“If Ciara retracts her accusation against Mark—”
“Which she will not!” I say angrily.
“—He will not press charges against Aaron. But he’s already made his decision.”
I stand up and address everyone:
“I will not permit that to happen. Mark must pay for what he did and whatever he gets he will never pay enough. Now I’m asking you to understand my decision and support me in it as you always have. I need you to stay united in my absence, keep the pub running, and the house, and the family. I want to make sure that you always take care of one another and her especially, as if she were a part of us. Because she is the woman I love and I would do anything for her and I need my family to be close to her when I can’t be.”
“It’s not necessary to ask us that, Aaron. Ciara is already part of the family.” Jay hugs me.
“Whatever happens, we’re always together.”
“You need to stay calm, Aaron,” Liam adds, coming close to us. I’m here with Rain, you don’t have to worry about leaving her alone, okay?”
I nod, swallowing hard the knot in my throat, realizing that Liam has understood my biggest fear.
“And now, if you’ll permit me, I’ve got a business to run,” I say, leaving them and climbing the stairs, then closing myself up in my room.
I need a shower to gain some self control and to dedicate myself to doing what I do best: taking care of them, at least for as long as I’m able to.
