“Conan loves Tiernan like a son. He’ll do anything for him,” Cillian says.
“And your father loves you too.” Ollie’s voice is gentle.
Cillian nods as if Ollie just reminded him of something he didn’t know. He looks at Rory, then at me, before pulling out his cell and making a call. “Dad…I need a favor.”
I don’t know the details, but from what I’ve pieced together, Cillian and his dad have had a rough relationship since his mom died. They’re working on having a stronger one now, but I can see in his eyes that this isn’t easy for him, calling on Rian this way. But he’s doing it for me, for us.
We all listen while Cillian speaks to Rian, telling him everything we know, which only emphasizes how much we don’t know.
Cillian watches us as he listens to his dad, then replies, “He’s Rory’s. And mine and Ollie’s.”
The room is silent, but even if it wasn’t, I’m not sure I could’ve heard anything over the blood rushing through my ears. I belong to them…all of them. And they belong to me.
“Thank you,” Cillian tells him. “I’ll see you soon.”
He ends the call, and before I can do or say anything, Rory is with him, hand on the back of Cillian’s head, their foreheads pressed together. “Thank you,” Rory tells him.
“Always, brother,” Cillian replies, and though I know I should deal with this on my own, know I shouldn’t pull them any deeper into my shit, it would be throwing their love and sacrifice into their faces to do that.
Whatever happens, we’ll do this together, and I couldn’t feel luckier to have them.
*
“Wherever we endup, you know Spike is gonna have to go in alone at first, right, kid?” Finan says to Rory. We’re all assuming he’s holding her at a location close by but we don’t know for sure.
“Spike?” I ask.
“The hair.” Finan points to my head.
“No. Fuck that,” Rory says. “Not happening.”
“How do we make sure his mom is safe if he doesn’t go in?” Rian asks. “If we all go storming in together, they’ll put a bullet in her head or use her for leverage.”
I wince, though I know everything Cillian’s father said is correct.
“He knows about me,” Rory tries again. “I was on the phone when they spoke. I can go in with him. The rest of you come in afterward.”
“No,” I interrupt. “Jagger said to come alone.”
“Not fucking happening.” Rory pulls away, moves in that way he does when he can’t control himself, like he’s pulsing with an overpowering current. He picks up a vase, throws it, and it shatters against the wall.
Aislin jumps.
“Rory…can you handle this? If you can’t, you’ll be the one sitting this one out, son,” Rian says. “You have got to get yourself under control.”
And this, I see, is why Tiernan said we weren’t ready to do things together yet. And now we don’t have a choice. Well, if Rory can get himself together, that is.
“Fuck you. You’re not my father,” Rory curses.
“No, your father is dead because he couldn’t get himself together.” The harshness of his words rakes over my skin like sandpaper.
“Fuck you, Rian,” Rory seethes.
“Dad,” Cillian snaps, warning in that one word.
But I ignore them. None of them are my concern right now. Only Rory is.
What would Ollie do?I remember Rory telling me that once, that it’s what he asks himself, and as soon as I do, I’m walking over to Rory. It’s like everyone else in the room has disappeared and it’s only the two of us. “Rory,” I say, and when he doesn’t answer, “Cherry.”
