I blink. “Do you know what they look like?”
“They didn’t hide from the cameras in the hotel. I’ll know more in a few hours. They talked about family loyalty.” His mouth tilts into a subtle smirk. “Now they’ll learn how far mine goes.”
Bronx squeezes my fingers, lifts my hand, and presses a kiss to my knuckles.
“Security at the condo has already doubled,” he says. “Connor’s floor and the penthouse. You don’t needto worry about a thing, princess.”
I’ve spent my whole life protecting Connor, and I’m not about to stop now.
Despite everything between us, Bronx is on the same side. That makes us allies…even if I don’t trust him with my heart.
But I trust him with Connor’s life. Right now, that has to be enough.
Let the Tribunal come.
If they want my brother… they’ll have to go through my husband first.
And I’m about to find out exactly what that means.
22
BRONX
The helicopter touches down on the roof of our building, and I don't let go of Tierney's hand until we're inside the penthouse with triple the normal security posted at every entry point.
“The bastards got away,” Manino tells me the second we walk in, his jaw tight with frustration. “They knew the building layout and had an exit strategy planned.”
“Fuck.” The threat is still out there, still hunting them.
“I have to see Connor,” Tierney says, moving toward the front door.
“He's in his apartment,” I tell her. “Safe. But he's been asking for you.”
She rushes out of the penthouse and practically flies down the stairs, not bothering to wait for the elevator. I follow close behind, running hard to keep up. The second Tierney knocks, the door flies open.
“Jesus Christ, Tier,” Connor pullsher into a tight hug, his hands shaking. “When security told me what happened...fuck, I thought they'd gotten to you.”
“I'm fine,” she says, but Connor doesn't let go.
“No, you're not fine. None of this is fine.” He pulls back, his face void of all color, his eyes wide open with terror. “They're here because of me. Because of what they think I did.”
Connor runs his hands through his hair, pacing like a caged animal.
“That murder in Dublin. The one they framed me for. I thought... I thought if I left, if I got far enough away from it...”
“You didn't kill anyone,” Tierney says firmly, her hands on his arms. “We know that.”
“Yeah, we do. But they don't. Or they don't care.” Connor's voice cracks. “They want someone to pay, and I'm the easiest target. And now you're caught in the middle because you married him to protect me.”
“I should never have let you do it,” he continues. “I should never have let Da arrange this marriage. Now you're in danger because of my problems.”
“Connor, stop?—”
“No, Tier. You sacrificed everything for me. Your life in Dublin, your relationship with Damien, your freedom. And for what? So I could drag you into this mess?”
He looks at me then, eyes blazing. “I'm grateful for the protection, Bronx. More grateful than you'll ever know. But if something happens to her because of me...”
“Nothing's going to happen to her,” I say.
