Anger flashes in Bee’s eyes at his order, but she banks it. “I know. I’ll be safe while I gather information. I don’t want anything to happen to Copper. I’d never put him in danger.”
My heart beats faster at her words.
“And you, Bella,” Cahir admonishes gently. “We don’t want you in danger either. Promise me you’ll be careful.”
She bites her lip, and her eyes meet mine. “I’ll be careful. I have too much to lose not to be.”
We end the call and finish our lunch before I walk Bee back to her car.
I kiss her goodbye, rubbing my hand over the ache in my chest as I watch her drive back to work, to a place that should be safe but isn’t.
Taking my phone from my pocket, I call Silas. “Is she going to make it through this in one piece?” I demand as soon as he answers.
Silas is silent for a minute before he admits, “I don’t know. I can’t see the outcome. But whatever’s coming won’t happen for a few months.”
“Fuck,” I whisper, my throat clogging with emotion at the thought of Bella not making it through this. “Thanks. Sorry to push you.”
“It’s okay,” Silas replies. “I wish I knew, but sometimes, I’m not shown things for a reason. We’ve prepared you both as much as we can, but in the end, it’s always fate’s decision. If I see anything, I’ll let you know.”
“Okay.” A wave of hopelessness floods me, and the hand holding my phone drops to my side. I can’t contemplate my life without Bella at my side.
“Copper?”
I press the phone back to my ear. “I’m here.”
“You’re good for her. Don’t let what’s coming ruin this for you. If my brothers and I have learned anything, it’s that when you’re given a gift, you grab it with both hands and cherish it for as long as possible.”
With those words, he ends the call, leaving me with my troubled thoughts.
***
Over the coming months, we follow Silas’s advice—we live our lives as if these were our last days and enjoy every second of the time we spend together.
Our feelings for each other grow stronger until it’s hard to remember a time when we weren’t a part of each other’s lives.
Christmas comes and goes.
I miss my family, but it’s not safe to meet up with them.
We learned that Bolt has taken an Old Lady, and that Bella knows her.
My family likes her, and we laughed our asses off when Coal tells us about Bolt’s initiation into the O’Shea family.
Bella fills me in on Jeanie O’Shea. It’s clear she likes her, and I’m happy for my little brother. If anyone needs a good woman in his life, it’s him.
Bella texts her family and wishes them a Merry Christmas.
“Don’t you want to call them?” I ask as she stares at their messages.
She lifts tear-filled eyes to mine and shakes her head.
When I tug her toward me, she straddles my lap and tucks her face into the crook of my neck. Hot tears soak into my chest as she trembles in my arms and cries without making a sound.
My heart breaks for her. I don’t know why she won’t call them—especially when it hurts her this much—but I know she has her reasons for not speaking to them. Bee never does anything without one. That much, I know.
As for me, I can’t solve this for her, so I do what I do best—I hold my woman. I comfort her when she needs it and love her until her tears dry up.
We spend Christmas and New Year wrapped up in each other. Because deep down, I think we both know it could be our last.
