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Once I’m back in the car, all of the anger I’d forced down while talking to Graham comes rushing back to the surface, heating my blood. There’s nothing I can do about Graham other than refuse his demands. I can’t fight him. I can’t hurt him. I can’t remove him from the table, not yet. I can’tdoanything, and the sheer helplessness of the situation, the fact that I could stand before the table and tell them that I choose Ana and still have them rise against me, has me so furious that I desperately need some place for my anger to go.
Usually, I’d take it out in the boxing ring. But today, that angerdoeshave somewhere to go. And it narrows in on one man—the one person I do have the power to do something about.
Alexandre.
I give Ralph the name of Max’s hotel and reach for my phone, dialing Niall’s number. “Meet me at Max’s hotel room,” I tell him. “The three of us need to talk.”
I’m not sure, exactly, what it is I plan to do at first. But as the car winds through traffic, I can feel it all coalescing into one firm point, one idea that I can’t shake.
Alexandre needs to die. As long as he lives, he’s a threat to Ana and now to the child that could biologically be his. I feel that I have very little control over anything right now—but that I can control.
That, I can do something about.
I don’t know exactly why I chose to go to Max’s. Maybe some small part of me hoped that he would talk me out of what I planned to do, that he would be my conscience. Niall and Max, the devil and angel on my shoulders, respectively.
I know what Niall would say. And maybe I’m hoping he’ll convince Max of the course I’m choosing, so that I can have both of the men I trust at my back.
“The look on your face tells me you’re not here for a drink and a chat,” Max says when he opens the door of his room. “I talked to Ana earlier today—”
“I’m not here to talk about Ana. I’m here about Alexandre.”
“Oh.” Max frowns. “Liam, maybe we should sit down and talk about this—”
“We’ll talk when Niall gets here.”
Niall arrives only a few minutes later, motorcycle helmet in hand and looking as unflappable and composed as always. “What d’ya need, Liam?” he asks, setting the helmet on the side table and leaning against the couch. He looks at my face, taking in my grim, angry expression for a moment. “Are we paying someone a visit?”
“Aye. Alexandre.”
“Ah. Well, he’s about due for one, I’d think.” Niall smirks. “The priest coming along? He handled blood alright when it was time to do for Alexei.”
“Let’s think this through.” Max looks slightly alarmed. “I know he’s done terrible things, Liam, and I know you’re angry that he’s here again, trying to get to Ana. But think ofherright now, Liam. Did she ask for this? She’s the one who has suffered through all of it.”
“No,” I bite out. “She doesn’t want him dead. But I’m doing her a favor by dealing with this, by eliminating him from the picture altogether. She doesn’t see it now, but she’ll realize it one day when we’re not fuckinghauntedby him constantly. When we don’t have to fear him stalking her or coming after our child. She’s not asking me to do this, but I am making this choice. We can’t live our lives with the specter of Alexandre following us everywhere.”
“Did you come here for counsel or help?” Max asks bluntly. “Because that changes what I say to you next, Liam. You know I have your back in anything that I can do. But if you want my counsel—”
“Can it be both?” My voice is laced with irritation as I run one hand through my hair, feeling as if I’m nearly vibrating with anger from the inside out. “I made a mistake before, in Paris, going after Alexandre alone. I won’t make that mistake twice. I’m not going into that hotel alone—I need men I trust at my back. You and Niall.”
“You and I will do it on our own if we have to,” Niall says sharply. “I’m with ya, Liam. Alexandre needs to die. He’s done enough damage to you and yours.”
“Killing him is a permanent solution—” Max starts to say.
“Aye, and that’s why he’s choosing it,” Niall snaps back. “A permanent solution is what’s needed here.”
“I don’t know if I’m the man you want at your back for this, Liam,” Max says quietly. “I can’t say what the right choice is.”
“You’ve killed a man and helped cut the fingers off of another,” I say flatly. “What’s a little more blood?”
“A little more, and then a little more, and then there’s a river of it,” Max says. “But I told you I’m with you, Liam, and I meant it. I can’t say I agree with your assessment of the situation, but if you truly believe this is the right path—”
“I do,” I say firmly.
“Then I won’t abandon you now.” Max looks at me evenly. “Let’s go find Alexandre.”
“Aye.” Niall steps forward, grabbing his helmet and opening the hotel room door. “After you, lad. Let’s spill that blood.”
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