Chapter 43

CHAPTER 43

FIONN

“I don’t want you picking up anything heavy,” I tell Amara, grabbing the grocery bags from her.

Tynan told me that Elara talked to her yesterday, running into her by chance, and I hoped that it would’ve made a difference. But she’s still pissed at me, barely saying a word after she came back from her walk.

Not much has changed today, either.

“I’m fine. The doctor said I’m perfectly okay carrying things.” Her lips grow with a faint smile, jump-starting my heart.

Glancing down at her stomach, I can’t wait to watch it grow with our baby. We’ve just returned from her latest doctor’s appointment and everything’s going well, though it’s still too soon to find out if it’s a boy or girl. It doesn’t matter to me either way, but I’m not a patient man, and unlike my wife, I hate surprises.

“We should talk names.” I drop the bags on the floor, tugging her body to mine.

Fuck this wedge between us. I won’t let it get in my way from touching her.

“We probably should.” Her voice is small, and I fucking hate it.

I let out a harsh sigh. “Please, baby, tell me how to fix this.”

She shrugs. “Just give me time, okay? That’s all I’m asking.”

Clasping the back of her head, I bring her to my chest, inhaling the faint scent of her floral shampoo. “You can have anything you want, but just so you know, this changes nothing. You are mine, Amara Quinn. And there’s no escaping it.”

Her breath hitches, like the thought scares her.

I tug her tighter. If she wants to divorce me, she’ll have to kill me first.

Hours later, my brothers and I are in Tynan’s study entertaining the Marinovs, who’ve come for a meeting to discuss the situation with their uncle. He has apparently begun to advance his plans to get rid of Konstantin.

“In exchange for your thoughtful decision to support us, I want to gift you all a little something.” A smirk cracks at the edge of his mouth before he turns to Aleksei.

The younger brother gets up, exiting the room momentarily before he and another man bring in three large duffels. They throw them on the floor, and he unzips them.

Weapons and ammunition.

“That’s very generous.” Tynan gets to his feet.

“Consider it a thank-you. I’m always most generous when people extend a helping hand.”

“Hopefully your uncle has a change of heart once he realizes we’re backing you.”

“Oh, not likely, my friend. My uncle is motivated and stubborn. Those are not the best qualities to have together.”

“His loss, then.” Tynan rubs at his chin.

“It very much will be,” he taunts with a grin, snaking his attention to Cillian.

Talk about stubborn…

“By the way, I did want to tell you something, Cillian.”

That has him looking up sharply.

“I have found Dinara a husband.”

“ What? ” he growls thickly, dropping both elbows on his knees, face turning tight and enraged.

“I know. It’s wonderful news, isn’t it?” Konstantin’s mouth curls. “I did tell you I would move on from you, yes? Of course, I had to mourn the idea of joining both our wonderful families together.” He sighs dramatically. “But I didn’t want to push you anymore. You know? Call me a softie.” He chuckles. “But yes, she will be married, and I do think she’ll be much happier too.”

Cillian’s nostrils flare.

“He’s the son of one of my other associates. The marriage will, of course, benefit me.” He laughs humorlessly. “But he will be a very good husband to our girl, I assure you.”

His features turn dark, but Cillian’s turn even darker. He hates this. He’s fucking crazy about her.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to use the little boys’ room.” His cold sneer grows. “I do hope to see you at the wedding.”

Getting up, he heads out the door, while all three Marinovs stare hard at Cillian like they’re ready to kill him. He glares back with equal disdain.

Probably not a good idea to have them all pissed at each other with these weapons lying around.

AMARA

“Come here, Max!” I whisper as he chases a ball down the long corridor. “Max, come!”

But he completely ignores me, continuing to sprint toward the ball while I grow nervous following him.

Fionn’s study is the last door on the right, and I know he’s having a meeting, which I don’t want to disturb.

“Max!”

Just as I rush after him around the corner, I bump into an incredibly tall man, his body hard as stone.

“I’m so sorry!” I have to force my head back just to look at him.

“That’s okay, daragaya.” The man with a thick Russian accent hits me with a half-grin, but it’s the dangerous and wicked kind.

One that turns my veins to stone.

Is he who Fionn is having the meeting with?

Max sits beside him, wagging his tail while peering up at him, as though waiting for his command or maybe an ear rub.

“What a good dog. Beautiful, too.” He scratches the top of his head. “It’s very important to surround yourself with loyal people and animals.” His mouth tips higher. “And I can see this dog is very loyal, aren’t you…” He looks to me for a name.

“Max. His name is Max.”

“Ah, Max. I have a cousin named Maxim. Very loyal too.” His grin spreads. “Tell me, who are you? We have never had the pleasure of meeting.”

Without an invitation, he picks up my hand and kisses it.

“I—I’m Amara, Fionn’s…wife.” I don’t know why that was hard to say.

“Ah…so, you’re the one he was looking for?”

“You know about that?” Shock tramples through my words.

“Oh, maya milaya, I know everything about everyone. It’s part of my charm.” His grin widens while an icy chill remains on my skin, like my head knows he’s one to fear. “That man was scouring the entire state of Massachusetts looking for you, so I heard…”

His intense stare causes me to shiver.

“Are you not thrilled about your marriage? Is he not up to your standards?” He continues to stroke Max, and for a second, I wonder if this man is some kind of witch, controlling my dog the way he is.

His eyes hold mine, and my gut rolls with absolute terror. He’s dangerous. I can feel it.

“No, he’s great.” For a moment, I shift my stare to the floor, needing to avoid his intensity.

“Oh…” He shakes his head disapprovingly. “Lying is not one of your strong suits, I’m afraid. So I ask again, why do you not want to be married to him? He’s not a bad man, and believe me, I know bad men.”

“He does bad things, though…” I suck in a breath immediately.

How could I have said that out loud? And to him!

“Ah, I see. You’re not from our world.” He takes a step closer, and Max follows him. “You must understand men like us, Mrs. Quinn. We do what we must for those we love. For those who matter to us most. And you, I’m sure, matter a great deal to him.” His eyes turn deeper, even though they’re already dark. “He will do everything in his power to make sure you are safe. It’s how it’s done in our world. And who can fault us for that? Can you?”

He pauses for a moment, as though waiting for me to reply. Instead, he continues.

“If you had the power, wouldn’t you protect the people you love at all costs? Would you kill for those you love or would you let them be killed because of your own morality?”

I consider what he says, and part of me can see his point. People like Fionn don’t see things like the rest of us do, where if someone does something bad, they get arrested.

In his world, they die.

And maybe Fionn was right. Maybe the professor would’ve done something worse to me if I had said nothing. What if he already did that to some other girl? What if Fionn stopped him?

“I’m sure you are scared,” he goes on. “And you don’t yet understand how people like us do what we do, but I promise you, maya daragaya, the rest of the world is just as bad. While we may kill with our bare hands, they kill in other ways. It’s just much easier to stomach that for people like you.”

The corner of his mouth twists, and even though he’s frightening, I find some comfort in his words because he’s not wrong. Us humans, we hurt each other in many different ways.

“I’m certain he loves you very much, and love is a powerful emotion.” He scoffs. “One that corrupts while it empowers. It’s why I don’t want it.” He quirks a brow. “But he does, and you’re lucky for that.” His dark gaze bores deeper. “Because with him, you’ll always have someone who will make sure you’re protected at all costs. Not many people have that.”

Before I can reply, he gets set to go.

“I hope you have a wonderful day, Mrs. Quinn.” He glances back. “I do hope to get to know you better.”

He starts down the corridor, and I find myself staring after him, wondering if I just had a conversation with the devil.

FIONN

As we get ready for bed, I watch her in front of the vanity, putting her hair up in a messy bun, my white t-shirt rising up to her upper thighs.

She catches my gaze in the mirror, my cock practically jutting out from my boxers. It’s been over a day since I’ve fucked her.

Over twenty-four hours of her being mad.

I could’ve just taken her, but I wouldn’t do that. I want her to want it. To want me.

She lowers her arms and flips around to face me, her nipples beaded beneath the thin fabric. Grinding my jaw, I force myself to look at her instead of that sinful body I constantly crave.

Every time I think back on those years we were apart, how riddled with obsession and anger I was, I’m grateful to have her. Even while she’s pissed.

“Can we talk?” she asks, tugging on the hem of the shirt, her glance bouncing between me and the floor.

Relief hits me. Talking is good. I can do that.

“Sure.” Stepping close, I curl my palms around her hips. “What do you wanna talk about, little rabbit?”

Her eyes fall to a close before she’s gazing up at me, and what I find within them gives me some damn hope that she can forgive me.

“I had some time to think…”

“Hopefully good things.” I smirk, but she doesn’t return it. “This is killing me, Amara.” I grab her jaw. “I love you, baby. I love you so fucking much.” I lower my hand to her growing belly. “I love our baby too. I love our family. I don’t like feeling like we’re breaking.”

Her brows bow, emotions treading in her features. She places a palm across my cheek, staring deeply into my eyes, and I feel it everywhere.

“I love you too, Fionn Quinn.”

I suck in a breath, the weight of her words strong enough to crush me.

“I never thought I’d hear you say that.” My mouth strokes hers while my fingers sink into her hair, tugging gently.

“I’m sorry,” she breathes, and that has me pulling back.

“Sorry for what? You have nothing to be sorry about.”

Her face falls. “I just wanna explain, okay?”

“Of course, baby.” I clasp a palm across her nape and search her gaze, needing her to keep talking.

“You have to understand that this has been hard for me. It may always be hard. But…” She trails, and my pulse spikes. “But I’ve come to realize that I know you’re just trying to protect me in your very unorthodox ways.” She finally smiles, but it’s barely there. “I also know that no matter what, you’re never gonna let me go.”

That’s a fact.

“But today I realized something else.”

“And what’s that, mo ban dia?”

She brings her lips to mine and kisses me. “That I want to stay. That I want to try to understand you and the way you live.” She throws her arms over my shoulders, and I finally feel at ease. “Because I don’t see a life without you.”

Tears fill her eyes, and I feel them heavy in my soul.

“Thank fucking God.” My forehead falls over hers. “There’s never been a life for me without you either, not from the moment we met.”

She lets out a small cry just as my mouth crashes over hers. My unrelenting desire for this woman, the longing…it all comes to the precipice. Lifting her into my arms, I lower her onto the bed, ripping off her shirt before my clothes are gone too.

Every inch of her is mine for the taking.

Every hole mine to fill.

And I do. I take her hard and fast, flipping her onto her stomach after making her come with her knees up over my shoulders. Her hair tangles with my fingers, her moans of pleasure filling the space around us.

And I’m finally at peace. Finally knowing she loves me just as much as I love her.

All those years I waited for her have been worth it.