Chapter 23

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Sean

M y lungs are burning, each breath a raspy, painful struggle as I stagger down the beach toward Piper. Sand sticks to my sweat-drenched face, the coarse grains mixing with the salt of my sweat.

Each step is agony. My back screams with the damage from bullets hitting my vest, but none of that matters.

Piper is all that matters.

Gravely's shots knocked the wind out of me, and for that haunting moment, while I laid face-down in the sand, half-conscious, I thought the worst.

I thought he'd close in and finish me.

Thankfully, Brendan was quick to race back and Gravely ran like the piece of shit opportunist he is.

My brother and my vest saved my life.

In turn, I got here in time to save Piper's life.

She's kneeling on the beach, a small, trembling figure against the sprawling backdrop of chaos and fire. My heart pounds harder with each step I take towards her. "Piper!" I call out, my voice rough.

As I drop to my knees beside her, the relief at seeing the rise and fall of her chest is overwhelming. She's bleeding, but she's alive.

I let my gun fall to the sand, and ease the Beretta out of her hand. It's empty. She unloaded the magazine at Gravely and sent him running into the darkness.

I know I hit him. Hopefully, Piper added even more lead to his diet.

"It's over, kitten. I've got you."

She stares up at me and I see the fog of shock and loss clear. Her cool blue eyes widen and a sob breaks in her chest. "I thought you were dead."

She launches herself at me and between my knife wound and the bullets I just took in my back, the impact of catching her is beyond painful.

And nothing has ever felt better.

I stroke her hair, soothing her even as my body protests every movement. "I'm alive, and I've got you, P."

"But how? I heard the gunshots. I saw you go down."

I press her hand against the tactical vest I'm wearing. "I came prepared. Now, we need to leave."

Her eyes, wide and filled with tears, follow my gaze to where Brendan is standing over her father. The old man is lying motionless in the sand, but Brenny will ensure that he stays that way.

And watching us plug him in the head isn't something I want seared into her memory. "I'm sorry if him being dead hurts you, beautiful, but I couldn't let him beat you. I killed your father."

She meets my gaze as I help her to her feet. "You killed him?"

I swallow, studying her reaction as I dip my chin. "Aye, it was me."

If me killing her father repulses her, I don't see it. Maybe it'll take time to sink in. Maybe she'll resent me for it, despite me trying to keep her safe.

He was her father, after all.

"He stopped being my father a week ago. I'm glad he's dead." The coldness in her words chills me, but I understand and I'm proud of her.

She saw what her father was capable of, the lengths he would go to in order to get his own way.

If his death meant her freedom, then so be it.

Urging Piper toward the darkness of the shoreline, I keep one arm firmly around her waist and signal Brendan to make sure Mattie McGuire never gets up. The silencer on his AR-15 absorbs the sound of the shot and the three of us leave the chaos and death of the night behind us.

As Bryan drives through the gates to our family compound, the long, winding driveway stretches past the light of the headlights. I know every tree standing sentinel along our path, every dip in the expansive lawn, every flowering bush in every flower bed.

Mam took such pride in making this our home and when I look at the manicured boxwoods and the fieldstone walkways, I think of her.

The love she held for each of us.

The fierce protective instinct she and Da both surrounded us with. We were their children—the living legacy of their love.

I want that with Piper.

I want our children to grow up playing with Tag's kids and for the twins and Finn to be bad examples and teach them all the crazy and dangerous things we did as kids.

I want it all.

I understand why Tag brought Laine here instead of to his loft in the city. He wants those things, too.

Piper is beside me, her body tense, her eyes haunted by too many ghosts. I want to say something to ease her, but words fail me. What do you say to a girl who's been thrown away by her family?

Even if I knew what to say, with Brendan and Bryan in the front seat, now is not the time.

Tag and Laine are waiting for us on the driveway. The relief on Laine's face when she sees us unload is palpable. It eases a tightness in my chest. She always seems genuine with me and my brothers, but there's no mistaking her concern.

I'm grateful she cares as much as she does.

Tag deserves a good woman.

"Everyone intact?" Tag asks.

"Drake has a broken hand and Frenchie caught shrapnel in his leg, but that's about it. Kelvin was waiting at the clubhouse to take care of any injuries."

Tag studies us one by one and then nods. "All right. We'll recap the night in the war room and then you boys can get cleaned up."

"I need to see to Piper first." My tone is harsher than I intend, but it's been one hell of a night. "She's been through hell. The debriefing can wait."

Tag frowns. "Not your call."

Laine steps forward, her expression softening. "I'll take Piper up to your room and run her a bath. I swear I won't leave her side. And if she needs you for any reason, I'll call you right away."

Everything in me is screaming not to let her out of my sight. It's crazy, but after the past week, I've learned to expect the worst when it comes to her.

Piper touches my arm lightly, her gaze meeting mine. "Go with Tag and your brothers, Sean. It's important. He needs all the details to prepare for retaliation."

Her voice is steady, stronger than I expect from someone who's just been pulled from the brink. When I study her gaze, it's there too. Undeniable strength.

Tag's expression tightens. "How bad is it going to be?"

I take a deep breath, the weight of my next words settling like lead in my stomach. "Mattie McGuire is dead. Things went sideways, and I caught up to them while he was beating Piper. Gravely was there to put her down. I opened fire on both of them."

Tag's gaze widens. "Mattie's dead?"

"Definitely," Brendan says.

"What about Gravely?"

I sigh. "I winged him for sure and Piper unloaded his Beretta at him as he ran away, so if we're lucky, he's following Mattie straight down to hell."

"When have we ever been lucky?" Tag absorbs the news and then turns to Piper. "It wasn't our plan to kill your father, and I'm sorry you lost him, but please know we will do anything to protect our family. Sean tells us you're his family now, so that makes you ours as well. I'm sorry if that puts you in a tight spot."

She shakes her head, a bitter smile touching her lips. "It doesn't. After the past week, I'm severing all ties with the McGuires. I will miss Brody and Rory, though. Rory isn't deep in the business, and I'm hoping after seeing what happened, he'll walk away, too."

Tag nods, understanding and respect mingling in his gaze. "If any of your brothers walk away, I'll hold no grudges. They'll be safe from us. I give you my word."

"I appreciate that, Tag. Thank you."

I appreciate that too. "Thanks, brother."

Tag's word is good, and it eases a sliver of the worry gnawing at me about my family and Pipers being in a bitter war until the end.

If she thinks we can save Rory, we will certainly try.

With that settled, the six of us move into the house. I walk with my arm around Piper's hips and when we arrive at the bottom of the stairs, I kiss her temple. "I'm downstairs if you need me."

"I'll be fine. Take your time."

Piper

Warm water envelops me, soothing some of my aches and washing away the grime of the night's harrowing events. Sean's tub is a vast soaker that could fit three people comfortably. It feels like a sanctuary after the chaos of the day.

I close my eyes, letting the heat seep into my bones, losing myself in the tranquility of the moment.

I'm safe.

Sean and his men came to get me.

My father is dead.

My mother has another funeral to plan, but this time, I won't be attending.

The sound of the door opening and closing softly pulls me back to reality. I open my eyes as Sean enters the bathroom, a tea tray in his hands.

I chuckle. "Don't let your leather-clad biker gang catch you being a tea granny. It'll ruin your street cred."

He sets the tray on the tile shelf behind the tub. "I think my street cred can handle it. How are you feeling?"

"A little numb. The adrenaline has worn off, leaving a hollow emptiness in its wake."

"I know how that feels." He tests the water, dragging a finger through the layer of bubbles. "Reality will set back in at its own pace. Don't rush it."

Despite the humidity in the room, my skin tingles with goosebumps as his finger brushes over the rounds of my breasts. "And I'm not just a tea granny. I brought some of Cora's chocolate cake. I know you like it, and the sugar will help with shock and stress."

"You're a very thoughtful man."

"I enjoy making you happy."

"Do you know what would make me happiest right now?"

"What's that?"

"For you to get naked and join me in this big, beautiful tub. I might even share my cake with you."

He arches an ebony brow. "Are you sure? You've been through an ordeal. We don't have to get naked. You're mine now. We can take things as slowly as you need."

"What I need is you—all of you—and the cake."

"Naturally." He pops the first button of his vest free from its mooring and then the second. At first, I think his unhurried movements are him being seductive, but when he winces, taking off his shirt, I realize it's more.

"You're hurting."

"I'll be bruised for a few weeks from Gravely's shots to my back." He drops his shirt, toes off his boots, then undoes his belt. "Cowardly fucker. There's no honor in shooting a guy in the back."

"There's no honor in Billy Gravely."

Sean moves slowly, but it's worth the wait. When his boxers hit the floor, he lifts his leg over the side of the tub and joins me in the water.

The addition of his body sends a rising wave across the tub, the heat of the water climbing up my skin.

"Fuck, this feels amazing." His eyes roll back in his head and his entire body seems to sag.

"Except you're too far away." I shift forward, straddling his muscular thighs, meeting him chest to chest. Oh, and what a chest he has. "That's better."

"Aye, much better." His hands slide up my back as he leans forward to kiss me. He pauses just before our mouths touch and then tilts his head to kiss my split lip. "I saw your father hit you and I lost my mind. I'm sorry I wasn't there to stop him before he hurt you."

I roll my eyes. "You'd just been shot twice in the back, so I'll forgive you. Besides, you made sure he didn't hit me a second time."

He dips his chin. "Are you sure you aren't angry about that? I would understand if you were."

I reach between us and wrap my fingers around his stiff cock. "I swear on the perfect cock of Sean Quinn, that I have no resentment or anger about him saving me from the nightmare of a man who was my father."

"Is my cock a bible or a talking stick in this scenario?"

"Does it matter?"

"Not in the slightest. In fact, if you have anything else you want to get off your chest, have at it."

I raise up on my knees, shift forward, and sink down, taking him into my body. My chest swells as I draw a steadying breath. "And all is right in the world once more."

Sean reaches to the side and lifts the plate with a generous slice of chocolate cake sitting on it. "And we have cake, too." There's a warmth in his eyes that makes my heart flutter.

Sean feeds me a bite of the cake, the rich sweetness of chocolate melting on my tongue. It's absurd, almost surreal, to find such a moment of peace and normalcy after everything.

"Did you really tell Tag I was your family?"

"When I heard you'd been taken, I lost my mind. Tag said I got too attached to you and I set him straight. I told him I fell in love with you and that giving you up to live a life free from me and the battles of our families was the stupidest thing I've ever done."

I chew my next bite of cake and swallow. "You weren't wrong to try, though. If things had gone differently today, I could've ended up at my friend's place and I could've had a life outside of our families."

Sean pauses with my next bite of cake hovering at my mouth. "Is that what you want?"

I take the delicious offering and flex my hips, feeling him inside me. "It was never what I wanted—only what I thought was realistic. And don't kid yourself. I was already plotting ways to get you to visit me, so I could seduce you."

He chuckles. "Seduce me? I thought I seduced you."

I swallow and let the chocolaty bliss work its magic on my taste buds. "It was me who suggested we have sex to make a woman out of me and take me off the bargaining table. It was me who took advantage of you when you were too weak to get out of bed after being stabbed."

"Aye, that's true. You were very dedicated to nursing me back to health."

I grin. "Orgasms release dopamine and make you feel better. That's a fact."

Sean chuckles, his hands gentle but firm on my hips. "Then let's see if we can make each other feel better, shall we?"

I answer him with a kiss, and by winding my arms behind his neck. His lips are soft against mine, and he tastes of chocolate decadence. The kiss deepens, and I groan into his mouth.

If this is what life with Sean could be, sign me up.

My world has narrowed down to the here and now—to him and me—the warmth of the water splashing in the tub as I ride him, the taste of chocolate on our tongues as we kiss, the solidity of Sean's protective determination.

Everything else—the danger, the fear, the uncertainty—melts away under the heat of his touch, the sweetness of his kiss.

In this moment, nothing else matters but the feel of him, the strength of his arms, and the fact that when everything I thought about my life blew up in my face, he was the one to help me gather up the pieces.

Here, in Sean's arms, I find not just solace but a fierce, protective love that promises to hold back the night, to keep the shadows at bay.

As we lose ourselves in each other, in the simple joy of being together, I realize that this is what I've been searching for my entire life: a chance at happiness, at peace, at a love that allows me to be seen and valued.

That's all I've ever needed.