This was the first time I'd seen Ronan since the post-drowning beach puking incident. I'd packed my bags and left for school the next day, unable to face anyone. In the three years since, despite many invitations, I hadn't been back.
It would have helped end my crush once and for all if the Kelly twins had packed on belly fat and lost half their hair in the interim, but sadly, that hadn’t happened.
The pair of them were still way too handsome for their own good, only with more muscle.
Now that the shock of Anton's attack had worn off, my brain had come back online. Anton could cause us all a fuck-ton of trouble. My legs trembled at what he'd do to me once he recovered.
He didn't want me, but he'd never been taught the word "no".
I had hoped my leaving soon would trigger a natural end to our relationship. He wasn't the sort to pine over a girl once she left the country. No doubt he already had my replacement lined up. Had already fucked her, knowing him.
However, tonight's reaction to my trying to end things had shaken me. My cheek throbbed, sending waves of pain through my skull. All I wanted to do was go home, pop some painkillers, and sleep.
But first, I needed to work out why the twins were here. Saoirse had said nothing about them coming to Italy. Not that we'd spoken for a week. Since I'd started seeing Anton, we'd talked less.
Saoirse had made it abundantly clear Anton was a dickhead and I could do so much better. So rather than lie about how shit things had become, I'd stepped back and pretended to be busy with work.
Not a lie, exactly.
My brain only tuned back into the guys' conversation when Conal mentioned a pilot.
"I don't want to leave!" I jumped back as he reached for me. He seemed to have forgotten I wasn't a kid anymore. "I need to hand in my notice and say goodbye before disappearing." Honestly, I didn't, as nobody would care, but I'd spent too much of my life having no autonomy.
Conal looked at his phone and frowned.
"Bro, we need to get the fuck out of here. Someone will discover that asshole you dumped in the alley soon."
"That asshole is the mayor's son," I ground out. "His father is a big cheese around here."
Ronan grinned like a psycho. "Good job he has a rich family. He'll need extensive plastic surgery to repair the damage to his face. Probably new teeth, too." He turned to me. "Ready, Pixie?"
He'd christened me 'pixie' when 13-year-old me had stupidly told Saoirse I wanted to marry a fae prince. We'd spent an afternoon transforming ourselves into fae princesses with pointy ears and glittery makeup. Ronan had teased us mercilessly when he caught us making a TikTok about it.
"Look, I appreciate you helping me, even if I have no clue why you showed up in a random bar in Italy, but I can take care of myself." I reached under the table to pick up my phone and moved to switch the remaining lights off. The wall clock told me it was almost 2 AM. Now that the adrenaline of the fight with Anton had faded, I could barely keep my eyes open.
As well as sleep, I needed to escape the magnetic force field that was Ronan and Conal. Being in their presence scrambled my brain to the point I could barely string a coherent thought together.
They might have forgotten the embarrassing moment I puked over Ronan, but I hadn't.
The two of them exchanged glances before Conal's arm swung out and caught my wrist. I yelped in pain; it still hurt from when Anton threw me to the floor.
"Fuck, sorry, sweetheart!" Conal let me go immediately, an opportunity I couldn't ignore. Since they were too bullheaded to say why they'd come or why I needed to leave the country, they could do one.
I stormed outside, key in hand. Either they left now or I'd lock them in. If the police arrived, they could deal. No doubt Declan had some fancy lawyer on retainer, ready and willing to handle irritating problems like international arrest warrants for assault and battery.
But before I could push the key into the lock, Ronan's arm snaked around my waist. I felt a sharp sting in my neck and then the world faded away.
The loud roar of a jet engine woke me. I shifted to find someone had strapped me into a plush leather reclining chairand draped a thick blanket over my legs. Even if those assholes had kidnapped me, at least they'd make sure I was comfortable.
I recognized the plush interior of the Kelly private jet, which meant we were most likely on our way back to Ireland for reasons I had yet to fathom.
I swallowed, grimacing at the sour taste in my mouth. When was the last time I ate something? Oh yes. Lunchtime. I'd planned to pick up a pizza on my way home, only…
Fuck. A rogue memory of Anton's fist connecting with my face had me reaching up to touch my swollen cheek. My wrist ached, too. No doubt there were bruises elsewhere.
I cursed my stupidity for letting Anton into my life. My sister would be furious when she heard what I'd put up with. How Anton had treated me. She'd want to know why I hadn't reached out and asked for her help.
Which begged the question, why hadn't I?
