Chapter 6
Chapter 6 - UnmaskedInside the small office of the boatyard, surrounded by blueprints and the scent of cedar, Clara told Liam everything. She spoke of the gilded cage in Boston, the subtle psychological warfare, the bruises hidden beneath designer silk, and the terrifying night she realized she wouldn't survive another month.Liam listened without interrupting. His hands, rough and calloused, clamped tightly onto the edge of his desk. His jaw was set so hard a muscle twitched in his cheek. When she finished, the room was silent except for the wind howling outside the window.
"I’m sorry," Clara whispered, wiping a tear. "I shouldn't have brought this danger to your town. I’ll leave tonight."
She turned to go, but Liam moved with surprising speed. He caught her by the arm—not with the cruel, crushing grip of Julian, but with a firm, protective warmth that anchored her to the floor.
"You’re not going anywhere, Clara," Liam said, his voice laced with iron. "You’ve done nothing wrong. You don't run from monsters. You make them regret coming into your woods."
Before Clara could answer, the bell above the boatyard door chimed.
The air in the room froze. Clara’s blood turned to ice. Through the glass pane of the office door, she saw a figure standing in the dim light of the workshop. It wasn't Marcus, the investigator.
It was Julian.
He looked impeccable, wearing a black cashmere overcoat that seemed completely out of place against the raw wood and rusted iron of the boatyard. His hair was perfectly styled, his smile wide and charming as if he had just run into an old friend at a country club.
"Clara, darling," Julian’s voice echoed through the rafters, smooth and poisonous. "Did you really think a Greyhound bus could hide you from me? You’ve had your little vacation. It’s time to come home."
Clara stepped behind Liam, her entire body trembling in a primal reaction to her abuser’s voice. The terror was a physical weight, threatening to bring her to her knees.
Liam stepped forward, shielding her completely. "You’re in the wrong place, buddy. Turn around and walk out before things get complicated."
Julian looked at Liam, his expression shifting from charm to utter disdain in a millisecond. "And who are you? The local help? I suggest you step aside. This is a private matter between a husband and his wife. She belongs in Boston."
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"She doesn't belong to anyone," Liam said, his voice dropping into a dangerous growl. He didn't wait for Julian to argue. Liam reached into his desk drawer, pulled out a heavy steel wrench, and stepped out of the office. "Get off my property. Now."
Julian looked at the wrench, then at the sheer size of Liam. He realized he didn't have the physical advantage here. The smooth lawyer adjusted his coat, his smile returning, colder this time. "Very well. Enjoy the night, Clara. But remember—I own the laws that protect you. I’ll see you very soon."
