His expression tightens, but he doesn’t back down. “Your wife was collateral for her father’s debt. What happened here was standard practice.”
“Not anymore. If you or any of your family goes near Tierney Viacava again, if you so much as breathe her name, I’ll personally fly to Dublin and burn your entire life to the ground.”
Murphy’s lieutenants shift, but the old man just nods slowly.
“The Blake family is under your direct protection now,” Niall says. “I’ll pass the word back to our associates back home.”
“You do that. And remind them when someone touches my wife, they touch me. And I have a very long memory and unlimited resources.”
Murphy nods and stands up. “Let’s just hope our paths never cross again.”
“They’d better not.”
When they’re gone, Kingston sits back in his chair. “Think he got the message?”
“I don’t give a fuck if he didn’t. If he or his men step one foot out of line, there won’t be any negotiations.” I grab my jacket. “Connor’s still holed up in his apartment?”
“Yeah, with a full securitydetail. The kid’s been climbing the walls, scared shitless the Murphys would find him.”
“Well, he can stop pissing himself now. He’s not a target anymore.” We head for the door, and I pull my keys from my pocket. “Tell him he’s coming to the family dinner tonight. Time to face the music with his sister.”
“She’s coming too?”
“Tierney’s about to have a very interesting conversation with her dickwad brother,” I say before we part ways at our cars.
“See you tonight,” Kingston says as he opens his door.
The drive back to the Four Seasons gives me time to think. The Murphy threat is done. But now comes the harder part - rebuilding trust with my wife.
I use my key card to get back into the hotel room. Tierney’s awake, sitting up in bed with a cup of coffee, staring out the window like she’s trying to figure out her next move.
“Hey, princess.”
She glances at me, and I can see the wheels turning in her head. Always thinking, always calculating. It’s what kept her alive all these years.
“Is it over?” she asks.
“Yeah. The Murphy family got their money and the message that you’re off limits permanently.”
Relief flickers across her face before she can hide it. “And Connor?”
“He’s safe in his apartment, probably wearing a hole in the floor from pacing..” I sit on the edge of the bed. “He’ll be happy to know his head’s no longer on the chopping block.”
“Okay.” But there’s no warmth in her voice when she says it. She just takes a long sip from the mug.
I slide back into bed next to her, and she doesn’t pull away. Small steps, small wins.
Fuck it. I’ll take whatever she gives.
“Talk to me,” I say. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”
“I keep thinking about what comes next. Now that the Murphy threat is gone and Connor’s safe.” She puts her coffee cup on the bedside table. “What if this doesn't work? You and me.”
“Do you want it to work, princess?”
“Yeah, and I want to go home. To the penthouse. ” She pauses. “If that's really my home now.”
“It is, Tierney,” I say. “This is the real thing. We’re husband and wife. What’s mine is yours… and you’re all mine.”
