“There’s something I need to speak to you about, little dove.”
“What is it?”
“While Ronan is at the hospital, if I can’t be home, Brennan will watch over you. Sean’s dead, but Lorcan… He’s still out there, and there’s no telling what his next move will be, so I’m not going to take any chances.”
I frown. “Lorcan?”
Kieran nods, his jaw tight.
“He’s the one who put Cormac in the hospital.”
“What? Are you sure? He’s your uncle.”
“That didn’t seem to be an issue for him when he almost bludgeoned my brother to death. And that’s only the start ofwhat he’s done. So, until we find him, we can’t afford to be careless.”
I know all too well what it’s like to feel betrayed by someone close to you. I felt it my whole life with my father and almost with Oscar too.
It cuts deeper than you can possibly put into words, and I know there is nothing I could say to Kieran to make up for what Lorcan has done. So, I simply reach for his hand, squeezing it hard.
“I understand. I’ll go along with whatever you think is necessary.”
He exhales as relief floods his face. “Good, because I can’t lose you again, Riley.”
“You won’t.” I reach up on my tiptoes and press a soft kiss to his lips. “In fact, I’m never going to leave your side to the point where you’re going to get sick of me.”
Kieran smiles against my lips as he wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me flush against him.
“I could never get sick of you, little dove. You are my everything.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
KIERAN
I sitin the chair beside Cormac’s bed with my gun resting on my knee, feeling nothing but guilt as I listen to the constant beeping of the monitors.
The room is dark, lit only by the light peeking in beneath the door. Even though my body feels heavy and in dire need of sleep, someone had to be here to watch over him, and seeing as I can’t seem to shake the guilt gnawing at me for what has happened to him, I insisted on taking the night shift.
If only I had trusted Cormac rather than letting my own anger and pride cloud my judgment, maybe he wouldn’t have ended up like this. Maybe everything would have been different…
My phone buzzes in my pocket and I pull it out, squinting as the bright light stings my eyes.
“Seriously?”
Brennan has created yet another group chat.
You have been added to the group chat ‘Team Cormac’
Brennan:Any update?
Me:Still the same. How’s Riley?
Brennan:She’s officially overtaken Ciara as the most annoying out of my brother’s wives.
Ronan:Watch it.
Brennan:She’s making me watch some ridiculous dating show, and there is a significant lack of naked women.
Me:It’s two in the morning, she should be asleep.
