Chapter 11

Liam O'Connor

T he night air tried to cool me, but it did little to quell the fire burning in my chest. I stalked toward my home, each step fueled by a toxic mix of jealousy and rage.

Who was that guy? What gave him the right to touch her like that? And again, why the fuck did I care so much?

My fingers twitched, itching to wrap around something—or someone. I took a deep breath, trying to regain control. I couldn't let this consume me. I had plans, important ones. But the thought of another man's hands on Jade's skin…

“Get it together, Liam,” I muttered to myself, running a hand through my hair. But the image wouldn't fade. Jade's smile, her laugh—directed at him. My stomach churned. I wanted to be the one making her laugh, the one she came home to. She's not yours, I reminded myself. She was my fucking employee for crying out loud.

But she could be—should be—something more.

I gripped the ornate banister, my knuckles turning white. The cool wood beneath my palm grounded me, reminding me of my purpose, my power. The reason I started all of this—the Croixes.

As I ascended the stairs, my mind drifted to the incident earlier today. That bumbling idiot, knocking Jade down like she was nothing. My jaw clenched involuntarily. I was getting tired of people touching my things. Mine.

I paused at my door, hand on the knob. The anger still simmered, threatening to boil over. I needed to channel this, use it. After all, wasn't this what drove me? I had plans for Damien.

I burst into my apartment, the door slamming behind me with a satisfying bang. The familiar scent of leather and whiskey filled my nostrils. Derek lounged on the couch, feet propped on the coffee table, casually sipping a drink. His relaxed posture grated on my already frayed nerves.

My best friend barely glanced up, but I caught the moment his eyes widened, registering the murderous expression on my face. “You alright, man?” he asked, his tone light but laced with concern. “You look like you're about to kill something—or someone.”

I tossed my jacket onto the couch next to him, resuming my relentless pacing. The plush carpet muffled my angry footsteps but couldn't dampen the rage burning inside me. “You're not wrong,” I muttered, my jaw clenched so tight it ached.

Derek sat up, putting his drink down with a soft clink. His brown eyes held a sharp, calculating look. “What happened?” he asked, leaning forward. And then the image of her living with another man popped into my head, them sharing space, moments that should be mine mine mine . The thought made my blood boil all over again.

“Some asshole lives with Jade,” I snarled, pacing like a caged animal. “And Damien, the dickhead, knocked her down today. Can you believe that?” My nails bit into my palms. “That guy… he's been bad for business. Sloppy. I've been thinking about getting rid of him, and today just solidified it.”

“Wait, wait…” Derek leaned forward. “You're planning to kill Damien? Over a girl? Seriously?”

The question grated on me. “It's not just about her,” I snapped, though even I wasn't sure if that was entirely true. “He's a liability. A loose end that needs tying up.”

Derek's skeptical look told me he wasn't buying it, but I didn't need his approval. The decision had already been made, the darkness inside me singing with anticipation of what was to come.

Derek shook his head, rising to his feet. His usually calm demeanor was tinged with worry. “Man, you're really in knots over this girl,” he said, running a hand through his hair. “This wasn't part of the plan.”

I scoffed. Plans changed. They evolved. Adapt or die—that was how we'd survived this long. But looking at Derek's face, I saw genuine concern there. It gave me pause, just for a moment. Was I letting my emotions cloud my judgment?

No. This was necessary. For the business. For Jade. For me.

“It is now.” I stated simply, my tone brooking no argument. “He's a rookie. A third cousin no one will notice. They'll think he got killed for botching jobs, nothing to do with me.”

Derek's face hardened. He folded his arms across his chest, his stance widening as if bracing for impact. “Like the last guy who just died?” he challenged, his voice low and tense. “Remember that? They thought it was you behind that, too.”

“I told you, Derek, that wasn't me. I didn’t kill Marco.”

Derek's shoulders sagged. He rubbed his forehead, a gesture I'd seen a thousand times when he was stressed. “Listen, man,” he said, his voice softer now, tinged with concern. “We've come too far to get caught over something like this.”

His words hit home, cutting through the red haze of my anger. Images flashed through my head—our carefully laid plans, the years of work, the vengeance still to come. All of it hanging by a thread, threatened by my impulsive desire for Jade.

“You need to be careful,” Derek continued, his warm brown eyes fixed on mine. “Don't let jealousy screw this up for you.” I turned away, unable to meet his gaze. He was right, damn him.

I snatched my keys from the bowl by the door, the metal cool against my palm. The familiar weight grounded me, pulling me back from the edge. I glanced at my watch, the seconds ticking away relentlessly.

“I know,” I repeated, my voice steadier now. ‘I'll be back later.” I could feel Derek's gaze on me as I moved toward the door. The tension in the room was palpable, thick enough to choke on. I paused, my hand on the doorknob, waiting.

“You want a hand?” Derek's voice was quiet, but I knew he would offer. He always had my back. I turned to him, catching the worried expression on his face. For a moment, I considered it. Derek had always been there, ready to dive into the darkness with me. But this…?

I paused, a smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth.

“Nah, you're too squeamish for what I have planned.” Derek's expression crinkled, a mix of worry and morbid curiosity playing across his features. I couldn't help but let out a wicked chuckle.

“Don't wait up,” I added, my tone low and dangerous.

I turned away, not waiting for Derek's response. The thrill of the hunt was already coursing through my veins, drowning out everything else. Tonight, I'd make sure the Croix family knew to never threaten what was mine again.