“I’m okay, sweetheart. I’m fine,” she whispered, hugging me tightly as we stood in the hallway, then she held me at arm’s length. “This was not your fault, Liza Mimms, do you hear me? Do you hear me?” Mom turned to Ty, filled with tenderness, and softly said, “Ty, dear. I understand things have been… difficult lately. But I want you to know we appreciate everything you’ve done for our daughter.”
“Thank you, Rory. That means a lot,” Ty said, his cheeks flushing.
When we walked into the living room, I was met with the sight of my father Scott engaged in a heated discussion with my brothers, Mason and Michael. Their conversation ceased the moment they became aware of our presence, their faces a combination of relief and concern.
The scent of my mother’s homemade lasagna wafted through the air, making my stomach rumble loudly. The familiar comfort of our family home enveloped me as my mother ushered Ty and me inside. For all its warmth, a cloud of tension hung heavy in the room.
Mason and Michael stood near the fireplace, their expressions stormy, and their postures defensive.
“Little sis,” Mason said, his face breaking into a grin before he strode over and wrapped me in a bear hug, lifting me off the floor.
“Hey there,” Michael said, joining the embrace. His slender frame belied his strength, but it was still enough to make me feel small and protected between the two of them.
When they let me go, I noticed they scowled at Ty. My brother’s had always been protective of me, but I couldn’t let them blame my mate.
“Guys, I get that you’re angry, but none of this was Ty’s fault. He’s done everything he can to keep me safe.”
Mason’s steely gaze met mine. After a moment, he sighed and nodded. “Liza. We trust your judgment. But Ty,” he added, leveling a finger at my mate. “If something like this happens again, we won’t be so understanding.”
Ty swallowed audibly. “I understand, and I promise to do everything in my power to protect her.”
“Good.” Michael’s lips curved into a wry smile. “Now we’ve got that out of the way, can we please enjoy some family time?”
“Absolutely,” I said, feeling lighter.
My brothers led the way to the dining table, where Mom’s lasagna sat steaming and inviting. The six of us settled into our chairs, and for a moment, it was like old times. I tried to forget the danger lurking outside and focused on my family.
As we ate, the conversation flowed easily, filled with laughter and teasing. Mason regaled us with tales of his latest football victories, while Michael shared anecdotes from his university classes. Ty chimed in here and there, and though he was still wary of my brothers, he was relaxing and becoming more comfortable around them.
I savored every bite of the delicious meal and every word spoken. Moments of normalcy were precious and rare. My thoughts strayed to Liam, wondering what he was doing at the guest house, but I quickly pushed those worries aside. Tonight was about my adoptive family—the family who had raised me—and I intended to enjoy it to the fullest.
“Here’s to hoping for brighter days ahead,” Mom said, lifting her glass of water in a toast. In that fleeting moment, the clinking of our glasses gave me a sense of reassurance andcamaraderie, chasing away the doubt, and temporarily easing my worries.
As I looked around the table, my heart warmed with love for each person seated there, and I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the bonds that held us together.
My father and I discussed my catering business and whether I’d continue working.
I caught sight of my mother standing in the doorway. She had been quiet throughout dinner, so I rushed to her side and wrapped her in a tight hug.
“Mom, I’m so sorry,” I said with sincere remorse. “I never meant for any of this to happen.”
“Shh, it’s not your fault, sweetheart,” she said, stroking my hair. “You’re home now, and that’s all that matters.”
We held each other for a moment longer before pulling away. My father had joined us, and though he looked just as concerned as my mother, I could sense his curiosity.
“Tell us everything.” He took a seat next to my mother. “What happened, and what exactly are we dealing with?”
Swallowing hard, I began to recount the events of the past few days—my abduction, discovering my captor was Liam. The truth behind my conception and Josef Wylde’s plans to use me, and what impact that had on the threat of Castro and his goons. Ty chimed in occasionally, adding important details and clarifications.
As we spoke, my parents’ expressions became more and more troubled, as did their outrage at Josef’s plans to use me as a weapon to further his own murderous reputation. They were clearly worried about the danger that surrounded us, and their skepticism about Liam was evident.
“Are you sure you can trust him?” Dad asked, his brow furrowed in concern.
“His methods might be unorthodox,” Ty said. “But I believe he will prove himself to be an ally. Right now, we need all the help we can get.”
“Besides,” I added, attempting to inject some levity. “He’s got this weird soft spot for me. It’s kind of hard to explain, but I think he genuinely wants to help.”
“Still,” Mom said, wringing her hands anxiously. “I don’t like the idea of someone so unpredictable being around you.”
