Page 149 of The Tower

She smiled, something bright and genuine that made his chest ache with feelings he was still learning to name. “Together,” she echoed, settling back, her body fitting perfectly against his.

When morning came, he woke to find her watching him. “Creepy,” he murmured, smiling as he remembered their night—and morning—at the Celestial. “Watching me sleep.”

“Just making sure this is real. That you’re really here.”

He reached out to touch her face, tracing the line of her jaw with gentle fingers. “I’m here,” he assured her. “And I’m not going anywhere.”

Liam stared at his phone, the message from Leo sending ice through his veins. Bane on the move. Sources confirm plan to abduct Sasha tonight. Team of six. Armed.

He looked across the breakfast table at Sasha as she talked about her plans for Lydia Cosmetics, her face animated with passion for her mother's legacy. She was happy. Safe. At peace.

And Desmond Bane was about to fuck that all to hell.

He gripped his phone tighter. After everything he and Sasha had been through, they'd finally found their way back to each other. And, yes, he'd sworn to never make decisions for her again, never to steal her agency.

But this was different. This was her safety.

He stood abruptly, his chair screeching on the polished floor. "I need to head into the city."

"Everything okay?"

"Nothing I can't handle," he said, already calculating how quickly he could reach Bane and take the bastard out of the equation.

He kissed her forehead, lingering a moment longer than necessary. “I'll be back before dinner."

She nodded, then returned to her coffee, her expression worry-free. Why wouldn’t it be? She trusted him.

Trust.

Still so fragile between them.

But this was different. More dire.

At least that’s what he told himself as he walked to the door.

Except it was a goddamn lie.

He stopped, his hand on the knob. What the fuck was he doing? Repeating goddamn history, that’s what.

This was exactly what he'd done before. Exactly how he'd justified killing Victor. Protecting her. Keeping her safe.

And keeping her in the dark through all of it.

“Fuck.”

He turned around, then headed back to the dining area. She was still at the table, reviewing marketing materials for the rebranding.

“Forget something?” she asked, not looking up.

“Yes.” He put his phone down in front of her with Leo’s text visible. “The truth.”

She read the message, her face paling. “Bane is coming here? Tonight?”

“Apparently.” He took the seat across from her, forcing himself to stay calm. “My first instinct was to go after him myself. To handle it. To protect you without involving you.”

She glanced toward the front door as understanding dawned in her eyes. “You were about to go after him. Like with my father.”

He nodded. “I was halfway out the door when I realized what I was doing. Making the same damn mistake again.”