Chapter 303
Chapter 303:
“Stay down!” Liam roared, his anger exploding. He twisted Crystal’s arm behind her back.
Police, called the moment Crystal appeared, swarmed the stage. They pulled Liam off and handcuffed the screaming girl.
Liam scrambled to his feet, chest heaving. He turned to Skye.
She stood center stage, adjusting the collar of Alistair’s shirt to cover the thin cut on her neck. She was shaking, but she held herself tall.
Liam rushed to her, reaching out to grab her shoulders. “Skye! You’re bleeding! Oh God, are you hurt?” His hands touched her arms.
Skye reacted instantly. She shoved him away—hard.
“Don’t touch me,” she said.
“I saved you,” Liam gasped, staring at his empty hands. “I tackled her p>
Skye wiped a drop of blood from her neck with her thumb. She looked at him with a mix of pity and exhaustion.
“I distracted her,” Skye said. “I disarmed her. You just fell on top of a crying girl p>
She turned away from him, walking toward the medics rushing onto the stage.
“I’m fine,” she announced to the room. “Just a scratch p>
Dominic watched from the wings, his face unreadable. He looked at Skye, then at the police dragging Crystal away.
“Victoria Hayes,” Dominic murmured to himself. “Interesting p>
The dressing room was small, smelling of hairspray and the lingering scent of fear. The police had cleared the studio, turning the glittering stage into a crime scene.
Skye sat in front of the vanity mirror while a medic applied a small bandage to her neck. The cut was superficial, but it still stung.
The door burst open. Liam stood there, blocking the exit. He had refused to leave until he spoke to her. His expensive suit was rumpled from the scuffle, his hair wild. He looked manic.
“Leave us,” Liam ordered the medic.
The medic looked at Skye. Skye nodded once. “It’s okay. Give us a minute p>
The medic left, closing the door behind him.
Liam marched over and gripped the back of her chair, spinning it around so she had to face him.
“You almost died,” he said, his voice shaking. “Why are you so calm? Do you have a death wish p>
𝖱𝖾𝖺𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗅 𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗋𝗒 𝗈𝗇 𝖻𝖾.𝖼𝗈𝗆
Skye looked at him. “Panic doesn’t stop a knife, Liam. Thinking does p>
“I thought I lost you,” Liam whispered.
He dropped to his knees in front of her, ignoring the dirt on the floor. He reached for her hands.
“When I saw that blade… my heart stopped. Skye, please. Come home. It’s not safe out there. You’re a target p>
Skye looked at his hands covering hers. They were warm. They were familiar. Once, they had been her entire world.
“My home is not with you,” she said softly, pulling her hands away.
“Where then?” Liam demanded, standing. “With him? With the gangster? He wasn’t even here! I was here! I saved you p>
“He gave me the confidence to save myself,” Skye corrected.
She stood, smoothing down the white shirt.
“And he respects me enough not to lock me in a cage for safety p>
“He’s using you!” Liam yelled. “He’s fighting a war with Dominic, and you’re just a pawn p>
“I love him,” Skye said.
The words hung in the air, heavier than the silence that followed.
Liam froze. His mouth opened slightly, but no sound came out. He looked like he had been shot in the chest.