Liam's hands tightened on her. They had never exposed themselves before. Mike's eyes focused upon him and narrowed pointedly. Liam silently dared Mike to make any sort of objection, but he didn't. Instead, he took another long drag of his cigarette and snubbed it out.
"You haven't met David. He's going to college in Pennsylvania," Liam said.
"And the other two?"
"Doug and Jack," Mike answered. Sera felt as if someone had just punched her, but she didn't say anything. "Look, you're obviously taking this rather well, but..."
"You don't trust me."
"No, I don't."
Sera bit into her bottom lip as she lowered her eyes from his intense stare. Liam's arms were warm and secure around her. Liam trusted her, he would keep her safe, but she wasn't sure that it would be enough. He had said that he wouldn't be able to protect her from all of them. That he couldn't keep them all away. If they decided that she was a threat they would kill her, and Liam, in order to get to her.
She lifted her head to gaze up at him. His eyes were turbulent, but the love in them was unmistakable. "Do you trust Liam?" she inquired.
Mike's eyes flickered toward Liam. "Well yeah," he said hesitantly.
"Then you should trust the fact that he trusts me."
Mike frowned thoughtfully. "I guess I should."
Sera dropped her head against Liam's chest and snuggled closer to him. He smiled as he met Mike's startled gaze. "Amazing," Mike mumbled.
Liam didn't have to ask what was amazing. He was holding it securely in his arms. The piercing ring of her phone caused them all to jump in surprise. Mike grabbed it off the desk and tossed it over to Liam. "Hello."
"Where is Sera?" Kathleen demanded loudly.
"She's right here, hold on," he said, handing the phone to her.
"Hello," she said.
"What is going on?"
"Nothing."
"Don't give me that! Something is going on. Liam came in last night and took Michelle out of the party, did you know that?"
"Yes Kathleen, I know that," Sera replied tiredly. "I was in the car."
"Why?"
"We had a few things to straighten out, that's all."
"Oh, that's all! Really? There's more going on, and I want to know what it is."
"There is nothing else going on Kathleen," she said firmly. "I wouldn't lie to you, you know that." Sera closed her eyes and took a deep breath as guilt washed through her. She was lying now, but there was no way that she could tell Kathleen that. "I'd had it with all of Michelle's crap and decided to confront her on it. I knew she wouldn't leave the party with me, so Liam came to get her."
"Why did Liam want to know if I had said anything about Jacob?"
Sera bit her lip and closed her eyes as memories flowed over her. A shiver so fierce wracked her and almost caused her to drop the phone. Liam grabbed her shoulders and tried to take the phone from her. She shook her head, holding up a hand to ward him off. She had to deal with this sooner or later, and Kathleen would only become more adamant if Liam took the phone now.
"He called me," she managed to say.
"Oh Sera, that must have been awful!" Kathleen cried. "Did Michelle tell him where you were?"
"Yes."
"Oh God, I swear I didn't say anything to her Sera. I swear it!"
