble.

"Please don't kill me," she whispered pleadingly. "Please."

Liam closed his eyes and took a deep breath. There was enough blood on his hands tonight, and no matter how much he wanted to, he couldn't kill her. Not with Sera there. She would not see that side of him. As far as he was concerned she would never know it existed.

"What did Lisa say?" Sera asked.

Michelle nervously licked her lips as she stared pleadingly up at Liam. Her heart was racing so frantically that he could see it leaping in her throat. "Answer her," he grated.

Michelle jumped and blurted a response. "She told me that you had accused Jacob of trying to rape you, and that it had been a lie. She said that once everyone learned about the lie, you took off to live with your grandmother, and no one heard from you again. She put me in touch with one of Jacob's friends, who gave me his number."

"So you called him?"

"Yes."

"You told him where I was. You told him about Liam and I. Why would you do that?"

The betrayal in Sera's voice ripped through Liam. His hands clenched so firmly on the wood that he was sure he would rip it free. Michelle's eyes flitted back to him. She swallowed convulsively as she tried to find the words to speak.

"She said it was a lie. He said it was a lie. I thought that he should confront you on it. Make you face up to the fact that you had lied."

"I didn't lie!" Sera yelled.

Michelle jumped again; she glanced hopefully at Mike. Liam's temper was coming to a dangerous boiling point. Michelle had become suffused in a reddish haze. He knew that if he didn't get away from her soon, he would kill her.

"I know that now," she whispered. Her head bent as her body was racked with sobs. "Please just don't kill me, I'm sorry. I really am sorry."

"No one's going to kill you," Sera assured her.

She wasn't so sure that no one was going to kill her though. Jacob was dead. Liam had killed him. The deadly look on his face, and the wrath emanating from him sent a shiver of alarm down her spine. She didn't know this man before her, she reminded herself. She had no idea what this man was capable of. And right now he seemed fully capable of anything.

"Please," Michelle whimpered.

"Why?" Liam demanded. His voice was a whiplash of malice that sent waves of alarm crashing through Sera.

"I just thought... I just thought that if you saw what a liar she was that you wouldn't want her anymore. I didn't know it was true! I swear I didn't!"

"That makes it all right?" he hissed.

"Liam," Sera whispered.

For a moment her words didn't penetrate his mind, didn't penetrate the killing frenzy that was enshrouding him. Then, he felt Sera's touch on his arm. He turned to her, his eyes spitting fury, as a snarl curved his mouth. Her hand fell away as she took a trembling step back. Mike stepped in between her and Liam. The utter terror suffusing Sera's face finally penetrated through to him.

Sera's heart hammered. For a second Liam's eyes had been a blood red that sent instinctive terror ripping through her. She was tempted to turn and flee from what she had glimpsed in him. What was he? Tremors racked her body, adrenaline raced through her, but her legs refused to move.

She knew what she had seen, what she had glimpsed, and yet her heart, and soul, would not allow her to run from him. She loved him, no matter what, but right now she was utterly petrified of him. She glanced at Mike but he must not have seen it. Otherwise he would have fled by now. Wouldn't he?

She looked quickly back at Liam. His eyes seemed to clear, and the coldness left them as he gazed at her. His body sagged as he shoved himself away from the banister. "Get out of here!" he spat at Michelle.

Michelle glanced at Sera, but didn't stop as she lurched down the steps and ran into the woods. Sera's legs threatened to give out as she was left alone with Liam and Mike. Liam could do anything that he wanted to her; he could kill her, like he had killed Jacob. And yet, something inside her said that he wouldn't. That no matter what, he wouldn't allow any harm to come to her. Plus, Mike was there, he would help her if she needed it.

Liam took a step toward her, but she held up a hand to stop him as she shook her head. "Are you all right?" he inquired.

"No."

"Let's get you out of here."

"No."

He stared at her in confusion and took another step toward her. Mike took a small step away, his eyes were watchful as he glanced between her and Liam. "What's wrong?"

Sera took a deep breath, her shoulders shook but she was determined to know everything. "Where is Jacob?"

He froze as he stared at her. "Sera..."

"Where is he?" Her voice was a little shrill.

Liam stared at her in dismay. Shit, this was all going wrong. He knew that Sera had seen something in his eyes when he'd turned to look at her. The rapid beating of her heart told him that. How much she had glimpsed he didn't know. "He had a knife."

"So you killed him?"

"It was an accident."

"Why didn't you call the police?"

"Sera please calm down."

"Don't tell me to calm down!" she screamed.

"I panicked all right," he said. "I just panicked."

"You seemed pretty calm to me."

"I didn't know what to do." He took another step toward her. "It was an accident."

That was a lie, he'd meant to kill Jacob, and he had enjoyed every second of it. But he couldn't tell her that. She was already looking at him like he was a monster. If she knew the truth, she would run screaming into the woods, and never look back.

"Then we'll go to the police now," she whispered.

"Sera, I can't do that."

"Why not? If it was an accident..."

"They'll say I tried to cover it up, they won't believe me," he said.

"They'll understand that it was an accident. They'll know that you stabbed him in self-defense; he had a knife, and he was attacking me, and you had to stab him."

He moved a step closer to her. "Sera, I can't do that."

She lifted her eyes to meet his. They were full of despair as she gazed at him in confusion. He wanted to ease the sorrow in her gaze, and make her forget everything that had happened tonight, everything she had seen. "My life would be over. I'd go to jail. Everything I've worked for would be gone."

He stopped before her and took hold of her arm. A sudden spark rolled through her eyes, a sudden acknowledgment that made his stomach heave, and his heart hammer. She stared at him in dawning horror. "Sera," he whispered.

"If you stabbed him," she whispered. "Then where's the blood? My sheets are clean."

He tried to grab her, but she took a step away from him as her hand flew to her mouth. Liam closed his eyes against the revulsion and trepidation in her gaze. "Sera..."

"My God," she whispered. "What are you?" His eyes flew to hers. His arms fell limply to his sides. Her eyes searched his face pleadingly, but he made no move toward her. "Liam..."

"Let's go."

Her gaze flew to Mike. He stood with his arms folded over his chest as he stared at her in resignation. It felt as if a sledgehammer slammed into her stomach as the breath rushed out of her. Mike knew what was going on, what Liam had done. He had helped him afterward; that was why he was here. He would be of no help to her.

Her legs turned to Jell-O. She panted heavily as she hung her head and fought desperately against passing out. Hands clasped hold of her and lifted her up. She couldn't offer a protest as Liam swung her into his arms and carried her down the steps of the gazebo. She was certain that she was being carried to her death, but she couldn't find the strength to fight against him.