Pulling Out
(Darcy)
My mind is so overloaded with emotion that I can barely process my thoughts. Liam. My father. What a mess.
Why couldn’t I see it before? Why didn’t I ask Liam more questions? He was always so eager to talk to me about the events business, so quick to go to the chocolate and interior design events.
“I absolutely did not plan this from the start. I’m serious, Darcy. This was only ever about you. From the minute I first saw you, everything I’ve done has been about you.”
“Right. I’m supposed to believe you didn’t walk into the Fat Kok and see your business rival Timothy Knight standing there and you thought what a fucking gift when he invited you to sit down and have dinner with us.”
“No.”
“During which you sat and listened to us discuss Knight Global Events’ strategy.”
“I was too busy being angry at the way he was treating you to pay attention to your strategy.”
“Bullshit.”
“Trust me, my only strategy was figuring out whether I should take you home, here, to my real home that night or take you on a nice date where just the two of us could get to know each other better.”
He speaks with such earnestness that I want to believe him. My heart wants to believe him.
But I know I can’t.
My stomach churns and I feel like I’m going to puke. Right here in his lavish living room.
I shake my head. “I can’t do this. Not after what you did to me. And nothing will ever change what you did to me. Now let go of me so I can try to repair my relationship with my father.”
He leaves his hand on my forearm, though he’s holding me lightly enough that I could easily get away from him.
Liam slowly closes his eyes and opens them again. “I only did all this because of your father. You have to see that. You can’t go back to him, he’s an asshole who doesn’t deserve someone as amazing as you in his life.”
“So you keep saying. At least he’s never lied to me.”
“I had reasons. Reasons that only had you behind them.”
“Whatever.”
“I was worried about how you’d feel about joining Elite Exhibitions, knowing I owned it. That you’d think you were only getting the job because of me.”
I scoff at his comment, and say, “I fully believe I can run that company better than anyone.”
A broad smile appears on Liam’s face, his caramel eyes shine with genuine happiness.
“Good, I’m relieved you’re still going to take the job.”
“There’s no way in hell I’m working there. Why would I? How could I?”
“Fine,” he sighs. “If you don’t want to work at Elite Exhibitions, I understand. But I can’t let you walk out of my life. I’ve spent my entire adult life believing you didn’t exist. I never knew how much a person could make me forget about my life and only want a life with them. I’d give up anything for you, Darcy, I truly would. The only thing I want in life is you.”
The tears I’ve been blinking back finally overflow and stream down my cheeks.
“All you had to be was honest. That’s all it would’ve taken, and I’d have been yours forever.”
“I’m being honest with you now.”
“It’s a bit late for that.”
My stomach churns again, worse than before. I can’t talk to him any longer. I have to get out of here, and figure out what to do with my life next.
“It’s never too late.”
“It definitely is,” I say and shake my arm free.
As fast as I can, I walk to the door, my arms swinging at my sides as I move. Liam follows close behind me and my heart races, wondering what he’ll do when we reach the door.
“Chase,” Liam yells as I reach the front hallway.
He’s out of his fucking mind if he thinks I’m taking his bodyguard with me. I’ve humored him long enough over this ridiculous non-threat.
I turn and snap at him. “Chase is not coming with me. We’re done. That means everything between us. I have no need for your bodyguard.”
“Darcy, sweetheart, take some time to figure things out. Don’t just walk out that door and think we’re through. We can’t be. We’re too good together.”
“Liam,” I say, my voice clear and steady and my eyes narrowed at him, “We were good together.”
“I understand that you’re angry with me but I am sending Chase with you. I have to protect you.”
“From what? Is there something else you’re keeping from me?”
“No more secrets. I just love you too much to let anything happen to you.”
“Nothing is going to happen to me,” I say, and start to turn back away from him.
“When I was younger, my mentor’s father was kidnapped. They demanded a ridiculously huge ransom and he refused.”
His words stop me in my tracks, and I turn to face him.
“That’s awful,” I say, my eyes wide. I’m both shocked at the abruptness of his words, and the gravity with which he says them.
“He refused to pay it. He offered them a quarter of the amount they wanted, which was still a huge amount.”
“Did they take it?” I shouldn’t let him distract me, but I can’t help but ask.
“They cut off his father’s pinkie finger, and mailed it to him.”
My heart races. “Fucking hell, that’s the worst thing I’ve ever heard.”
“I’m not done. They demanded even more money, so he offered them the first amount they wanted.”
“Don’t tell me they cut off more body parts.”
“Nope. They filmed themselves beating his father. He ended up in the hospital for months.” His voice catches in his tightened throat.
“You saw it. The video?”
He nods. “I was the one who opened the box with the finger in it. I’ll never forget the smell.”
I fight the urge to hug him to comfort him.
“I can’t imagine what that was like.”
“He ended up paying them double what they’d originally asked for, just so they’d get his father an ambulance. It was eighty percent of his wealth. He shot himself the day before he was due to see his family again. He couldn’t face the fact that he’d failed to protect his dad.”
“And that’s why you keep your identity a secret. So it doesn’t happen to you,” I say, my voice a whisper. It wasn’t a question. I didn’t need to ask.
“Yep. And now you know. You know everything about me there is to know. And you understand why I need Chase to go with you. I can never let anything happen to you, not if you’re a target because of me.” Liam’s voice is strained, and my heart melts. But I have to keep it in control, I can’t forget what he did.
“You’ve been as afraid to live as I’ve been,” I say.
“You’re probably right.”
Chase appears around the corner of the hallway. He opens his mouth to say something, then realizes how tense the room is and freezes.
My mind races, wondering what to do. I’m furious with Liam for his lies. They’re worse than lies. He manipulated me. Used me to get insider information on Knight Global Events. He caused me to destroy the tenuous relationship I had with my father.
Things he had no right to do.
The renewed rage of his betrayal boils in my blood, but I can’t ignore the emotion he had when he told me the story of his mentor, and how much I care about him.
I swallow, and say, “Fine, Chase can come with me.” Before I finish the sentence, I stride out his front door.