After Cyrus’ revelation, Liam wasted no time going after Colby.
Colby hadn’t come face-to-face with Lorene since that fateful day. She had played the event over and over inside of her head. However, her reaction wasn’t anything that she had ever dreamed.
Colby’s steps quickened as she made it to her room without a moment to spare before breaking down. Another second and the entire world would have seen her unravel.
Quickly, she rushed inside, closed the door, and sagged against it. It was pointless to try to beat back her tears. Impossible, actually. Her chest was tight as if someone held her heart in the grips of their hands and squeezed. Her body shook as she purged years’ worth of anger and pain. Colby hadn’t felt this level of despair since Rodney’s funeral.
Her moans turned into heartbreaking wails. Rodney’s death had figured into her every decision since he was killed.
Colby glanced up toward the heavens and spoke on a broken sob. “I miss you so much.” A soft knock on her door interrupted her conversation with her brother.
“Oh, God. Please.” Colby’s head thrashed from side to side. “Please go away,” she said through a strangled cry.
Liam stood outside with his arms extended and both palms resting flat against the door. His chest ached for her. He’d heard her sobs before knocking. It was impossible not to be affected by such raw pain. “Please. Let me help.”
“You can’t. I just need to be alone.”
“That is the last thing you need. You don’t have to carry this by yourself.”
Colby didn’t respond.
“Let me just be with you,” Liam pleaded. He went silent, waiting for a response, hoping Colby would open the door.
She didn’t.
He was going to have to dig in. Colby had no reason to trust or believe that she could be vulnerable with him. He’d lied and betrayed her. Liam was going to have to earn her forgiveness and trust.
He sighed. “I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be right here.”
Markos had never seemed Liam like this. It was clear to him that his boss loved this woman. Markos signaled to his team to back up a little and gave Liam the space he needed for this private moment.
Liam turned and slid down onto the floor. He loosened his tie and took off his three-thousand-dollar custom designer suit-jacket, placing it on the floor next to him. He tented his legs, raising his knees and placing his elbows on each one, then laced his fingers together.
Liam lowered his chin to his chest. He was prepared to sit for as long as Colby needed him. Her cries had quieted down, but he could still hear the muffled sound of them.
Liam spoke quietly. “I’ve never met a woman like you—honest, driven, and independent to a fault—and strong.” A flash of making grown men cower only minutes ago came to mind. “Goddamn, you’re strong.”
Colby threw her head back against the door and let her eyes close. She listened as large droplets of tears continued to roll down her face. If he only knew, she wasn’t strong. She was tired.
“I should have been honest with you,” he said.
“I can’t.” She sounded broken.
Liam’s head jerked up in response. He didn’t care what Colby said. He was just thankful that she was talking.
Colby didn’t have the capacity to think about her situation with Liam. It was a wonder that her legs still supported her, and she hadn’t fallen down.
“One day, I hope you tell me about him.” Liam hadn’t stayed long enough to listen to the specifics from Cyrus. His only thought was to get to Colby. He’d been able to piece enough of it together.
After another long stretch of quiet moments, Colby whispered, “Rodney was one of a kind. They called him The Magician because he was a master of getting out of tight spots on the track.”
“So, everyone in the James family is pretty damned special?”
“I’m not special. I haven’t honored him as I should have, but the Lord knows I’ve tried.”
He could feel her anguish through the door. Liam just wanted to hold her in his arms.
“He knows.”
Liam listened hard for her response, but none came. There was a bit of rustling of clothing and movement on the other side of the door.
Quickly, he stood, and the door opened almost in slow motion.
Colby’s face was swollen, and her eyes were red. Liam felt like he’d found the cure for cancer when she reached for him. He wasted no time wrapping her up into his arms. He spoke into her hair. “I promise. I’ve got you.”
Liam lifted Colby off of her feet and walked over the threshold of the door, closing it with his foot. He held Colby as close as possible while another torrent of tears overcame her. He wasn’t sure how long he held her. It could have been seconds or hours, but Liam knew he’d hold on for as long as she needed him.
Carefully, he went over to the bed and lowered himself down, bringing Colby with him. She sat on his lap, and he continued to cradle her in his arms. Her heart rate slowed, and her breathing began to even out.
Colby sniffed. “Rodney had a smile and an energy that could change a room.”
Liam lifted a corner of his lips. So, do you.
“There was no one like him, and he didn’t deserve what happened.”
Liam was hesitant, but now that Colby seemed a little more in control, he finally asked the question she probably didn’t want to answer. “What happened?”
She blew out a long-exaggerated breath. “Rodney loved cars. He loved to drive fast, and he was good. At an early age, Mr. Daughtry saw that Rodney had a real talent. He didn’t care about all the politics of NASCAR. Too bad he was only one of a few who didn’t care about the color of Rodney’s skin.” Colby sighed as her mind traveled back to the past. “He began to groom Rodney for the circuit. So many people hated that and made things difficult. All the racism
