Ryan stood there, chest tight, breaths uneven, every word Liam had thrown at him echoing in his skull.
But Liam… wasn't done.
He looked at Ryan with a mixture of anger, grief, and something that looked painfully close to betrayal.
"You know what's funny, Ryan?" Liam said, laughing without humor. "You—actually—think you can still have a happy-ever-after with Kia."
Ryan's lips parted, but no words came.
Liam shook his head slowly.
"You think life is soft," he continued. "You think this is a romance. You think you can cuddle your way out of reality now."
"Liam—"
"No."
Liam cut him off sharply.
"You know what's at stake. You know what we're running from. You know the organization doesn't forgive. You know your past won't stay buried. And yet—"
He pointed a trembling finger at Ryan's chest.
"Here you are, playing house."
Ryan's hands felt cold. His throat tightened.
"Liam, stop—"
"Why? Because the truth hurts?" Liam snapped. "Because you've been pretending so hard that you almost convinced yourself you're innocent now?"
Ryan flinched.
Liam stepped closer.
"Let me remind you," he whispered harshly, "that your life is on the line. My life is on the line. Even your kids' lives—those innocent twins—are on the line."
Ryan's stomach twisted painfully.
"And for what?" Liam asked, voice rising. "For a man who doesn't even know who he's sleeping beside? Who doesn't know what you've done?"
Ryan's voice cracked. "Liam, please—"
"He doesn't know," Liam said, cutting him off, "how many people you killed with your bare hands."
Ryan felt the air leave his lungs.
Liam's voice dropped lower, darker.
"He doesn't know how merciless you were. How you didn't flinch. How you didn't feel anything. How you slaughtered because you were ordered to. How you killed because you had to survive."
Ryan squeezed his eyes shut, shaking.
Liam's voice sharpened.
"Do you really think," he hissed, "that Kia—KIA—of all people, would look at you the same way if he knew the truth?"
Ryan felt himself trembling now, unable to hold the mask steady.
Liam leaned forward, eyes cold.
"Do you think he would still whisper love in your ear," Liam mocked softly, "if he knew you've taken lives without remorse?"
"Liam…"
Ryan whispered, voice cracking, "stop."
"Would he say he cares for you," Liam pressed, "if he knew the organization you worked for? The things you were trained to do?"
Ryan's breath came out shaky, weak.
"And do you," Liam asked, suddenly very quiet, "have the courage to tell him who you are now?"
Ryan swallowed hard.
Silence.
Liam let out a bitter laugh.
"That's what I thought," he whispered.
He stepped back, looking at Ryan like he didn't recognize him anymore.
"You want to throw away our plan? Our survival? Your revenge?"
Liam shook his head, eyes suddenly glassy with hurt.
"For a man who doesn't even know your name, well the present you and not the past one…"
The you he loves is not the present you but just the past you and you think you want to use that to bet with everything at stake?
Ryan's heart thudded painfully.
"…and for someone who," Liam said slowly, each word landing like a hammer,
"was one of the people who made you what you are now, he contributed to what you've become"
Ryan froze because it hurts and because the truth sucks, he had the urge to just run from everything, but he new this is his realist and reality is a fucker.
Author pov
Hmmm, and I was wishing for a bunny before oo.
That will be all of today, till tomorrow, see y'all, love you 😘