I kick it away from him, and he lunges forward, wrapping his arms around my legs and drawing a knife from nowhere. I feel a flash of blinding white pain as the blade slices my thigh. I don’t move. I’m holding Amelia in my arms, and I will carry her out of this building if it’s the last thing that I do.
Liam drags Monster Morran off me. The men part, allowing me an escape route with my wife in my arms, and I don’t look back as I carry her to safety.
EPILOGUE
AMELIA
“What are you doing?”
I freeze, caught in the act of standing on a chair and reaching up to the top of the Christmas tree. I smile at Declan and pretend I have no clue what he’s talking about.
“I’m putting the fairy on the top of the tree.” I smile. It works every time, and I still have my ace to play. “I couldn’t let Orla do it, and a Christmas tree isn’t a Christmas tree without a fairy.”
He limps across the living room and holds the chair steady for me. He doesn’t tell me to get down. His eyes are drawn to the fairy in my hand, the one that Orla said has been in the family since Ruairi was born. When the boys were little, Niamh would hold them up, and they would take turns in putting the fairy on the tree. It’s a tradition that I already know will continue when there is another child in the house.
“You shouldn’t be stretching… or climbing.” Declan tries, and fails, to be stern.
“And you shouldn’t worry about me so much.”
I set the fairy, resplendent in her shimmering white gown, snowy feathered wings, and silver halo, on top of the tree, and Declan places his hands around my waist and lifts me down. He doesn’t let me go, and I’m not complaining.
“I’ll never stop worrying about you. It’s my mission in life.” He kisses me on the lips.
I slant my eyes. “I thought it was your mission in life to keep me satisfied.”
“That too.” He chuckles. “I think I can manage both though. I’m not past my sell-by date yet.”
“Hmm.” I wrinkle my nose. “You’re getting close.”
“You cheeky minx.”
He slides a hand underneath my sweater and tickles the side of my waist, the spot that he discovered about a week ago when he touched it by mistake and I dissolved into a messy heap of giggles.
“No, Declan, stop.”
I try to wriggle free and stumble over his feet. I would face-plant the floor if Declan didn’t catch me easily, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me against his chest.
“Much more of this and I’ll be forced to lock you in the bedroom until you promise to be on your best behavior.”
I chew my bottom lip. “Will you let me out if I promise to be good?”
“Maybe. At mealtimes. And when we have visitors.”
This is how it has been since Declan rescued me from Michael Morran’s warehouse. He needed surgery on his leg to repair the damage caused by the stabbing, and although he is still limping, the surgeon said that he will make a full recovery.
But Declan was more concerned about me and the baby. He refused to let the hospital staff treat his wound until he knew that we were both okay. I will never forget coming around to find him sitting in the visitor’s seat next to the hospital bed, hugging my hand the way he did when I first met him.
“Amelia, baby, it’s okay. I’m right here.” He kissed my forehead, his tears mingling with mine. “You’ve got a concussion, but you’re going to be fine. The baby is doing well too. You’re both my little fighters.”
He placed a warm hand over my belly and kissed me. And that’s when I knew that we would be okay. I knew that he intended to keep all those promises that he made.
“I’m sorry, Amelia. For everything. I let pride get in the way. I gave into my aching heart, instead of realizing that you’re giving me the greatest gift that a man could ever want.”
My jaw was swollen, and it hurt to talk, but I had to ask. “What if this baby is Ruairi’s?”
“Amelia…” He stroked my hair; his eyes filled with love. “This baby is ours. Can you forgive me for not accepting this sooner?”
I managed to smile. “There’s nothing to forgive, Declan.”
