Capture

Memories and Heartbreaks

"Liam," she whispered, her voice barely more than a breath. Their eyes locked across the room, an unspoken connection hanging between them. Without hesitation, Liam dropped the bat and stepped forward, pulling her into a tight embrace.

"I didn't know where else to go," she murmured, her voice muffled against his jacket. A sharp sting of jealousy twisted in my chest as I watched them—so close, so familiar.

"I'm just glad you're safe," Liam said quietly, his voice thick with relief.

I cleared my throat, forcing them to remember I was still there. Liam stepped back, turning toward me. "Danielle, this is Emma," he said, his tone steady as he made the introductions.

"Pleasure to meet you, Emma," Danielle said softly, offering a faint smile. "Sorry... I didn't mean to crash your night."

Her voice cracked slightly, but the acknowledgment of Liam's and my relationship eased a fraction of the knot tightening in my chest.

"It's... okay," I replied, brushing it off, though my eyes stayed fixed on Liam.

He didn't answer. He flipped on the lights with one sharp motion and locked the front door behind him, his movements stiff. The glow lit up the room—but it didn't chase away the storm brewing in his eyes.

Liam walked over, standing silently in front of her for a moment before finally sinking onto the couch—leaving space between them. Not too close.

"So," he said, his voice flat and cold, "what the hell are you doing here?"

Danielle swallowed hard. "I've been running from Trey. Hiding in train stations, old warehouses, places no one would look for someone like me. I've been trying to get here ever since Louis showed me that video of you."

"That was months ago," Liam said, the disbelief bleeding into something darker. "You're telling me it's taken you this long to get here?"

"I wanted to leave with Louis that day," she said quickly. "But I wasn't as lucky as him. Trey—he found out. And he wasn't exactly thrilled."

"Louis told us he beat you," I murmured, the memory of the bruises Louis described flickering behind my eyes.

Danielle nodded, her fingers twisting in her lap. "Trey isn't gentle. He never was. But that night... he was drunk. Angry. And I was stupid enough to let it show that I was glad his men couldn't find you."

Liam flinched.

"They've been looking for me? All this time?" he asked, stunned.

My eyes flicked toward the windows instinctively, the feeling of being watched crawling back beneath my skin.

Danielle's voice was quiet but firm. "You don't just leave Trey. No one does. If he let you walk away with no consequences, what kind of message does that send to the others? That freedom's an option?"

Liam's jaw clenched, his voice suddenly ice. "No consequences?" he spat. "What the fuck was my dad then?"

Danielle looked down, guilt crashing visibly across her face. "I'm sorry. I didn't know—didn't think he'd go that far. I heard about your father after. I swear to you, Liam, I never wanted that."

"He killed him in cold blood," Liam said, his voice shaking now—not just with rage, but grief. I reached out and took his hand. It was trembling.

Danielle's eyes welled. "I can't imagine how you felt. Going home that night... finding out like that..."

"I didn't go home," Liam said bitterly. "I ran. Like a coward. Like you did tonight."

She winced, but didn't argue. "I wanted to run then, too. When I found out what he did, I wanted to flee, to come find you... but I was terrified. And now I knew what he was capable of."