I step closer. “Cormac, I’ve done everything in my power to prove myself to you, and I won’t stand for this being thrown back in my face every time you get angry. I can’t live in a world where your forgiveness has an expiration date.”
Cormac is silent for a long moment, and I can see him wrestling with his thoughts, until he finally exhales. “I’m sorry. Ishouldn’t have said that. I just… I hate how much he gets under my skin.”
“Then don’t let him.”
His eyes search my face as he reaches out to brush his non-bruised knuckles over my cheek. “You know what this means.”
“Whatwhatmeans?”
“Lorcan is free, and he knows you betrayed him.”
His words land like a punch to my gut. “It was always a risk I was willing to take.”
“I want you to know that I won’t ever let anything happen to you. Your safety is my number one priority.”
“Scoutis your number one priority. So, before you go on some reckless mission to lure Lorcan back out of hiding, remember that your son needs you.”
Cormac hesitates for a second before sinking his fingers into my hair and pulling my mouth to his.
“I’m going to fix this,” he murmurs against my lips.
“I know you will,” I whisper, though inside, I feel like I’m being torn open.
Lorcan is free, and he knows I betrayed him.
Even if Cormac and his brothers manage to finish what they started, there’s no saying whether or not I’ll survive.
I don’t see Cormac for the rest of the day. I catch sight of Ronan disappearing into the office and the lock clicking into place a second later.
My stomach tightens.
Whatever is happening in that room isn’t something I’m meant to hear.
As I move through the house, I make a point of glancing out the front window, looking at the four cars in the driveway.
Cormac’s. Brennan’s. Kieran’s. Ronan’s.
Everyone is here. Everyone is safe. But for how long?
While Cormac and his brothers lock themselves away to try and come up with a plan, I stay close to Scout. I linger in the doorway of the living room while he spreads himself out on the floor with a puzzle.
Riley sits beside him as she holds a sleeping Aubrey in her arms, listening with interest as he talks at her a mile a minute.
Ciara half-dozes on the couch after finally managing to get both twins down for the night.
I keep one eye on them and one eye on the front door, noticing every person who walks through it.
I tell myself I’m just being careful, but the truth is uglier than that.
Lorcan is free, and he knows what I’ve done to him, and that’s not something I can easily forget.
A cold sweat breaks out on the back of my neck, and I clamp a hand over my mouth as I fight the urge to vomit.
I catch someone walking past out of the corner of my eye.
I turn instantly, feeling a jolt of panic, only to find Brennan crossing the foyer.
His phone is pressed to his ear, and his is expression hard and distant. He doesn’t look at me as he disappears into Kieran’s office, the door shutting firmly behind him.
