I wanted to scream at Stan, to yank free of my bindings and wrap my hands around his throat. He was talking to me like the more he said, I’d somehow understand and accept what he’d done to me…to my family.
“Then that bitch showed up at the office railing about me trying to steal her clients and I knew we could help each other. I told her I would convince you to keep her on as your lawyer if she helped scare you enough so that you wouldn’t want to come back to the city…I knew if I could just get you out of the picture long enough, I could convince you to sell.”
I knew Stan was talking about Tabitha Brighton and my heart broke for her father. Harry would be devastated to learn of his daughter’s involvement.
“Jesus, fuck!” my father’s murderer shouted. “Just pull the fucking trigger!”
Stan glanced at the man and his eyes went wide and his mouth began opening and closing as if he were trying to draw in more air. His gaze shifted back to me and he shook his head.
“I’m so sorry,” he whispered again. “I don’t have any other choice.”
I shouted a ragged “No” against my gag as I realized I wouldn’t have the chance to see Ronan one last time, to tell him again how much I loved him.
I closed my eyes and prayed to anyone who was listening to watch over Ronan so he wouldn’t lose himself again and then I brought forth my last image of him. He’d pressed a sweet kiss against my lips right before I’d gone into my meeting this morning and then he’d whispered, “I’ll see you soon” before he’d finally released me.
I waited for the gunshot but when it came, it didn’t sound right. I opened my eyes, but couldn’t take anything in because a heavy weight fell on top of me and I hit my head on the floor as I went down. I heard a crash and then shouting before several gunshots ricocheted through the air.
“Seth!”
I cried in relief at the sound of Ronan’s voice and when my vision finally cleared, Ronan was moving towards me. The weight was lifted off of me and it took me a moment to realize it was Stan’s dead body. A small, almost perfect circle stood out on the side of his head and there was just the tiniest trickle of blood streaming out of it.
“Seth, talk to me,” Ronan whispered as he worked the gag free of my mouth. The plastic holding my hands together was cut free a second later and I realized it was Cole who’d done it.
“I’m okay,” I managed to say as Ronan’s fingers skimmed my face. The terror was etched in his features and I automatically put my hands up to encircle his neck. His pulse was pounding beneath my fingers. “I’m safe,” I said. “You saved me, Ronan.”
I could see Ronan was on the verge of falling apart, so I drew him down for a kiss and then wrapped my arms around him. He let out a sharp breath and then buried his face against my neck as his arms encircled me. His hold bordered on painful, but I didn’t care. I kept whispering against his ear that I was okay. I noticed Mace enter the small building which I’d finally realized was a rundown cabin. In Mace’s hand was a long, black rifle and I glanced over my shoulder and saw the bullet hole I suspected would be in the window. Mace had shot Stan, but I had no idea if Ronan or Cole had killed the other man who lay motionless on the floor not far from Stan, his chest riddled with bullet wounds.
“How did you find me?” I managed to ask once Ronan finally loosened his hold on me.
“Stan’s second wife’s family owns this cabin,” Ronan said as he leaned back and began checking the injury on the side of my head where the man had struck me with something. “That’s his stepson,” Ronan said as he motioned to the dead man.
“He killed my father,” I whispered.
Ronan stilled and pulled back from me just a little bit. “He’s gone, Seth. And we’re going to find the others. They’ll pay for what they did.”
I managed a nod. “I knew you’d find me,” I finally said when I tore my gaze from the dead man and focused on Ronan.
Ronan smiled and said, “Always” and then pulled me into his arms.
Epilogue
Ronan
Twelve dayslater
“Wake up, Seth.”
“No,” Seth grumbled as he burrowed deeper into my chest. “Too early,” he mumbled. “It’s Sunday,” he added.
I glanced at Bullet who was sitting patiently on the floor next to Seth’s side of the bed. “Okay boy, you’re up.”
“No!” Seth said a second before the dog jumped on top of him and began licking his face. Seth squirmed to get away from the wet tongue, but Bullet simply laid down on top of him and kept at it until Seth began laughing hysterically.
“Okay, okay, uncle!” Seth cried.
I chuckled. “Bullet,” I said and when the dog looked at me, I patted the spot on the bed on my other side and the dog happily jumped over me and curled up against my back. I ignored the dog drool Seth was trying to wipe away with the bed sheet and leaned down to kiss him. “Morning,” I murmured.
“Morning,” Seth whispered and then he wrapped his arm around my neck and held me there as he thoroughly kissed me. Myintent had been to get Seth up so we could go boating like we’d planned, but I quickly lost interest in the prospect as Seth made love to my mouth. The kiss turned heated quickly and I was about to tell Bullet to take a hike when the dog figured it out for himself and jumped off the bed.
