Liam sat back in his seat and turned to face her. Her eyes were a vivid purple in her pale face. Her bottom lip trembled but her eyes were dry. "I need to take care of something."
"What?"
"Michelle."
"How?" she whispered.
"She's going to meet me here."
"What are you going to do?"
"Try not to think about that right now. Come here."
He pulled her into his arms. She laid her head in his lap, her small hand curled around his thigh as her eyes drifted closed. He stroked her hair as he took in her pale face and the thick bandage on the side of her neck. His hand clenched as he ground his teeth.
He lifted his head to meet Mike's gaze in the rearview mirror. Liam looked away from him before Mike could see how close the demon in him was to breaking free. He looked out at the night. It was eerily hushed. There was no moon, or stars, but he could clearly see the trees. A steeliness stole its way through his body. He wanted to kill Michelle and anyone else that had ever caused Sera harm. He continued to stroke her hair as he tried to keep himself grounded with her.
He glanced at the clock. "I have to go," he said. "I'll be back soon, will you be all right?"
"Yes."
He took off his jacket and lifted her head to slide it underneath her. "I love you," he whispered. She curled into a ball as he opened the door and stepped out. "Come on," he said to Mike.
Mike looked dumbfounded before he thrust his door open and stepped out. "You don't want me to stay with her?"
Liam glanced back at Sera. She looked incredibly small, tiny, and so wounded that it tore at his heart. He hated to leave her alone here, but he couldn't leave Mike behind. He shut his door and waited for Mike to do the same. "No, I need you with me." Mike looked warily back in the car. It was obvious that he didn't like the idea of leaving her alone either. "I'll kill her Mike. I need you there to stop me."
Mike closed his mouth and nodded.
***
A pair of headlights swept over the interior of the car. Sera listened as another car pulled up and turned off. A door opened and shut. She rose to watch Michelle hurry down the path toward the gazebo with a case of beer in hand.
For the first time Sera felt some emotion penetrate her numbness. She had to fight the urge to get out of the car and confront her. She didn't know how, but she knew that Michelle had something to do with Jacob showing up tonight. She looked at the keys in the ignition and was half-tempted to start the car up and run her over with it.
Instead, she sat back in the seat and watched her disappear.
***
Liam watched as Michelle walked toward him with her hips swaying seductively. "Hello sexy," she purred as she placed the beer on the gazebo step.
"Hello, Michelle."
She smiled as she hurried up the steps. She froze just inches before him as terror spread over her features and she gaped at him.
***
Sera grabbed the keys from the ignition and climbed out of the car. She was freezing and she needed something to do in order to take her mind off of what was going on in the park. She walked around to the back of the car and slid the keys into the trunk. Pulling Liam's jacket closer, she inhaled his pleasant, reassuring scent as she flung the trunk open.
She reached in to look for a blanket, or clothes, and froze. Jacob stared back at her. He was wrapped in her clean, white sheets, his head turned toward the side and his eyes open in unseeing horror. Sera stumbled backward in revulsion as a scream caught in her throat. She tripped and fell to the ground. A guttural cry ripped out of her as she scrambled backward like a crab.
Her breath came in heavy, lurching wheezes, and she couldn't stop the rolling revulsion that raced through her. She turned onto her knees and vomited, her whole body heaved as she knelt upon the cool ground. When her stomach was completely empty, she wiped the back of her hand over her mouth. She couldn't find the strength to stand.
Liam was a murderer. He had killed Jacob. Jacob was dead. Her mind spun, one thought would not stay for more than a second or two. Nothing made sense. Everything was wrong.
Finally, when she was able to breathe normally again, and move without feeling nauseous, she shoved herself to her feet. Stumbling to the car, she slammed the trunk closed without looking in it again. She knew that she wouldn't be able to handle that awfulness once more. The keys fell to the ground, but she didn't notice as she took a trembling step back.
Her gaze drifted to the path that Liam, Mike, and Michelle had gone down. She didn't want to go, but she knew she had to. She had to see Liam; she had to know what was going on. Stumbling forward she headed toward the path. Her heart lurched with every step, and her breath came in heavy pants as she broke into a run.
