The clock on my wall ticked like the timer of a bomb, each tick making me feel more agitated and helpless.

It wasn't the only sound in the room, though. The beating of my own heart was also as loud. It kept pounding unmercifully against its cage of bone and cartilage.

After the little talk I had with Mancini, I went straight to my apartment. And I had lost count of how many hours I had been sitting here, on the couch, buried in thought.

I still didn't know what to do with the pieces of information Mancini had given me, or even if I should believe him at all.

It crossed my mind that he might have told me all of that to get me into an ambush. He was a criminal and a cold-blooded murderer—my parents' murderer, for that matter. I still couldn't believe I managed to keep myself in check while he was sitting in front of me, showing no remorse or regret for the blood that covered his hands.

Letting out a sigh, I ran my fingers through my hair for what seemed like the millionth time, and that was only in the past hour. I was desperate, having no idea what my next move should be.

Abruptly, the doorbell snapped me out of my thoughts. I jumped like the button was hard-wired to my brain.

I wasn't expecting anybody, so I reached out for my gun and clung to it tightly behind my back. I walked slowly toward the door.

As I turned the door, I hardened my grip on the gun. But I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding when I found a pair of deep blue eyes looking straight at me.

"Alex, thank God." Liam let out a breath. "I was hoping to find you here. I looked everywhere for you after Mancini was taken for questioning, and I got worried when I didn't find you," he said.

Then his eyes narrowed when he noticed the gun in my hand. He stepped inside the apartment and closed the door behind him. "Alex, what's really going on?"

"Nothing. Everything's peachy," I said dismissively, making my way back to the living room. I sat down on the couch and put the gun on the table in front of me. I was making sure not to look him in the eye.

He followed me to the living room and took a seat next to me. "Don't you know that you're a terrible liar?"

It was true. I hated nothing more than lies, and liars for that matter, so maybe that was why I wasn't a very good one. I let out a sigh, saying nothing.

"Alex..." Liam called, forcing me to look at him. He had a dead-serious expression on his face. "Mancini was murdered while he was being transferred to prison. He and the marshals who were escorting him."

My eyes widened in shock. Mancini's words hit me. He really was telling the truth.

"Does it have anything to do with what he wanted to talk to you about?" Liam pressed, blue eyes fixed on me.

I looked at him with unsure eyes, not sure if I should tell him.

He must have noticed my hesitation because he closed the gap between us and grabbed my hands. An electric shock radiated through my whole body.

He looked me in the eye. "Do you trust me?"

I was a little bothered by how he could read me like a book, but the answer to that question was really easy. Liam was the only one in too long to enter my life and stay. The only one I felt I could really trust, even with my biggest secret. But this wasn't only about trust, it was more about fear. Fear of what was going to happen next, of what I was going to walk into, not knowing if it would cost me my life. I didn't want to drag him into this.

However, I really didn't want to be alone either. I didn't want to find the files and fight the war all by myself. I knew it was selfish of me, but I had to be honest with myself and admit that I needed him.

I looked him in the eyes and murmured. "Yes, Liam. I trust you."

He cracked a smile. "Then you can tell me anything."

I let out another sigh before I started telling him everything that Mancini had told me. By the time I finished, he was having wide eyes and looked startled.

He was silent for a few moments, probably trying to comprehend everything. I knew it was a lot to take in.

"Liam, look," I spoke up, grabbing his attention. "I'm about to get into a war I barely have any chance of winning. I don't even have the weapons I can fight with yet. And I know for sure it's dangerous. I have witnessed its consequences with my own eyes, after all." I looked at my hands that were folded in my lap and fiddled a little with my fingernails. "So, I can perfectly understand if what I said might have scared you, and if you want to back off—"

"Alex, stop," Liam interrupted me before I could say anything else. I was keeping my face down, so he grabbed it and forced me to look him directly in the eye.

There was something about his eyes that always brought a sense of reassurance to my heart. Not to mention that they had the most beautiful shade of blue I had ever seen.

"We're partners. We got involved in this case together, and it's only fair if we continue together," he said. "And more importantly, I care about you, and I'm never letting you go through this all by yourself. So, I'm afraid you're stuck with me." He shrugged with a slight grin.

I couldn't help but smile.

In this life, everyone needed a harbor, an anchor to hold on to. Someone with whom we could always feel safe and secure, no matter what we were dealing with. Someone who could help us forget all the burdens of the world, even if it was only momentary.

Or else, life would become full of constant torment. And we would be simply expected to endure it all by ourselves while it devoured our souls, slowly and painfully. Until we could no longer recognize the shell of a person we were slowly turning into.

And at this very moment, I felt like I had finally found my harbor. Liam brought a feeling of safety and warmth to my life. Even at one of my scariest and most uncertain moments, he was the rock that stood firm amidst the avalanche.

"So, let's begin with something easy." His voice brought me back to reality. "Do you know anything about those files?"

I shook my head in disappointment.

He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "We need to find them," he said, pointing out the obvious.

"I know, but I don't even know where to look," I replied, feeling helpless. It was probably written all over my face because Liam put his hands on mine in a soft gesture.

"Alex, it's okay." He gave me a warm smile. "I'm sure we'll find something. Don't be so hard on yourself."

I nodded, giving him a small, reassuring smile. I was glad to have him right here with me. It was good to know that I wasn't alone through all this chaos.

Hours went by as we kept considering every possible place where the files could have been hidden. I was certain they weren't at our old home. They must have torn it upside down on the day of the murder, and I have found nothing useful in my father's office, either.

Letting out a sigh, I ran my fingers through my hair. A little harder than I intended as I ended up pulling out a few hairs as collateral damage, making me grimace. A wave of despair washed over me.

Where on earth could the files be?

Suddenly, something flared inside my head. I instantly rose from my seat, holstered my gun, and started fixing my hair and clothes in the mirror.

Liam remained seated, only giving me a perplexed look.

"Come on, get up," I told him. "I think I know someone who might have something useful for us."

"Who?" Liam asked, standing up.

"My grandmother," I replied, a hopeful smile on my face.