Tyler's Undoing (Gloves Off #1)(24)

“It’s the same bullshit that happens with Kyle. The slimy motherf*cker never gets in trouble for any of the shit he’s done. All I know is, if Liam touches one hair on her head, I’m going to f*cking kill him.”

Bree’s eyes filled with tears. “Oh my God, if something happens it’ll all be my fault. I’m the one who pushed her to start dating. Do you know for a fact he’s guilty of the charges?”

“I do,” I growled furiously, gripping the steering wheel so hard my fingers went numb. “One of the girls was someone I worked with at the Labyrinth, and I know she wouldn’t lie. Her name was Sadie.”

Shortly after it happened, she left Vegas to get away from the ridicule of her family and friends, who thought she made up the story just to get revenge on Liam for turning her down. He had told the courts she was angry because he wouldn’t go out with her. In the end, he was made out to be the victim.

Relentlessly, my heart pounded as I dialed Kacey’s number again . . . she didn’t answer. “Goddammit, Kacey, answer the f*cking phone,” I shouted. Over and over I dialed her number, only to hear the sound of her voicemail.

Please, God, let her answer the phone.





“WHAT THE HELL is going on?” I said as I typed out the text message to Tyler. Why did he want to know Liam’s last name? I tried to get away from the noise so I could hear what he was saying, but it didn’t help.

It wasn’t until I was walking out of the restroom when a new text message came through. As I was looking down to read it, I was stopped with a set of hands grasping my shoulders.

“There you are,” Liam chuckled. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

“Funny,” I snapped. “I didn’t think you noticed when I walked away. You were a little preoccupied with your friends.”

Not that I cared, but it was rude the way he left me sitting there, bored out of my mind. During dinner he’d asked me questions about my job, my grandmother, and if I was seeing anyone exclusively. I didn’t tell him about Tyler and I sure as hell didn’t want to tell him about my grandmother. I made it seem like my life was perfect. After that, he spent the rest of the evening texting on his phone and talking about himself.

Putting his arm around my shoulders, he peered down at me with a devilish smirk splayed across his face. “Oh, baby, did I make you upset? We can go to my place, and I’ll make it up to you.”

Disgusted, I pushed his arm away and stormed off. “Actually, I was just leaving.” My phone buzzed again, but I couldn’t take the time to look at it—I needed the first cab out of here.

Catching up to me, Liam grabbed my elbow and pulled me toward the door. “Well, at least let me take you home.”

I tried to jerk out of his hold, but he held on tighter. “Liam, what the hell are you doing? Let me go.”

“Sorry, princess, but I can’t. I was told to make sure you got home safely.”

“What? What are you talking about?”

Once out to his car, he opened the door and nudged me inside. “I’m talking about my neck being on the line if something happens to you. That’s all you need to know.”

The guy was f*cking insane. Quickly, he marched to his side of the car and got in, squealing the tires as we flew out of the parking lot.

“There’s something truly wrong with you,” I hissed, pulling out my phone.

Chuckling, the corner of his mouth tugged up. “You have no idea, doll. It’s just a shame you won’t get to see that side of me.”

“Whatever. Just get me home.”

The look in his crazed eyes had me trembling in fear. When I was younger, my brother always told me not to show my fear, to look at it head on and conquer it. It was easier said than done.

My phone buzzed yet again. With sweat dripping down my back and clammy hands, I typed in the password to my phone so I could read my messages . . . and to possibly call the police.



Tyler: Get away from him as fast as you can.

Tyler: Why aren’t you answering?!?

Tyler: DO NOT let him go into your house.

Tyler: Call me!!



Even if Tyler hadn’t warned me about Liam, I was pretty sure I’d have figured out not to trust him. Just as I was about to call him back, his name appeared on my screen with an incoming call.

Heart pounding, I swallowed hard and collected myself, answering the phone as if nothing was wrong. “Hello?”

“Thank f*cking God,” Tyler snapped. “I’ve been trying to call you, but it kept going straight to voicemail.”

Liam looked over at me, his eyebrows raised, but I turned my head and looked out the window. I was almost home. If I knew he wasn’t taking me home, I’d have already tried to call the police.

“I must’ve had bad service in the bar,” I replied coolly, hoping Liam couldn’t hear the hesitation in my voice. “What’s up?”

A horn blared in the background along with a few curse words from Tyler before he responded, “You need to get the f*ck away from that sleazy son of a bitch, that’s what’s up. Whatever you do, do not mention my name. If you do, it’ll only cause more problems. Where are you?”

“I’m only a couple of minutes away from home. Liam is with me. Why don’t . . .”