The moment we stepped into my parents’ house, the atmosphere turned tense as Liam, Ty, and I, along with some guards, stood in my parents’ living room. Even the delectable scent of Mom’s homemade apple pie couldn’t mask the uneasiness that hung over us like a dark cloud.
My brothers eyed Liam with contempt and wariness, and they moved in front of my mother to shield her. The news of Castro’s stunt had brought a cold sweat to my body, and the fact that he was so close only made the situation even more alarming.
“Are you kidding me? This is absurd,” Michael spat, throwing his hands up in the air.
“Easy, Michael,” I said, trying to keep the peace. “We’re all on edge and need to stay calm.”
“Look,” Ty cut in. “We came here to talk about the Castro sighting and the additional security measures we want to put in place for the house.”
Mason stepped forward with his shoulders squared. “I don’t trust him, Liza.” He jerked his head toward Liam, and narrowed his eyes. “Neither should you.”
“Guys, can we just focus on what’s important here?” I said in exasperation. “There’s a psychopath out there, and we need to protect our family,”
It was one thing when we had no idea where Castro was, but now that he was so close...
I swallowed hard, trying to keep my composure.
“Damn it,” Mason said under his breath. “What are we supposed to do now?”
“First things first, we’re going to put extra security on this house,” Liam said. “With this war coming, no one is safe, especially your family, Liza.”
My brothers stared at Liam with their jaws clenched. Whatever anger they’d been holding back suddenly exploded.
“Who the hell do you think you are?” Michael growled, taking a step toward Liam.
“Mike, don’t!” I grabbed for his arm, but he shook me off.
“Your little stunt with Liza wasn’t enough? Now you’re dragging our entire family into this mess?” Mason added, his low, menacing growl resonating through the room.
“Enough,” Ty barked, stepping between them and Liam to create a physical barrier. “This isn’t helping anyone. We need to focus on protecting our family and stopping Castro.”
I held my breath and watched the scene unfold, then silently thanked Ty for intervening before things turned ugly. My brothers’ faces were red, their gazes locked on Liam. Liam, however, seemed unperturbed. His expression was cool and impassive, betraying no emotion. In a physical fight, my brothers stood no chance against Liam. Still, I was glad it didn’t get that far. We had enough problems without adding family feuds into the mix.
“Look, we’re all on edge here, but attacking each other won’t solve anything,” Ty said, his alpha authority ringing through his voice.
“Fine,” Michael said and stepped back, though his posture remained stiff.
Mason mirrored his actions, still glaring at Liam.
“Let’s focus on what needs to be done,” Ty said, ever the voice of reason. “Liza’s safety is our priority, and we have to work together.”
Liam nodded, the slightest hint of a frown on his brow. “Agreed,” he said, voice barely above a whisper.
“Good.” Ty exhaled, visibly relieved.
While we discussed our next steps, I glanced over at my mother, who was standing near the kitchen counter. Her hands were clasped tightly together, her fingers digging into her skin. She wasn’t comfortable with Liam’s presence, considering what had happened to her. Well, more because of the man whose head had been delivered to us.
My father wrapped an arm around her, offering her comfort and reassurance. “Rory, I promise we’ll do everything in our power to keep Liza and our family safe.”
“I know, honey,” my mother said. She glanced up, giving me a weak but encouraging smile.
“Okay, so what’s our next move?” Mason asked, the anger from before forgotten.
The air was suffocating as we gathered in the living room. I could taste everyone’s fear—a bitter, acrid tang that clung to the back of my throat. Ty stood beside me, his body radiating warmth and strength. It was a comfort, but it wasn’t enough to erase my worry.
“Extra security?” My father’s voice was edged with disbelief, his eyes darting between Ty and Liam. “You’re telling us Castro is out there, planning some kind of war, and you want to put more guards around our house?”
“Exactly.” Ty was unyielding. “This isn’t just about protecting Liza anymore. Your entire family could be at risk.”
