Killian drags a hand down his face.
“Morte Mafia. This cannot be a coincidence.”
They have so many new recruits coming in it’s difficult to know who is associated with them, but if he’s part of that gang, she’s right. But the decision has been made. If Killian doesn’t show up, they’ll kill our girl. Of course we’d hide her, buteventually they’d find her because she’ll insist on finishing what she has started.
She stares down at her plate, her eyes filled with defeat as she speaks low.
“You should have left me there, Killian. If you had, all three of you would be safe.”
The anger on Kill's face is intense, and I know exactly what he’s going to say. The growl rumbles through his chest.
“Enough. I don’t want to hear that again. I put you there, and I got you out. The end.”
Heather rises from her chair and glares at him furiously.
“I can forgive you for what you did before, but this? I’ll never forgive this. You are destroying everything all over again. If you were honest last night, if you love me, you will not do this to me. Tell me you won’t do this.”
He gazes at her with so much heartbreak in his eyes.
“I’m sorry, Killer. I’m so fucking sorry.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
KILLIAN
Heather storms off toward the bedroom, and both of my brothers scoot their chairs out to go after her.
Holding my hand up, I stop them.
“I’ve got it.”
Rising from my seat, I go in search of her, wondering if I really do have this. Last night was fucking perfect—but now everything is going to shit. Again. Because of my choices. But was it really a choice? I couldn’t leave her there. I check Carter’s room first, and am surprised I don’t find her there, so I go to Knox’s and she’s not there either.
Opening the door to my bedroom, I walk in and find her kneeling on the floor, looking like a beautiful, broken doll. Her hair is a tangled mess, tears have stained her cheeks, old and new ones mixing together perfectly. She lifts her head and stares at me with gut-wrenching pain in her eyes, causing a sharp twinge in my chest. Not a minute goes by without me knowing I have caused this girl so much anguish.
“Go away. I’m grieving.”
I kneel in front of her and take her hands in mine and rub her palms with my thumbs.
“What are you grieving, Killer?”
Her response is quick and as irritated as I expected.
“You, you fucking dick.”
“I’m not dead, baby. Save your tears for another day.”
“I hate you.” She says with the most adorable bite.
“Yeah? Do you always grieve for people you hate? Shouldn’t you be celebrating because you might finally get your wish?”
The gasp that comes from her lungs is loud and harsh.
“Is that what you think? I don’t wish that at all. I’m terrified. No matter what you think—I don’t want you to die—I don’t want to lose you. And if I do, I’ll lose them too.”
“My brothers?” I ask because it’s preposterous. There’s nothing she could do that would make them walk away from her. Nothing.
She nods in agreement.
