Alex fixed him with a hard stare, his eyes boring into Liam's. "Liam, look at me. I know this sucks. But remember what's at stake here. I can't withstand Jamal pointing a gun at me again and it is neither her or your mom. That's the choice."
The weight of Alex's words hung heavy in the air between them. Liam felt his resolve wavering, torn between the plan they'd set in motion and the unexpected emotional entanglements he'd formed.
"I know, I know," Liam sighed, his shoulders slumping. "It's just... harder than I thought it would be."
Alex's expression softened slightly, recognizing the genuine struggle in his friend's eyes. "Of course it is. You're not a sociopath," he said, his voice gentler now. "But think about it. Ava will be fine after this, but we might not be. And with Doug circling like a vulture..."
