Page 93 of Drawn Together

“It’s nothing. What else can I do to help you?” I asked.

“Yes, Tami, what else can we help you with?” came Liam’s voice from behind me.

Tami shot daggers at him. “I don’t want your help. I didn’t even give you permission to come here.”

“When you sayhere, are you referring to this shithole you call a studio?”

Tami remained silent, and Liam and I watched, surprised, as her eyes filled with tears.

“Hey, asshole! Leave her alone,” I said, stepping in front of her.

Liam looked me up and down. “Look who it is. The little toy soldier.”

I didn’t let that moron ruffle my feathers. Too many years of training to lose it all over some idiot.

“Liam, can’t you see you’re not wanted here?” Tami said, stepping out from behind me.

Liam glared at her, the hurt visible in his eyes. Tami’s words had affected him more than he’d ever admit. Still, he managed to compose himself before speaking. “Marfil told me we were meeting here to help pass out donations…”

“What’s going on over here?” Marfil said, walking up to the commotion. Her smile froze as she noticed how tense the three of us were, her gaze shifting from Tami to me and then Liam.

“Your little friend wants me to leave.”

“Tami!” Marfil exclaimed angrily. “Liam just brought in ten boxes of provisions, and he got a big group of his coworkers together to help pass them out…”

Tami looked like she wanted the ground to swallow her whole. But I’d heard the way Liam had antagonized her. Tami hadn’t known about the boxes, and she had every right in the world not to allow certain behaviors.

“If you want, I can tell them to take the donations away and go home,” Liam said, staring at Tami.

He liked her. I could tell by the way he looked at her. But she’d never fall for someone like him.

“No!” Tami practically shouted, fidgeting nervously.

Liam gave an evil grin.

“Enough, Liam,” Marfil said, finally intervening. “We’re thankful for your help—go tell your friends they can come up.”

Liam nodded, his eyes still on Tami. “You’re not going to thank me?”

I wanted to punch him in the face.

“Those in need will thank you, don’t worry,” Tami said.

Liam smiled as if what she’d just said was somehow funny.

“People like you, Tami? Don’t worry, I’ve got what you need.”

“Get the fuck out of here,” I said, as I stepped in front of him, unable to stand by any longer.

He moved to push me, and I acted so quickly that, when his face hit the floor, Marfil and Tami were the only ones who noticed. No one else was even aware of what was happening in that corner of the room.

“Leave her alone, did you hear me?” I said very quietly in his ear. “You’ll never get with her, not in a million years.”

Liam squirmed uncomfortably, and I released him.

“This bodyguard gig is working out great for you, isn’t it?” He got quickly to his feet, apparently unaware that I could kill him using just one hand. “Watch out, Mar. It looks like there’s something going on between your best friend and your little soldier.”

Marfil looked at us, and I cursed between my teeth when I saw a shadow of jealousy cross her face.