I would never forget the night I saw Liam lying bloody and bruised in that cage.

When I stood on the other side of the chain link and saw Viper slam Liam’s head onto the concrete floor, I almost collapsed. Fearful I was too late, I’d lost control of my inhibitions and screamed at him to fight back. Nothing else had mattered. Nothing.

I was terrified that one more hit and he would be gone.

Afterward, I’d taken him to the hospital and slept by his bedside. Faye came too, but she soon left us in peace. We had a great deal to talk about.

That night, we’d laid everything out—the complete truth of our pasts, voiced our fears, confided our dreams—and made a pact.

Together to the end.

We’d spent every moment we could together in the days after the fight, and while Liam recovered, I was glad to fawn over him and job hunt all at the same time. One of those things was going a great deal better than the other. Rent was due tomorrow,‬ and I was completely broke. ‬‬‬‬‬

I’d just endured a night without Liam—he’d said he had some things to do, like the mundane task known as laundry—and was dreaming fitfully when furious knocking at my front door roused me.

Sliding out of bed, I padded groggily through the apartment. Unlocking the deadbolt, I eased the door open and found Liam on the other side, bouncing from foot to foot, looking too energetic for my liking.

“What time is it?” I muttered, flipping the latch on the security door.

“Six thirty,” he replied. “Did I wake you?”

Not waiting for an answer, he burst into my apartment, his eyes ablaze with excitement. He caught me around the waist and pulled me close, twirling me around once before setting me down.

Laughing, I asked, “What’s the matter with you? Got ants in your pants?”

“Figuratively speaking.” He kissed me on the forehead and smoothed my tangled hair behind my ears.

After everything we’d been through—the mess, the misunderstandings, the fights, the makeovers, the one-night stands—being with him, touching, kissing, talking…it was all natural. I wasn’t shy, I didn’t hesitate, and I certainly enjoyed being vocal in other areas.

I was pretty sure Liam knew it, but he was the one who’d reignited my thirst for life and love. He was the catalyst I’d been waiting for all these years. He’d shown me the way, and now I was taking the path. Talk about an epic metaphor.

And Liam? He was walking the talk right beside me. So far, we were doing perfectly. Partners in crime.

“Are you horny?” I asked, pressing against him. “Or are you here for something else?”

“Something else, but I can be here for that, too.”

“You’re insatiable.”

“Greedy more like it.”

“It’s not greedy if I’m offering,” I retorted.

Cupping my face in his big hands, he smiled. “I’ve got a proposition for you.”

My eyes widened, and I felt a trickle of sweat begin to bead on my forehead. Proposition? He had the crazy eye right now, and I wasn’t sure what he was playing at. It could be anything, but the first thing that popped into my mind was ‘wedding,’ and I felt like puking.

“Don’t piss yourself, Ali,” he said with a chuckle. “Just listen for a moment…”

I nodded as his thumbs brushed over my cheeks.

“After everything…” he began, his voice taking on a serious tone. “After all the bullshit… I’ve realized something. I’m your person now. No matter what happens, you’re not going to be alone anymore, you hear?”

I frowned. “I thought that was a given?”

“It is,” he replied. “That’s why I want to take you away. Leave everything behind and start somewhere new. Just you and me.”

I froze, not understanding where this was coming from. Hardly any time had passed since his last fight at The Underground, and his face and body still bore the marks of Viper’s attempted murder. Because that was what it was. No need to beat around the bush about it. If I hadn’t shown up when I did, this story would’ve had a different ending.

“What do you mean?” I asked, hardly daring to jump to conclusions.

“Pack up your apartment, and give your landlord notice,” he said. “Put your stuff into storage with mine, and let’s just go.”

“Where?” My heart jackhammered in my chest, my palms sweating. Images of all the places around the world I wanted to visit popped into my mind’s eye. I hardly dared…

“Anywhere,” Liam declared. “Let’s just pack our bags, go to the airport, and get on the first flight out of here.”

“That’s crazy… I have no money…”

“Remember what I told you?” he asked, grasping my shoulders. “That night by the bar when you kissed me? If you want to live life…”

“Reach out, and take it.”

He smiled, his hands smoothing through my hair. “So?”

“What about the Championship?”

“I’m done with The Underground,” he replied. “I won’t go back there. It’s not worth losing you over it.”

“But your dream… The money could change everything for you.”

Liam shook his head, his lips quirking. “It was never about money, Ali. It took me a long time to realize, but it’s always been about you.”

“Me?”

He nodded. “You, Ali. You and your honey colored eyes have stolen the heart I never knew I had.” He smiled, his excitement palpable. “So what do you say? Wanna blow this popcorn stand?”

I stared up at him, the fighter known as Blade, and could hardly believe this was my life. He loved me, I loved him, and now he wanted to take me away and make a life with me. Not just any life. A beautiful adventure with no destination other than chasing the sunrise.

I didn’t know where we were going, but it didn’t matter. Anywhere was electric with him by my side.

“Yes,” I said, my heart soaring. “Let’s get out of here.”

* * *