Page 115 of Deceived Wrath

Bile burns my throat, but I swallow it down.

This is the price I have to pay for asking him for help, and I would gladly pay it a thousand times over if it means Amber gets the best care possible.

I’ve barely hung up the phone when a faint knock sounds at the door.

“Scout, you’re supposed to be in bed?—”

The door opens to reveal Cormac on the other side.

“Oh, sorry. I thought you were Scout.”

He leans against the frame. “Sorry to disappoint. Everything okay? You look tired.”

I push my hair out of my face. “Oh, I’m fine. Just…dealing with some family stuff.”

“Is your niece okay?”

I glance over at him to find genuine concern in Cormac’s eyes.

This is exactly the kind of thing he does that makes it hard to hate him.

“She’s having a pacemaker put in on Monday.” Saying the words out loud hits me like a ton of bricks, and I clamp a hand over my mouth to try to muffle the strangled sound that escapes me.

Cormac stays silent, but it doesn’t feel awkward. If anything, just having him here is comforting.

“Sorry, it’s just…a lot. But the doctor says she will be out of the hospital by the end of the week.”

“Do you need to leave to be with her? I understand if you do. Family comes first, especially during job interviews,” he adds, a hint of amusement in his eyes.

“You’re never going to let me forget that, are you?”

“You should be proud that you put your family first. Not many people do.”

“You do,” I say quickly.

Cormac tucks his hands into his pockets as his gaze falls to the floor. “You should be with your niece.”

“I’d love to, but…it’s not that simple.”

Cormac’s eyes flick to mine, but before he can pry any further, I quickly change the subject.

“What are you up to for the rest of the night?”

A flash of guilt crosses Cormac’s eyes as he looks at me, and I’m about to ask what’s wrong when he suddenly closes the door behind him and crosses over to the bed.

“You tell me.” He groans before he takes my face in his hands and brings his lips to mine.

Every muscle in my body relaxes the moment he kisses me.

All the thoughts and worries that have been circling around in my mind instantly vanish, and I eagerly wrap my arms around his neck.

“I thought we decided to keep things professional,” I gasp against his mouth.

He kisses along my neck. “That was a terrible idea.”

I moan as I arch into him. “Yes, it was.”

“I have a much better one.” Cormac pushes me back onto the bed and climbs over me, pinning my body between his powerful thighs as he continues to explore my jaw and neck with his mouth. “Close your eyes.”