Chapter Ten

LIAM

I woke up with my fists clenched, the bed sheets twisted into ropes that mirrored the knots in my stomach. Only the light creeping through the blinds reminded me it was morning, the day of the tournament. The day should've been marked by strategy and hype, not this hollow ache in my chest.

Sophie's words from last night still held me down. It's over, Liam. She left no room for argument, no space for a chance to make things right.

Dragging myself out of bed, I dressed and went out in the living room. I glanced at the fight trophies lined up on the shelf. They didn’t seem to mean much anymore now that Sophie was gone. The gleam of the gold paint seemed fake and cheap like a lot of things I used to value. Like my old secrets and pride.

"You messed up big time," I muttered, shoving my feet into worn-out sneakers. I needed to see her.

She never returned my calls from yesterday. Would she hear me out this morning, or would she slam the door in my face? The risk was worth it to find out.

The chill of the early morning air hit me as I walked down the steps of my house. My ankle felt good today. It was about the only thing that did.

The streets were quiet as I passed the grocery store. I ran a hand through my hair, feeling the weight of my thoughts.

What if I'd been more open about how I felt? What if I'd let Sophie in earlier, showed her that I cared even though it scared the hell out of me?

When I went up to her street, I paused. I squared my shoulders, took a deep breath.

Time to drop the guard , I coached myself.

With each step towards her door, I felt the weight of unspoken words. It was time to lay them all out.

The morning air was crisp and somehow too still. My feet moved on their own up the path to Sophie’s door. A broken pot was scattered in pieces on the porch. The laurel tree plant spilled over the edge.

Sophie wouldn’t neglect her favorite plant. My gut twisted. Something was wrong.

The welcome mat was trapped beneath the screen door. The lock hung open. Breathing fast, I pushed the door wide and stepped inside.

"Sophie?" My voice bounced off the walls. No answer. Every instinct honed from the streets to the ring told me to be ready for anything.

"Sophie." I called louder this time, urgency sharpening my words as I moved further into her house.

The scuffle from the living room jolted me. I rounded the corner to see Sophie struggling against Jack's grip. My heart thundered in my chest.

"Get away from her." The words tore from my throat as I lunged forward. I grasped Jack's shoulder and yanked him back. He stumbled, his weight unbalanced, and I used his moment of surprise to drive him toward the fireplace. His body slammed against the stone.

Sophie didn't waste time. She darted out of the room. I turned back to Jack, my fists clenched.

I unleashed the fury I'd kept caged for too long. My knuckles connected with Jack's jaw, a satisfying crack slicing through the stillness. Another punch to the ribs. He grunted as the air rushed out of him. Each hit was a release from the anger that had haunted me for years.

“Liam, stop." Sophie's voice cut through the haze. She returned, wielding a pair of handcuffs with practiced ease.

"They let you keep those?" I glanced at the handcuffs, then at her. "You could've told me that before when I slept over."

She rolled her eyes. I grinned and moved aside so she could step in. She restrained Jack with the expertise she learned from her days on the force.

"Stay down," she commanded him, her voice steady as she got her phone and dialed 911.

I wasn’t as patient or gracious as her. I nudged Jack with my foot, a gesture that was more to show control than to inflict any more pain. He groaned on the floor. “It's over, Jack. You can stay in hell this time."

His eyes, clouded with defeat, told me he heard every syllable.

Minutes dragged until the sound of sirens cut through the neighborhood. The officers were all business as they entered. One look at the cuffs around Jack's wrists, and they needed no further explanation. They read him his rights as they hauled him to his feet.

"Did you force your way in here?" one cop asked, his voice gruff.

Jack spat out blood and a confession. "Yeah. What about it?"

“It’s a parole violation.”

"You’re going back inside for a long time, Jack.” Sophie addressed him one last time.

As they led him away, I felt something shift within me. Relief. The first step toward a freedom I hadn't known I needed.

SOPHIE

RELIEF WASHED OVER me. Jack was in cuffs again, and my family was safe. My heart was still catching up with the rapid turn of events when Liam appeared at my house.

"I wasn't expecting you to stop by this early after well, everything, but I'm glad you did," I told him, once the cops left with Jack.

Liam’s arms enveloped me, strong and sure. It was the kind of embrace that made me want to close my eyes and just breathe.

"Listen," I said, "if you hurry, you can still make it to the tournament."

He shook his head, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I'm not going."

He caught me off guard. "Why? Is it your injuries?"

He brushed a strand of hair from my face. "Not really. These past weeks have shown me a lot, Soph. I don't have to prove myself. I can stay focused on what matters." His green eyes held mine, conveying a truth that reached right into my chest.

"On who matters," he added softly before leaning in to kiss me.

The world narrowed down to the brush of his lips against mine. There was more to Liam than at first glance. He was made up of layers shaped by past regrets and a determination to rise above them. He wasn't just the fighter in the ring. He was a man fighting for a better future. And part of loving him was understanding that drive.

I let him kiss me, the taste of him sweet and addictive. Then I pulled back. There was a flash of surprise in his eyes.

"I know you, Liam.” I steadied my voice to match the conviction inside of me. "MMA is part of you. You're representing Fury Combat in a tournament. So go there and win."

His jaw clenched slightly, the familiar determination flaring up. He didn't move away. "I don't want to go without my trainer."

A smile found its way onto my lips, knowing what this meant, what he was really saying. "Let me get cleaned up, and I'll meet you there."

"Deal."

"Go on," I urged, nudging him toward the door. “I’ll catch up."

I expected Liam to head for the door. Instead, he lingered, holding my hand.

"I'm sorry," he spoke, regret lacing his voice. "I could've been more open about my past."

I leaned into him, feeling the solid strength of his chest against my cheek. "I'm sorry, too. I hid how I felt about you because I was chasing after a criminal. Then I ran out on you yesterday."

"It's all in the past. Let's leave it behind and see what's ahead."

We kissed again. The kiss spoke of new beginnings. As much as I wanted to live in this moment, I knew there was something else he needed to face. Without me as a distraction.

I gave him a playful push. "Your tournament is what’s ahead. Get out of here so you won't be late."

"Yes, ma'am.” A half-smile played on his lips as he backed away. With a last affectionate glance, Liam strode outside.

I turned to the wreckage of my potted plant. The soil was scattered, leaves bent and broken, but the roots were still intact. With careful hands, I began to restore order.

Once done, I stood back, dusting off my hands before retrieving my phone. A couple rings, and Grace’s voice filtered through. “Hello.”

"Hey, sis, are you with Dad?”

“We just got back from his checkup. The doctor cleared him to exercise and travel. We want to come see you.”

My heart swelled with happiness and love for my father and his gentle strength. “That’s the best news. Can you put me on speaker so Dad can hear?”

"Okay, you're on," she replied, her tone shifting to one of concern. “What’s going on, Sophie?”

I congratulated my dad on his health progress first before sharing my news. "Daddy, Grace, it's over. Jack Thornton is in custody again. He'll be behind bars for many, many years."

There was a pause before my sister spoke. "Sophie, what all happened in Sunridge? Are you okay?”

"I'm safe. Everything is okay. I'll tell you more when you and dad visit.”

"Love you, kiddo," Dad's voice crackled through the speakerphone.

I pressed the phone tighter against my ear. Tears welled up. "I love you too, Daddy." My voice trembled, betraying the emotions I was trying to navigate.

Grace chimed in then, her voice soft. "You've done so much for all of us. Go and enjoy yourself. You deserve to be happy, too."

I smiled through the tears, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. "I'm going to listen to my little sister for once. Today I have a tournament to watch and I'm already late."

Ending the call, I pocketed the phone and let out a long breath. The morning air felt fresh against my skin. The sun's rays were gentle and reassuring. I'd been living in the shadow of vengeance and protection for so long, but now, it was time to step into the light.