I flinch. “That’s not fair. I didn’t ask him too.”
“Isn’t it fair? You wanted me dead at one point.”
“But not anymore,” I snap. “How can I make you see it? I let you touch me. If I hated you so much, I never would have let you put your mouth on me. You have to see that.”
Marco drops his gaze, glaring at the floor. What is on his mind? I would give anything to know.
“My brother will be here in an hour. Don’t kill him. Please.”
“If he tries to kill me, I will defend myself.”
“I know. But let me talk to Cormac first. I’ll make him see reason. Stay out of this.”
“I’ll try,” Marco spits out. “But I can’t make any promises.”
“You made a promise to me when you married me. We have to learn to trust each other.”
“Trust is a hard thing to earn and it’s an easy thing to lose. I’ve learned that the hard way.” He motions at me. “I’ll let you talk to your brother first. But if he tries to kill me again, I can’t say I won’t kill him.”
Dread forms in my stomach and there’s no getting rid of it.
Chapter Twelve
Ciara
Iwait outside for my brother to arrive. When his car pulls into the long driveway, my heart begins to pound so fast, I can barely breathe.
Cormac rushes out of the car towards me. “Ciara. Let’s go.”
“No. Marco is just going to come for me again. And I don’t want you and him trying to kill each other. I don’t want to lose you, Cormac. So just go. I never asked you to come here. I never asked you to protect me. Just go.”
“You’re telling me that you want to stay here with that asshole? Where is he anyway?”
I can see the glint of Cormac’s gun inside his jacket pocket. “How did you get a gun here?”
“I have my ways. Contacts. I bought a gun right after I landed.”
“So you can shoot Marco. Is that it?”
“If he’s dead, then he can’t hurt you anymore. Is he inside?” He tries stepping past me but I get in the way.
“Marco isn’t here right now. He doesn’t want to fight with you. So just go. I am telling you, Cormac, that I am fine. I may not be in love with my husband but he doesn’t abuse me. It could be worse.” My mind flashes back to Marco’s mouth on me and I can’t stop the blush that crosses my face.
“Why is your face red? What aren’t you telling me, Ciara? You only blush when you keep things from me.”
“It’s none of your concern. Just go. I don’t want you getting killed and if you go after Marco, he will kill you. So please, Cormac. Just go.” I gently shove him back. “I’m fine here.”
“I refuse to believe that. How can you be happy with a man like him?”
“A man like him? Marco has never hit me. He’s not evil.” The image of him killing Waiter Marco invades my mind. “He’s not a good man. But…” I sigh. “Just go. Please.”
“No.” Cormac rushes past me towards the house.
“Cormac!”
He kicks the front door down and runs inside. It takes all of my energy to follow behind. I hear the sound of a grunt before I run around the corner and see Cormac and Marco in the living room together. Marco is on the ground, a red welt on his face.
“I will not let you hurt my sister.” Cormac pulls his gun from his pocket and aims it at Marco’s head.
