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"Tony, let me come to you. I can be there by—"
"No!" The word slices through the conversation, sharp and final. "You can't. It's too risky."
"Baby, I don't care about my safety. Right now, I just want to be with you; I just want to hold you."
"Stop," I plead, my voice breaking. "Please. I'll be okay, baby. In a little while. I can't risk anything happening to you."
We fall into a silence, filled only by the sound of our breathing. And then, slowly, he starts to talk again, telling me all the things I want to hear . . . telling me things I need to hear. His voice is a lifeline, pulling me through the murky waters of despair.
"Tony, you still there?" he asks after what feels like an eternity.
"Yes, my love, just listening to you talk and breathe," I respond, feeling fragile.
"I have an engagement I need to shoot off to, and it will be rather late by the time I come back. May I say goodnight now?”
"Goodnight, Liam. I love you."
“I love you more, babe. Till tomorrow”.
The line goes dead, yet I clutch the phone a little longer, letting the echo of his voice wrap around me like a protective shroud.
"Till tomorrow," I whisper into nothingness, a silent promise, hoping that tomorrow will be a little brighter.
"Hey, Tony. How are you feeling tonight?" Liam's voice crackles through the phone, a soothing balm to my frayed nerves.
"Much better, actually," I admit, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear as I settle onto my dorm room bed. "I've been hitting the books hard."
"Good to hear." There's a warmth in his tone that feels like a hug. "I have some news that might make your day even brighter."
"Oh?" I perch up, curious. “Hit me.”
"Mr. Rothwell got released on bail today. Looks like the investigation is swinging in our favor," Liam says, and I can almost see his smile through the line.
"Really? That's amazing!" A genuine smile breaks across my face for the first time in days, lifting the weight that's been pressing on my chest.
"Thought you'd like that. So, what are your big plans for the weekend?" he asks, his voice casual but interested.
"Studying," I sigh. "I've got so much to catch up on."
"Alright, study bug, but I want you to take a little break at 11 AM tomorrow. There's going to be a delivery for you," Liam reveals, a hint of mischief lacing his words.
"Delivery? What are you talking about?" My heart skips a beat, intrigue piqued.
"Just wait and see," he teases, leaving me hanging with anticipation. "Promise you'll be there?"
"Promise," I say, the word buoyed by a newfound excitement.
"Great. Sleep well, T. Talk soon."
"Goodnight, Liam." I end the call, holding onto the fluttering in my belly like a secret smile.
11 AM sharp, a knock jolts me upright from my textbooks. I blink, confused—then remember Liam's mysterious delivery. My pulse quickens as I scramble to the door, expecting a parcel or maybe flowers, but it's not a delivery man that greets me— It's Liam, in flesh and blood, standing right there in the hallway of my Texas dormitory.
"Li-Liam?" I scream, then cover my mouth with both hands to stuff the scream back into my lungs.
“No, no, no, no.” I cry in horror.
“Are you going to let me in, baby, or leave me standing here in the hallway? There’s a bullet out there with my name on it . . . remember?”
