"Oh."The single syllable feels inadequate, but I'm not sure what else to say.This changes things---not the danger, but the context."So when he got in trouble...I couldnae let him suffer.MacWraith had him by the throat financially."
"But I still don't understand why you made that deal in the first place.What hold does Dougal have over you that made you agree to his terms?"
Kirk's jaw tightens, and I watch the muscles in his face shift beneath his stubble."Kenny's just a lad.Barely twenty-one.His mother died last year.I've known him since he was in nappies."
"So, you're like a big brother to him."
"Aye, something like that."Kirk admits."Kenny started gambling to cope with his grief.Got in deep with Dougal's underground operation before anyone realized what was happening."
I clasp Kirk's hand, lacing my fingers through his.His palm feels rough against mine."How do we get away from Dougal?"
"Cannae.He's not just one man.He has his entire clan on his side.I've never found the seat of the MacWraith clan, so I've never been able to catch any of them and make them talk."
"What about all those burly Scots I met at the Loch Fairbairn Arms earlier?Surely, they can help us."
Kirk pulls away abruptly, his jaw tight."The way I've put you in danger is bad enough.To entangle you and all of them as well...I cannae do it.Willnae."
He's too damn stubborn, and I don't know him well enough to force him to do anything.Still, we can't just wait for Dougal MacWraith to pounce.
"Kirk, please, let's at least tell Thane about what's going on."I reach for his hand again."I saw how he commands respect around here.He might know something that could help."
Kirk shakes his head."Thane is a businessman with a family to protect.I won't put him in MacWraith's crosshairs."
"Then what about your brothers?They seem like they'd walk through fire for you."
"And that's exactly why I can't involve them."His voice has become almost a growl."Dougal wouldn't hesitate to use them as leverage.The fewer people who know, the safer everyone stays."
I flatten my lips, frustration building inside me like steam in a pressure cooker.For a man who jumps off buildings and rides motorcycles over rivers, Kirk is being infuriatingly cautious about confronting Dougal directly.
"Ugh, Balfour," I flap my arms in frustration."You're the most frustrating man, frustrating person, I've ever met.You know that?"
"I've been told," he admits with a hint of that roguish smile that usually melts my resolve.Not this time.
I grip his forearms, tugging me a smidgen closer."I understand wanting to protect everyone.It's noble and all that, but it's also stupid.You are not a lone wolf in some action movie, Kirk.Real people don't win against organized crime by themselves."
He stares at me, his expression unreadable.The silence stretches between us until I start to wonder if I've pushed too hard.
"You're right," he finally admits, surprising me."But ahmno dragging innocent people into this."
"Not innocent people.People who care about you.There's a difference."I squeeze his arms."At least consider it.Promise me."
"I'll think about it."His face tells me he's already made up his mind."That's all I can promise right now."
I sigh heavily.Men and their stubborn pride.Maybe it's universal, or maybe Scottish men have an extra helping of it.Either way, it's maddening.
"Fine, okay.I'll take what I can get."I flop back against the cushions."But just so you know, if something happens to you because you were too stubborn to ask for help, I'll never forgive you."
Kirk delicately taps my nose."Nothing's going to happen to me,mo leannan.I've survived worse situations."
"Have you, though?Because breaking into someone's bedroom while they're sleeping is pretty high on the creepy scale."
The stubborn Scot pulls me closer, wrapping his arms around me and pressing his lips to my forehead.The gesture is so tender, so protective, it makes my chest ache."MacWraith wants to scare us, lass.It's what he does best.But I promise you this---I will never let anything happen to you."
"That's not what I'm worried about.I don't want you to go all heroic and get yourself shot to pieces."
A soft laugh rumbles in Kirk's chest."I'm too stubborn to die."
"And too stubborn to accept help," I counter, pulling back to look him in the eye."Promise me one thing---if things get worse, you'll at least consider letting your family know what's happening."
