Chapter 135
He sighs, leaning a little heavier on his cane. “You might be grown now, Liam, but to me, you’ll always be the kid who cried when his tokens ran out. So let me give you something no machine in here can spit out.”
I look at him. He’s not teasing anymore.
“I’ve known you a long time. Long enough to say this without mincing words – you’re used to steering away the women in your life. Your mama. Your sisters. Every girl who thought they could keep up.” He squints at me. “But this one’s different. You brought her here. That means something. You love her?”
1 nod. The answer’s immediate. “Yeah. I do.”
His expression softens, just a fraction. “Then tell her the truth. All of it. Don’t wait for it to catch up and bite you in the ass. Keeping secrets is never a good idea, especially when it’s not just your heart on the line. You are technically that kid’s father.”
My mouth opens – but the words don’t come.
Because right then, I hear it. A scream,
Not just any scream. Emilia.
And every instinct in me kicks in at once.
I’m already moving, shoving past the nearest pinball machine, ignoring Oldie’s shout behind me.
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I don’t think. I don’t hesitate.
I run.
Because wherever she is-
She needs me.
EMILIA
The blood drains from my face so fast I feel dizzy.
A staff member rushes over, drawn by my scream, panic already flickering in his eyes. I’m still stumbling backwards, chest heaving, my pulse thundering in my ears.
“There’s a man,” I gasp, pointing toward the restroom, “in the women’s bathroom- he has a knife. A pocket knife- he- he was dressed like-”
I can’t even finish the sentence.
The staff member doesn’t wait. He bolts toward the bathroom, yelling something into his walkie–talkie. Everything else becomes a blur. A group of teenagers nearby are staring, wide- eyed. Someone grabs their friend’s arm and pulls them away. A siren begins to sound faintly in the distance or maybe it’s just the ringing in my ears.
And then-
“Emilia!”
Liam.
–
He barrels through the crowd like a storm, eyes locked on mine
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– wild, frantic, like nothing else matters.
The second he reaches me, his hands are on my arms, grounding me, steadying me, like he’s worried I’ll vanish if he blinks.
“Emilia,” he breathes. “Are you hurt? What happened?”
I open my mouth but nothing comes out at first. Then: “He was following me. I thought it was weird at first. He… he was dressed like a woman. But then I saw the knife-”
Liam doesn’t wait. He pulls me into him so fast I gasp, his arms locking tight around my back, one hand cradling the back of my head like he’s afraid I’ll fall apart.
“Shit,” he mutters, voice hoarse, “I’m so sorry, Em. This is my fault. I should’ve-”
I frown against his chest. “What do you mean?”
But then something clicks. The man’s face. That flash of familiarity. That awful, crawling déjà vu.
I pull back slightly. “Liam… I’ve seen him before.”
His jaw tightens. “You’re sure?”
I nod, already fumbling with my phone. My fingers tremble as I unlock the screen – and then I freeze.
Two new messages,
Unknown: If you won’t leave him willingly, maybe all you need is an incentive.
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Unknown: How did you like your gift? I hope it was to your liking.
My stomach drops. I turn the phone face–down before Liam can see it.
He notices anyway. “What is it?”
“Nothing,” I lie. “I’m fine.”
He doesn’t believe me, not for a second – but before he can push, flashing lights cut through the arcade windows. Sirens wail in the distance. The police are here.
They move fast. Within minutes, they’re dragging the man out of the restroom, hands cuffed behind his back, face twisted in fury. He spots me instantly.
And snaps.
“You! You stupid bitch!” he roars, thrashing against the officers. “This is all your fault! Jessica’s miserable because of you! You took him from her!”
The officers fight to hold him down as he spits venom, his voice cracking. “You think this is over? I’ll kill you! You think I won’t?”
Liam’s arms wrap around me again, tighter this time, his entire body shaking with fury. I can feel the way his muscles tense – how close he is to stepping forward and tearing the guy apart with his bare hands.
I grab his arm, squeezing hard. “Don’t,” I whisper. “Please. Just hold me.”
He doesn’t move right away. He just stares at the man still screaming bloody murder a few feet away. I feel his breath
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stutter against my temple, his heart pounding through his shirt.
Chapter 136
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Chapter 136
