Chapter 17

Liam

I should be satisfied. I saw her tremble when I raised my voice, saw her eyes fill with restrained tears when I reminded her, once again, of the place she holds: my daughter’s nanny, nothing more. I did it on purpose, of course. I needed that. I needed to convince myself that I wasn’t letting Kyra cross barriers that shouldn’t exist. That there was no more space for anyone but me.

Only instead of feeling in control, I was furious. Because the damn woman disappeared before dawn. I spent the entire afternoon calling, and nothing. Julie asked me where she was, and I lied without hesitation, saying Kyra had gone to visit a friend. But inside, I was burning. I knew. I knew she wouldn’t go anywhere safe, knew she was stubborn enough to put herself at risk. She’s too unpredictable. But I didn’t give up — I would find her. My daughter needed an answer.

When the black car pulled up in front of that filthy bar on the outskirts, I almost smiled. That was so Kyra. She would never choose a sophisticated restaurant, nor would she dare to go to an expensive hotel alone. No. She’d rather hide in a cheap hole, smelling of cigarettes and sour beer. A place she knew was less crowded and sought after.

I got out of the car, and the security guard tried to stop me from entering. He looked at my suit, my watch, as if to say I didn’t belong there. I stared at him once, and he stepped aside. Inside, the loud music and forced laughter assaulted me. But nothing hit me as hard as the sight of her.

Kyra was leaning against the bar, her hair loose and disheveled, her eyes misty, her mouth red from alcohol. There was an empty glass in front of her and another already being filled by the bartender. She didn’t see me. Or maybe she did and just decided to ignore me. The idiot beside her touched her arm, trying a cheap move. Kyra didn’t react. She was limp, given up, as if she had surrendered even her own anger.

And in that moment I realized: I couldn’t allow another man to touch her. I crossed the bar with firm steps. The guy was still whispering something in her ear when I grabbed her arm and pulled her to me.

“She’s not interested.” My voice cut through the room like a blade. “And she’s not alone. Get lost.”

The man protested, but one look was enough. He backed off, ashamed, maybe even scared. Kyra looked at me, confused, with that mix of hate and need that tore me apart. I wanted to kiss her, strip away all the hate she held inside.

“Let me go…” she whispered, her voice breaking. “I didn’t ask you to come here. This isn’t your place, Liam. Let go of me. Leave.”

“No.” I tightened my grip on her wrist. “But you are my responsibility. Until proven otherwise. Julie is waiting for you. We’re leaving.”

She laughed. A bitter laugh, heavy with pain and alcohol. She wasn’t drunk enough, but neither fully sober.

“Responsibility? That’s not what you said. You said I’m nothing but a nanny. That I’m nothing. So what are you doing here then? Can’t you see this isn’t your place? Leave, Liam. Here you’re not my boss and I’m not your nanny. I’ll be back in time to work, sober and clear, don’t worry.”

Each word was like a stab. But I didn’t back down. I can’t back down. She wanted to destroy herself, but I don’t want my nanny destroyed.

“Exactly.” I leaned my face close to hers so only she could hear. “And it’s precisely because you’re my nanny that I won’t allow you to fall apart in this shithole. Now get up and let’s go. I won’t leave without you. Don’t bother insisting.”

She tried to resist, but she was too weak. So I pulled her by the hand, ignoring the stares, ignoring her protests. I wrapped an arm firmly around her waist and dragged her to the car. She struggled. She cried. She cursed me. But I didn’t let go. Didn’t protest back.

When I finally placed her in the back seat, I buckled the belt and slammed the door shut. I took a deep breath before getting in the car. My hand trembled. Not from anger, but something far worse. I wanted her there. I wanted her in that twisted submission. I wanted her at my feet, crying and at the same time begging for something only I could give.

But it wasn’t the time. Not yet. I started the car without looking at her. If I looked, I would give in, and things wouldn’t end well.

“Never disappear like that again, Kyra.” My voice came out low, but laced with poison. “You have no idea what could happen if you… if you go out alone, at this hour, to a dump like that. You’re not like this, Kyra.”

I didn’t wait for an answer. Maybe because I knew hers would destroy me again. She knew she could reply, but chose to remain silent.

Kyra

I was tired. Too tired to fight back against Liam’s provocations, so the best choice was to let him talk to himself.

His words still hovered in my mind. You’re just my daughter’s nanny. I should be used to it, I should know I couldn’t expect anything different from Liam Blackthorne. But it hurt. It hurt as if he had torn a piece out of me. But what can I expect? I really am nothing more than the useless employee of an arrogant, widowed billionaire.

So I ran. I went to the only place my troubled mind could think of: that cheap bar, where no one knew me, where I could drink until I forgot. I was already known there, a regular visitor since I arrived in town. But I didn’t forget. Every sip reminded me more of him. Every fake laugh around me sounded like mockery. And when that man tried to talk to me, I almost let him. I almost let him take me, just to prove to myself that Liam had no power over me.

Only he did. He always did. When I saw Liam crossing the bar, in his suit, imposing, his eyes burning with fury, I knew I had no choice anymore. I was trapped. Trapped in him.

He tore me out of there as if I were an object. It didn’t matter who was watching, it didn’t matter how much I begged. He didn’t let go. And deep down, part of me didn’t want him to.

In the car, I tried to say something, but my voice failed. Yes, I was drunk, but not enough to miss the tension. Liam was hanging by a thread. He gripped the steering wheel as if trying to crush it. I didn’t want to risk saying something that would push him further.

“Why did you come after me?” I managed to murmur, my voice dragging. “You don’t care. You never care. I’m not your responsibility, Liam. I won’t run away, okay? Just don’t do this again, please. Don’t come after me anymore.”

He didn’t answer right away. He just took a deep breath, as if each word was a battle.

“Because you belong to me, Kyra. Whether you like it or not. And you fucking know it. Now don’t test my patience. Just don’t ever do that again — going out alone, never again.”

My heart raced. Anger and desire mixed like poison. I should hate him. I should jump out of that car and never look back. But I couldn’t. I just leaned my head against the glass and closed my eyes, trying to forget how much those words destroyed me. Because in the end, I knew he was right…

“I don’t know what else to say, Liam. I don’t want to cause problems for your family, you understand?”