“Of course,” she quickly responded.
“I need you,” I rasped to her.
“And you have me...Every part of me. You possess my heart...My body...My soul...Everything I have is yours, Cillian.”
“Anamchara,” I groaned before hauling her against me once more.
I didn’t give her a chance to respond as I swept her up into my arms, then carried her into my room. The moment I tossed her onto my bed and looked down at her, I felt complete. Our daughter was just down the hallway, and I had the love of my life quickly removing her nightgown. After helping her out of it and getting out of my own clothes, I covered her body with mine. She was now safe, at least from my grandfather. As I slammed into her, I made a vow that I would protect her from this moment forward, evermore, and I proceeded to drive that point home with every thrust.
By the time I had brought her to multiple orgasms and had one of my own, I rolled onto my back, and she draped herself over me like she had the night before. While so much had gone wrong today, all was right in my world. And I intended to keep it that way. When she finally drifted off to sleep with her head on my chest, I kissed the top of it, then allowed sleep to claim me as well.
THREE MONTHS LATER
Istood in front of the brick and mortar building staring up at the name plate for Pepper Hamilton LP, Attorneys at Law. I’d flown in from Dublin the afternoon before and had barely had time to do much else other than arrive here. I knew what this was all about. These attorneys were the ones who had been handling my grandfather’s estate.
I doubted there would be anything for me as Kingston had already fulfilled the terms of the amendment he’d had put in place. My cousin had not only married but had produced a male heir. I’d gotten married and produced an heir, only the child had been a girl. Neither of those would net me anything, not that I wanted anything from him.
The last few months, I’d been happier than I’d ever been in my entire life. For the first time since I’d first laid eyes on my Anamchara, we did not need to hide and could openly show our love. We also didn’t have to worry about his recrimination orfear for Reagan’s safety. Or Ciara’s. Or mine. That was plenty gift enough.
Still, I’d been presented with a summons to appear in front of our family attorney in Manhattan, so here I was. Grabbing the door handle, I stepped inside and strode to the elevator that'd take me to the legal office. Once there, I saw my cousin stand up.
“Hey, Cillian. I’m glad you made it across the pond safely,” he said to me.
“Yeah, there was a weather delay in Ireland, but I’m here now. I hope I’m not late.”
“Absolutely not. You’re actually right on time. Let’s go inside.”
I followed my cousin into the room, and once we were both seated, I turned toward him. “I hardly see why my presence was needed here. After all, you met the terms of?—”
“Thank you both for your prompt arrivals. As you know, my name’s Eric Hamilton, and this is my partner, George Pepper. As executors of Ronan Brannington’s estate, we've summoned you here to read his last will and testament. Are there any questions before we begin?”
I looked over at my cousin, who made a sweeping motion with his hand as if to tell them to continue. This was simply some formality, so I relaxed in my seat. Staying silent, I decided to let this play out before making assumptions or asking any unnecessary questions.
I sucked in a deep breath and held it as Eric began to read the will.
“I, Ronan James Brannington, of Dublin, Ireland, declare this to be my last will and testament. I declare that I am widowed and have no current spouse.” Eric then went on to talk about the allocation of his debts and which funds should be used to settle them, before he paused and looked at my cousin and me. “ArticleOne - Last wishes - I declare that my body be cremated and my ashes spread on the grounds of my current property in Dublin.”
I hated that home with a burning passion. It was where we’d been raised after the deaths of our own parents, and it had been the place where he’d kept me prisoner alongside those traitors and others he’d imprisoned before death. Like those other men, I too had been tortured and beaten. I wanted to set the whole damn place on fire and watch it burn. I could even picture Reagan, Ciara, and me toasting s’mores on the embers of that place.
“Article Two - Disposition of Property. To my first grandson, Kingston Brannington, I leave half of my business to him. The other half will then be split between my other grandson, Cillian Brannington, and my great-grandson, Zarren Brannington...”
At the mention of the last name, the entire room went silent, and I turned to Kingston, who looked to be just as blindsided as me.
“Who the hell is Zarren?” Kingston asked, saving me from having to ask myself.
Kingston had no other sons other than the one he shared with Ekaterina Kotov, and I had no child other than Ciara. “Answer him,” I said when the men hesitated.
“For several years now, Ronan has been caring for a child...an heir...and he wanted to make?—”
“Whose child is it?” I asked him.
Eric said nothing as George rose to his feet and walked over to my cousin and me. In his hand, he held a manila folder with a hastily scribbled name written across it.
Zarren Duke Brannington.
“This young child was sired by Princeton.”
“What!?” Kingston said as he bolted to his feet. “My brother has been dead for ten years, so there has to be a mistake.”
