Some of the anger began to fade away. “I missed you, Liam. I really did. But I don’t need a protector—I just need a friend.”
Liam sniffled. When he looked up, his eyes were shimmering with unshed tears. The sight broke my heart, but I held my ground.
Finally, he nodded. “I promise I won’t go to the press. Here. Take this.” He pulled out the all-too-familiar folder containing the contract and handed it to me, then extended his left pinky. “Tell Alexander he doesn’t need to worry. Your secret is safe with me.”
I took the folder with one shaking hand, then wrapped my other pinky around his. “Thank you,” I whispered.
Leaving Liam in his room, I hurried downstairs to Alexander’s office. I didn’t knock—just burst in, the same way he had burst in on me earlier. I threw the folder
