Chapter 8: Safe in His Arms

Everyone on their side begins discussing things among themselves while we remain quiet.

Killian isn’t included in their conversation.

He leans forward, his hands resting behind his head. The tension in his posture tells me this must be stressful for him.

Finally, Killian speaks quietly.

“He’s right…”

None of the men beside him hear him.

“What?” one of them asks.

Killian lowers his hands and looks up.

“I said he’s right,” he repeats.

His men look confused.

“I’m twenty years old. I’ve only been involved in this life for half of that. I’m not ready for this…” He pauses before glancing at me. “And I know Nara isn’t either.”

Silence falls over them.

I think the truth they had been avoiding has finally found them.

A strange sense of safety washes over me. I’m not sure if it’s because Liam is standing beside me or because Killian doesn’t want to hurt me.

Maybe it’s both.

“We understand this is a large offer,” Mr. Luca says calmly, “so we are willing to give you a few days to think it over.”

“Yeah… I think that would be best,” Killian says hoarsely.

“We will call to arrange another meeting then.”

Killian nods.

“Pleasure meeting all of you,” Mr. Luca says as he stands.

We follow him toward the door.

Before leaving, I glance back one last time at Killian.

He’s staring at me, watching me leave just like he watched our car drive away ten years ago.

We stop at a sandwich shop before heading home.

I can only stomach something simple, so I order a mozzarella sandwich.

Liam and I walk beside each other on our way back to the car.

The silence between us feels strangely warm, so I decide to break it.

“I didn’t know how soon you would take over.”

“Surprise,” he replies sarcastically.

“Does it scare you?”

He hesitates before answering.

“Sometimes I feel like I can’t live up to his name.”

He pauses.

“Then sometimes I feel like my name is even scarier.”

I smile.

“What’s your father’s name?”

“Nicholas,” he says in his perfect Italian accent.

“Nicholas Luca,” I repeat.

“Prolong the end of Nicho before saying the ‘o,’” he instructs.

“Nicho,” I try.

“Yeah… close enough,” he says with a grin.

During the silence that follows, my eyes drift to his lips. The scars only make them more attractive.

“I’m assuming Leon picked out those clothes,” Liam says.

“I told you they were slutty,” I reply, glancing down at myself.

“Did you buy the garter? Leon wouldn’t know to get that.”

“Yes, I did.”

“It was sexy as hell.”

My heart suddenly begins racing.

“Too bad I left it there,” I pout.

“We’ll get you hundreds of them, Nara.”

My cheeks warm instantly. I know he exaggerated the number, but I’m not sure he’s joking about buying another.

When we finally reach the SUV, Liam tosses his keys to Bruno.

“You drive.”

Bruno rolls his eyes but obeys.

Liam slides into the backseat beside me while Leon sits on my other side. I shift slightly closer to Liam.

We aren’t touching, but being only centimeters away from him is driving me insane.

I’m grateful that my skirt is loose enough for me to sit comfortably. I’ve always hated sitting “ladylike.”

Why can’t I just be comfortable?

A second wave of exhaustion crashes over me. Without thinking, I rest my head against Liam’s massive arm.

The moment I do it, I realize I probably shouldn’t have.

But it’s too late now.

I catch his reaction in the side mirror. He turns his head to look down at me, then slowly faces forward again with a small smile.

Maybe it’s the beer.

Maybe it’s exhaustion.

But it’s getting harder to stay awake.

My eyelids grow heavier and heavier until I can barely keep them open by the time we reach the garage.

I manage to step out of the car, but walking is another challenge entirely.

Liam notices immediately.

After watching me struggle for a moment, he scoffs and walks over.

Then he lifts me effortlessly one arm around my waist, the other under my legs.

He hasn’t touched me like this since the killing.

I hold onto his shoulders and rest my head against him. My hand brushes across his bare chest.

Even half-asleep, I notice the way his hand supports me beneath my skirt, resting under my thigh.

His thumb presses gently against my skin.

The city sounds distant as he carries me toward our building.

His shoulders are rock solid.

So is his chest.

My head rests against his left pec. It isn’t soft, but somehow it’s still comforting.

Being held against him is strangely soothing.

He carries me into the elevator without ever shifting my weight.

I may be small, but I’m well over one hundred twenty pounds.

They start speaking Italian around me, words I can’t even attempt to process right now.

“Guardati, Liam. Sei il suo piccolo maggiordomo,” Bruno teases.

Look at you, Valen. You’re her little butler.

Leon laughs.

“Chiudi il becco, Bruno,” Liam snaps.

Shut up, Bruno.

The elevator dings.

Liam carries me up the stairs toward my room.

“Thank you,” I whisper when we reach the quiet hallway.

He opens my door and carries me inside before gently setting me on the bed.

“Can you clean up on your own?” he asks.

I nod, but I’m already curled beneath my blanket, drifting toward sleep.

He sighs.

I feel my heels being slipped off my aching feet. Then he removes my earrings and places them carefully on the bedside table.

I hear him walk into my bathroom and open a drawer.

“Here,” he says.

I squint up at him.

He’s holding a makeup wipe.

I wipe the dirt and makeup from my face while he pulls a T-shirt and shorts from my closet.

When I finish, I drop the wipe on the table and lie back down.

Suddenly, he presses the cold wipe beneath my eye.

“Sorry. You missed a spot.”

He tosses the wipe into the bathroom trash.

“Change, Nara.”

I groan.

“I’m not doing that for you.”

He turns around to give me privacy.

I try to reach the zipper on the back of my top but fail miserably.

“Liam…”

He turns back and sees me struggling.

I think I hear him chuckle.

Without a word, he unzips it and turns around again.

I quickly change into the shirt and shorts.

The second I’m done, I collapse back into bed.

My blanket falls over me, and I curl into it.

I hear him standing beside the bed.

Then he leans closer.

“Buona notte, Nara,” he murmurs beside my ear.

Good night.

I fall asleep before I even hear him leave.