“Because he’s my brother, and… I need to know if there’s any way we can move past everything that’s happened.”
“Why would you want to? The guy is a snake. He literally tried to sell you off to Sean O’Keefe. How can you ever forgive that?”
“He’s my family, Kieran. Just like Brennan and Ronan are yours.”
I let out a breath as I perch on the edge of the bed and rub at the stubble on my jaw.
“Oscar’s a liability,” I remind her.
“Or maybe he’s not. Maybe he’s actually trying to make amends. But we can’t know that for sure without giving him a chance. Please, Kieran, just…give him a chance.”
I let out a sharp breath.
I want to tell her no. I want to forbid it and lock her away from every threat in the world. But behind the tears, I catch that familiar fire in her eyes, and I know that she won’t back down. Even if I were to bring up the possible link between Oscar and Cormac, I know she would have a reason to explain it away, and I don’t have time to waste going round in circles trying to defend her brother’s lack of moral compass.
Maybe this is just one fight I’m going to need to accept that I can’t win. At least not right now.
“Fine. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. But not until after I’ve dealt with Sean. Until then, Oscar stays the hell out of my way.”
Before Riley can say anything, the door bursts open, and Ronan appears, pale and out of breath.
We both jump to our feet, startled by how terrified he looks.
“What is it?” Riley demands.
“It’s Ciara. She’s having contractions.”
My heart speeds up. “Shit.”
“Is she all right? What can I do?” Riley reaches out to put a hand on Ronan’s shoulder. “Tell me how to help.”
He squeezes her hand. “I’ve called a doctor, and he’s on his way. I-I don’t know what else to do. She’s in so much pain?—”
His voice breaks, and suddenly I don’t see Ronan, the head of the Sullivan empire. I see Ronan, the terrified husband and father.
I clap him on the shoulder. “You need to stay with her.”
“I know. I just need to know if you can handle things until I know what’s going on.”
“Of course, I can. Take care of Ciara. I’ve got this under control.”
Ronan gives me a grateful look, then tosses me his phone before sprinting back down the hall.
I stare at the phone in my hand, feeling the weight of everything pressing down at once.
Right now, my brother needs to focus on the lives of his wife and children, so it’s up to me to shoulder the burden and make sure that everything else doesn’t fall apart.
For a moment, I let myself take a deep breath as I try to tell myself that I can handle this even though I’m barely holding everything together.
As if Riley can read the thoughts in my head, she steps closer and brushes her hand against mine to steady me. “Kieran…what do you need me to do?”
I look toward the doorway and down the hall toward Ciara and Ronan’s room.
Right now, they are preparing to bring two new lives into this world.
It should be something to celebrate, but how can we when the world they’re being born into will put a target on their back the moment they take their first breaths?
All I know is that it’s up to me to keep them all safe.
