Liam by Madison Stevens Page A

occasional lunch.” She popped the top. “This is sleep we’re talking about. I don’t know how you even function.”
    Actually, he wasn’t really certain how he functioned. There were several times where he did something and couldn’t quite remember how he did. His current condition wasn’t safe, but shutting his eyes was becoming more and more an issue.
    He finished off his sandwich and slipped deeper into the seat.
    “Maybe you’re right,” he said. “I think I’ll just shut my eyes for a bit. Wake me if anything happens.”
    He closed his eyes and tried not to think of the one thing that had been plaguing him these many nights.
     
    Meg stared at him, surprised he would even admit to his lack of sleep. She listened to him drift off, his breathing deeper than before. The deep creases on his brow slipped away, and he looked years younger. Of course, she always thought him attractive, but it was nice to see him relaxed.
    She didn’t really know what to expect, but it was good to be ready for anything.
    What she wasn’t ready for was the groaning from Liam. His brow beaded with sweat and furrowed as if he were in pain.
    Meg placed a hand on his cheek. He jumped, his eyes wide with fear. Liam jerked away from her and sat up quickly.
    She pulled back and leaned against the door as he collected himself. Bit by bit, his breathing came back under control.
    “Sorry about that,” he mumbled.
    “Nightmare?” she asked.
    He turned to look at her and shook his head.
    “Something like that,” he said.
    She stared at him for a moment longer. She’d never seen him so scared.
    “What’s that?” he asked as he stared at her house.
    Meg turned to watch a dark shadow creep across the lawn up to her house. Her hand shot to the door, but Liam stopped her.
    “Let’s see what they do first,” he said. “The house has been cleaned up, so they are going to know someone came by. Let’s just see if they have a plan or are winging it.”
    They watched as the figure moved to the front door and tried to force it open. It moved away from the door and crept along the side of the house to the bathroom window. It easily slid up, and the figure slipped inside.
    “Bastard,” she mumbled.
    The intruder wasn’t inside for long before slipping back out the window. She couldn’t tell if they had taken anything, but based on the past, she assumed not. The person slipped into a car and, when the lights came on, drove in their direction.
    “Duck,” Liam said and pushed her into the seat, his body on top of hers.
    The crunch of tires signaled the passing car and not long later, Liam sat back up.
    “Did you get a look?” she asked.
    He shook his head. “Too dark. But I got a make and model. No plates though.”
    “Damn.” She hit her steering wheel.
    She went back to the door but was stopped again.
    “I think we’re going to have to let Kace handle this.” He sighed.
    “If this is about me being here, I’m going to throat punch you.” She glared at him.
    The corner of his mouth twitched. “We need his buddies on our side, and maybe this time the guy got sloppy,” he said. “Just go home, and I’ll call you in the morning.”
    She crossed her arms and raised a brow.
    “I will,” he said firmly.
    Meg sighed. Even if he wasn’t pushing her off, it still sort of felt like he was.
    “Fine, but if you don’t call, I’m coming to find you, and it’s not going to be pretty.”
    Liam held up his hands in surrender. “Understood.”
    She sighed when he got out of the car and went back to his own. Just once she wanted something to be easy.
    Meg started the car and headed to her parents’ house. At least Liam would get to go home and rest tonight. Something about his nightmare made her worry. He held in so much, and she hated to think of him suffering.
    She sighed and pulled away. It was just one more thing to add to her growing list of worries.

Chapter Seven
     
     
    The house was quiet when she woke up the next morning.