Chapter 175 – Liam POV
The rain hadn't stopped all evening. It poured in steady sheets against the rooftop of the abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city. The place was cloaked in shadows—perfect for what he had planned.
Liam stood with his back to the rusted metal door, his hands in his coat pockets, jaw clenched. He wasn't nervous. He didn't get nervous. But something buzzed in the back of his mind—restlessness, anticipation, and something darker.
She was here.
After four years of silence, betrayal, and haunting questions, Valkyrie was finally within reach.
Shadow's voice echoed in his earpiece. "Target secured. She's in the west wing. Alone."
Liam nodded once, even though no one could see. "Good. I want to see her. Alone."
"Copy that. We'll hold position."
His boots echoed along the concrete floor as he walked down the hallway. Water dripped from a broken pipe above, mixing with the distant hum of thunder. Every step he took brought a memory—her laugh, the way she used to kiss the corner of his mouth, the feel of her hand in his.
But all of that had been a lie.
She had walked into his life like a storm and disappeared just as quickly—leaving behind only chaos. Now, he was about to face the eye of that storm again.
The metal door creaked open. The room was dim, lit only by a flickering light bulb that swayed gently from the ceiling.
And there she was.
Valkyrie.
She sat on a steel chair, hands bound loosely, legs crossed like she was still in control. Her hair was longer now, falling in waves over her shoulders. Her expression was calm, unreadable. But her eyes—those sharp, stormy eyes—met his without flinching.
"So," she said quietly, "you finally found me."
Liam shut the door behind him and leaned against it. "Took longer than it should've."
Valkyrie gave a small shrug. "I wasn't hiding that well. You just weren't looking in the right places."
He hated how calm she sounded. Like she wasn't the reason he'd bled, broken, and buried part of himself for years. Like she hadn't walked away while everything around him collapsed.
"You were working for Marcus," he said coldly.
Her gaze didn't waver. "Yes."
He stepped forward slowly, shadows casting harsh lines across his face. "Why?"
Valkyrie hesitated. For the first time, she looked away, eyes dropping to the floor.
"I didn't have a choice."
He scoffed, anger curling in his chest. "You had a choice the moment you stepped into my bed. Into my life. And you made it."
"I didn't come to hurt you, Liam," she whispered. "It wasn't supposed to go that far. But I—" she paused, jaw tight. "I got too close. And Marcus reminded me of the consequences."
"You played me," he snapped. "Fed him information. Got one of my people almost killed."
Her voice broke slightly. "I know."
Liam stared at her, jaw clenched so tightly it hurt. He wanted to scream. To demand why. To pull the truth out of her, piece by piece.
Instead, he simply asked, "Why didn't you come back?"
Valkyrie looked up then, her expression unreadable. "Because I didn't think you'd ever forgive me. And I didn't want to see the hate in your eyes."
For a long moment, silence settled between them. The thunder outside dulled. The ache in his chest twisted—old wounds flaring up.
"I don't forgive you," he said softly.
She nodded, as if she'd already accepted it. "I didn't come here for forgiveness."
"No," he said, stepping closer until there was barely space between them. "You came here because I brought you."
Her breath hitched.
Liam leaned in, his voice a low whisper. "And now you're going to tell me everything. Every detail. Every reason. Every plan Marcus ever had. Because you owe me that much."
She met his gaze, lips parted slightly, but didn't speak right away.
Finally, she whispered, "Then let me earn it."
Liam straightened slowly. "You'll stay here. I'll decide what happens after that."
She didn't argue.
He turned toward the door but paused, glancing over his shoulder. "Don't try to run again, Valkyrie. You won't like what happens if you do."
She gave a soft, bitter smile. "I'm tired of running, Liam."
Without a word, he walked out, locking the door behind him. The rain had begun to ease outside, but the storm between them was far from over.
He wasn't sure what would come next—revenge, redemption, or something in between. But one thing was certain.
Valkyrie was back in his world.
And this time, she wasn't leaving on her terms.