Taken With Trouble (CAUGHT IN CHAOS #2)

45. Chapter 44

Chapter 44

Serena

Sebastian drags me down the hall, and once we are far enough away from Liam, my brain starts to function again. I have to fight for myself, for him. Sebastian pulls me roughly, causing me to stagger behind him. He takes a corner too quickly, and I fall, tripping over my own two feet. I go down hard, knees, elbows, head. The emotions catch up to me, and it’s perfect timing.

I sob.

“Seraphina.” Sebastian stops and kneels beside me. He must be feeling bad for claiming me like I’m a possession. For some reason, after all these years, he still has a soft spot for me, and I plan to manipulate it. “Are you okay?” He picks me up, checking me for injuries.

Big mistake. I jab my fingers into his eyes, and when he yells, I jump behind him, looping my arms around his neck.

He grunts and squirms, trying to free himself.

“Listen to me carefully.” I hold him with strength I didn’t know I possessed. “I am not your toy. And I am not the same girl I was seven years ago. I will kill you, and I’ll enjoy it. ”

A throat clears behind me, and I whirl around, bringing Sebastian’s purple head with me. “Caleb?” And a whole team behind him. I’ve never been so happy to see my partner.

“Perhaps you can let the man go, and let me take it from here?” he asks, amusement seeping into his voice.

Sebastian goes limp in my arms, and I bite my bottom lip. “No need.”

Two shots go off from the direction we came, and I drop Sebastian. “Liam!” I scream, running down the hallway.

“Serena, wait,” Caleb calls behind me. I think he’s going to stop me, but instead, he holds out a gun, running in stride with me.

“Thanks.” I run through the already open door and take in the scene. Both Liam and his father lie on the ground. There is someone at The Boss’s side, helping him up. Ford.

Caleb’s face goes bright red. “You piece of—” He jumps on Ford.

I race toward Liam. Blood spurts from his right side and I will myself not to cry. “He’s hit,” I yell to no one in particular. I’m aware of other agents and officers coming inside and doing something, but I don’t know what. I can’t pull my eyes away from Liam.

“Liam,” I say, pressing my hands to his side.

“What?” he groans, eyes still closed.

“I need you to stay with me.”

His eyes open to slits. “Serena?” he whispers, like he can’t believe it.

“I’m here. Just keep breathing, okay?” My voice shakes. Will his bad heart make him bleed out too fast?

His eyes roll back in his head, but his breaths still come.

“You liiiike me,” he lilts.

“Yes, I would like for you to not die.”

“Because you loooove me,” he sings.

The backs of my eyes burn.

“Yes,” I whisper so softly he can’t hear. No one can hear but myself.

His eyes pop open suddenly. “My dad… ”

I cast a glance over my shoulder. His dad is on the ground, his chest rising and falling, but there is a pool of blood on the floor beside him.

I look to Liam. “He’s alive.”

“Blast.” He closes his eyes again, and I worry I’ve lost him. Warm blood pulses through my fingers. The compression isn’t enough. I rip off my shirt and press it to Liam’s side as hard as I can.

Liam’s eyes open, and he smiles a lazy, tired kind of smile. “I’m glad the sports bra made it.”

“I told you it was the best of the best.”

His eyes close again and each time they do, I worry they won’t open.

“Listen, Liam, I know you won’t remember any of this, but just listen, okay? I hated you for ruining my life as a kid, but you didn’t. You didn’t. And I hated you for—”

“What is this nonsense?” he grumbles.

“I hated you for making my job harder. But I love how you give all you have to other people without looking back. I love how you take care of me. I love how you can somehow be both cocky and humble, even though it’s really infuriating.”

His eyes open ever so slightly. “I dare you to kiss me.”

Tears fall from my eyes as I drop my lips to his, and with my kiss, I try to pour the life from my body into his. His lips are soft, but they don’t move against mine.

I pull back. “Liam?”