“Mind if I use your bathroom?” Cillian asks, I’m thinking it’s more to give us a moment than to actually relieve himself.
“The door is to the left of the stairs.” I point in the direction, watching as he heads off before turning back to Katie. “We can do the marriage thing, or we can just keep doing what we’re doing. As long as we’re together, that’s all that matters.”
Katie smiles through her tears, squeezing my hand in response. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” I smirk against her lips. “I’ll also love seeing you in those gym leggings later.” Katie has her first self-defence lesson with Craig this evening, I know she’s nervous about it.
Walsh is still tearing his hair out over the failed hit; it’s only a matter of time before he makes another attempt, and the snivelling little shit has gone into hiding. I can’t seem to track him down yet. I’m not stupid enough to think that I can keep Katie from the crossfire no matter my intentions; she knows how to use a gun; we’ve been practising every day; and I’ve even got a custom rose gold Glock for her. She’ll get that later tonight, after her lesson.
I’ve shown her where to aim with a knife: the kidneys, throat, temple, and easier targets like the left upper thigh and groin. She’s learning how to get out of cable ties and handcuffs and how to pick locks. I’m doing everything I can to prepare her to get out of any dangerous situation she may find herself in. We practised kicking the rear lights out of a locked boot and hot wiring a car—I was surprised she didn’t know that one given where she grew up.
“Craig’s not going to mount me like you do, is he?” she teases.
“No.” I brush a strand of hair behind her ear. “He’s madly in love with his wife, and if he wasn’t, and tried anything. I’d fucking kill him.”
She snakes her arms around my neck, tugging me closer. “Because I’m your girl?”
I nod, smiling. “Because you’re my girl,” I confirm, leaning in to kiss her softly. “And I always protect what’s mine.”
27
KATIE
I feel like I’ve been run over by a freight train. Craig kicked my arse. I was flipped, blocked, and shoved for over an hour, and the jabs I did get in with him didn’t exactly work in my favour; it was like punching a concrete wall. My hands and ego are badly bruised.
Thank God for Aiden running a bubble bath for me afterwards; it stung like hell when I first got into the water, my aching muscles screaming in protest until the warmth started to seep in and soothe the pain away.
I’m not sure if it’s the music or the view of Aiden’s bare, perfectly sculpted body opposite me that is making me feel better. I’m grateful for the distraction either way. Why is he so damn attractive? It should be illegal to look so good with absolutely no cosmetic enhancements.
He’s staring in the mirror, watching the razor glide smoothly over his strong jawline.
“Why are you having a meeting so late?” I ask his peachy rear end as he bends over to rinse off the razor.
“Because,” he makes a face in the mirror while shavinghis upper lip. “Most of the idiots have been passed out all day from stuffing God knows what up their noses or injecting some badly cut heroin between their toes.”
“Do you think Walsh will be there?” A sudden round of palpitations hits me, I detest the thought of him being anywhere near my man.
“I doubt it.” Aiden taps the razor against the sink. “He knows I’ve got a bullet with his name on it, and unlike him,” he turns his focus back to his reflection. “The men who work for me are of sober mind and sound body.”
Running the sponge over my legs, I squeeze, watching the foam glide smoothly over my skin. “I’m coming with you.”
“No, you’re not.” His eyes cut to my reflection in the mirror. “I’m not bringing you anywhere near those animals.”
“I’ve got you,” I assure him, standing up and reaching for the towel.
“And I’m well and good to risk a shanking as long as I know you’re not there to be used against me.” He turns, watching my every move as I wrap the towel around my body. “I appreciate the sentiment, but this is not up for negotiation,” Aiden adds, seeing me about to protest.
I know I’m fighting a losing battle with him. “I don’t like you going out there alone.”
“I won’t be alone.”
“Who’s going?”
“Half of the second battalion.” He says it so casually, like it’s no big deal.
“You have actual soldiers going with you?”
Aiden nods; the sides of his lips twitch, not quite forming a grin. “Where do you think I got the sniper from?”
