“She hasn’t had one of those in a while,” he murmurs, rubbing my back.
They’re not wrong. I haven’t had one in a few years.
But without Hayes, I’m not safe. I’m trapped, in this house—this life—without his help, I’m drowning in a riptide.I need him back.
“Inhale,” Maeve commands. “Count to five.” I try to inhale, but it won’t work. Nothing works without him.
“Remember the night of your surgery,” she begins, tucking my hair behind my ears. “You were terrified. You refused to sleep. Pops had left, and even the nurses were taking naps. But not you.”
I inhale, my chest slightly less constricted as I listen to Maeve speak, her words distracting me. The rasp of her voice, the sultry tones lull me into a shaky calm, and I inhale again.
“I had just finished a run, covered in blood. Knuckles cut. Hair a mess.” She gestures to her dark locks, lips lifting with the memory. “I had come to remind you that you’d be okay. That you’d beat this. But instead of listening to me, you made me clean up. You were always more worried about others than yourself.”
“Must be an O’Brien trait,” Killian quips, hard circles soothing my back. I cough, exhaling.
“You’ve always cared about others first. It’s what made you a great doctor. A great sister.” She clears her throat and I inhale—then exhale, lungs expanding finally. “I’ve seen the way you’ve taken care of Hayes. At first, I didn’t want you two together. After what you went through—” she cuts off, face closing off all her emotions. “Well. I just didn’t want it. Didn’t want to push it.
“But I see the way you are with him. You protect him—as much as he protects you. You care about him—lovehim. And that’s all I’ve wanted for the both of you. Someone who would make you both feel safe after never having it before.” She chucks my chin and I inhale, body drooping. My chest lifts, the weight gone and my mind settles. “I tried to be that for you, both of you.But maybe you just needed each other. Either way, I’m not going to let anything happen to him. Or you. I promise.”
Shaking my head, I swallow. “You can’t promise that. Not now that Roman has him.”
Her eyes bleed black. This isn’t the caring sister from moments before. This is Ace, my father’s heir. “Watch me.”
Maeve’s cell phone rings and Killian doesn’t wait for her to answer it, slipping it from her back pocket. He puts it on speaker. “Talk.”
“Ah, reaper,” Roman’s cool voice drifts through the phone. Maeve’s morphs into murderous fury and Killian’s eyes lose all warmth.
They’re the ghouls looking to kill.
“Speaking on behalf of your master?”
“Where is he?” she asks, voice deadly calm.
“Oh he’s here.” There’s a struggle, sounds of someone groaning. “We’re getting ready to take him home. We have his room all ready for him.”
My stomach twists and that nervous energy turns white hot.I’ll kill him.
It’s a clear thought, one I know to be true. I will spill every drop of Roman’s blood if he harms Hayes. And there won’t be any guilt for my sins.
“Don’t you fucking touch him,” I threaten. “If you put one finger on him, Roman, I will surgically sew your mouth shut and lock you away to starve to death.”
Roman chuckles. “Little mouse, what a horrible way to speak to your husband.”
“And it’ll be a horrible way to die,” I vow. “I would make you suffer.” Maeve shoots me an impressed look.
“What do you want, Roman?” she asks.
“I want that deal, Ace.” There’s more shuffling. “I want that alliance. I want Collins as my bride and the money Ferguson put aside for her. All of it.Now.”
“In exchange for one life?” She scoffs. “I need something more than that.”
My eyes bug out of my head.Is she really negotiating this?
Before I can yell at her, Killian wraps a hand around my mouth, finger to his lips. He knows something I don’t—something I can’t see.
Bruno laughs loudly. “You’re a cold one. It wasn’t enough that you fucked me over as kids, but now, you want to take more from me?” He makes a disgusted sound. “Fine. I heard you missed out on a buyer the other day.” Maeve glares at Killian—that wound is still festering. “I can arrange three more buyers for your guns. All big players.”
“I want a price,” she says, standing, helping me to my feet. “And names.”
