Chapter 29

The following day,we're in the shower together, having just made love, while I lather up her hair, her back pressed to my front as she sighs.

"I wanna take you out tonight," I tell her, and her eyes pop open.

"Like a date?"

"I guess, yeah." I scratch my forehead. "Never been on one, actually, but I think that's what you call them." My mouth jerks.

Her laugh is like the sunshine, an eternal heaven of peace and all the things I'd never dream to experience.

"You've really never been on a date?"She pivots around and wraps her arms around my torso.

"Aye. Never. I worked for your father and didn't have the time or interest. Before that, it was more of the same. My mother's words, they kind of always stayed with me, ya know? Never thought I was good enough for anyone."

"I'm so sorry. But…" Her voice trails and her cheeks turn a slight shade of pink.

"Ask." I cup her chin in my palm and raise her eyes to mine. "I'll tell you anything you want to know."

"But you're not a virgin like me…"

Ah, I see what she's asking.

"No." I brush her lips with my thumb. "Believe me, right now I wish you were the only woman I've fecked, because you're the only one that matters."

"Oh." Her face falls.

"Hey, don't do that." I tug her chin toward me and brush my nose with hers. "I love you. I've never loved anyone in my life."

A smile returns to her face.

With my eyes closed, I lay a kiss on her forehead, keeping my mouth there, breathing her in and wondering if it could really be this perfect.

My heart grows heavy, memories of my brother and what happened to him cutting through my thoughts.

But I won't allow history to repeat itself. I will protect her like I couldn't protect him, even if I pay the ultimate price to do it.

ERIU

We arrive at a steakhouse on the Upper West Side, a sparkling chandelier hanging brightly above. A beautiful place for a first official date.

He said he wanted me to stay with him for a while, so earlier, he brought me to my dorm so I could gather some clothes and toiletries. I grabbed my things as quickly as possible, taking some extra clothes to sleep in, not knowing how long I will be there.

I hope it continues. I've loved waking up beside him, seeing those blue eyes play with a smirk when he sees me first thing in the morning.

He even gave me space in his closet for my things, like it's already our place.

His hand is tight around mine as we're led by the ma?tre d' to a private corner table. As we pass, a man gawks at me, looking down my body, cloaked in a tight ruby-red knee-length dress. Devlin just about rips his head off, casting him a terrifying glare, and the man's eyes shoot up before he turns back to the woman he's with.

What a pig!

"A waiter will arrive shortly to take your orders," the ma?tre d' announces, his thick black mustache jerking.

"Thank you," I say as Devlin pulls out a chair and waits for me to sit before he takes his spot across from me.

"This is nice." My eyes glance around the lavish restaurant.

I never in a million years would've thought we'd be here, together. I've dreamed of it for so long, it's hard to believe it's reality.

"I'm glad you approve." Above the candlelight, his eyes shine brightly and I wonder if people like us truly can have it all.

Once the waiter arrives and takes our orders, I excuse myself to the restroom. But, of course, he follows me.

"You know, this isn't necessary." I hook my arm through his. "I'll be fine."

"Not leaving you alone for a moment. I'd follow you inside if I could."

I roll my eyes. "Come on now. That's ridiculous, don't you think?"

He grabs my nape and presses his forehead to mine. "You don't understand how much you mean to me. If anything happens to you…"

"Nothing will."

He exhales. "Go before I change my mind and take our food to go. This was already a risk."

He finally lets me go, and with a shake of my head, I strut in through the double doors, the floor gleaming beneath my feet as I find an empty stall and head inside.

But before I can even shut the door, someone pushes it open.

A man in a ski mask.

Fear claws at my throat, my chest heavy.

His hand clasps around my mouth to keep me from screaming.

"Shh." He places a finger across his mouth. "Don't scream, or I'll kill you before he knows I'm even here."

My pulse rips through my neck, terror like I've never known simmering in my gut.

I nod frantically, tears rolling down my cheeks.

"I need you to send Devlin a message. Or should I call him Scott?"

I recoil, needing this man to go.

Please go.

"Tell him we know where he's been hiding and we're coming."

Something burns through my arm, and I realize I've been slashed. I whimper, my whole body quivering.

"Don't worry, it's just a cut. It won't kill you, but it sure as hell will kill him."

He digs the knife in deeper, and I wince, unable to stop my quiet sobs.

"Now, you'll wait five minutes for me to leave before you go and get him. Nod if you understand."

I nod, nausea churning, my head spinning.

"Good."

He backs up, and my shaky fingers feel for the cut, right below my shoulder. Crimson crawls down my hand, my blood everywhere.

Walking out, he leaves me there, unable to move or breathe, or do anything.

I don't know how long I remain there, staying in the same spot as though frozen. But after some time, the main door to the restroom makes a creaking sound, or so I think, and voices of women flow through.

"Excuse me?" one calls, snapping me from my trance, a soft knock on the door to my stall. "Are you okay? You're…uh…bleeding?"

She knocks again, and the door falls open. One look at me, and she screams for help.

"Oh my God! She's bleeding. Someone call an ambulance."

"Eriu?"

Footsteps. Heavy footsteps. Then he's there in front of me, rage and terror filling every line on his face.

"Feck! Who did this to you?" He ties something around my arm and scoops me against his chest as the women holler at him.

"Hey! Where are you taking her?"

"To safety."

Moments later, I feel the cool breeze against my skin.

"My God, I'm sorry." Emotions swim in his tone.

But I still don't look at him. All I see is that man in the mask.

He cups my face. "Baby, please, tell me if you saw who did it."

"I—" The words are caught in my throat.

"It's okay. You're safe now. I won't ever let you go again."

He makes a call on his phone, but I'm barely paying attention.

"Tell him…" I whisper. "Tell him we know where he's been hiding and we're coming."

"What?"

"That's…that's what he said. He called you Scott."

"Feckin' hell!" A rumbling threat swims out of him. "I'm so damn sorry. It's all my fault."

My head falls against his shoulder.

I should've known this was all too good to be true.

DEVLIN

"It was the Palmers," I tell the Quinns and Messinas.

All of us are gathered in the waiting room of the hospital owned by the Messinas.

"And they're who again?" Gio scratches his temple.

"The gang I was with before I joined the Quinns. I left, so they want payback."

"They're the ones that killed your brother?" Michael asks, the scar on his cheek jerking.

I don't know how he got the damn thing and I have no desire to ask, but it's a part of him, like he was born with it. Like it belongs there, brutal as much as he is.

I nod. "Killed him in front of me. Had me bury him on their property."

"So you want our help finding them?" Gio asks this time.

"Aye. I think if we unite forces, we stand a better chance of getting rid of them."

"They came after my daughter." Patrick grinds his teeth, his nostrils widening. "They will not survive the week. I swear on my life."

The Quinn boys all look just as pissed, but it's Iseult whose rage is written all over her face.

"How the hell did he get to her in the women's bathroom?!" She rakes me with coals.

"The window," I tell her. "I sent Rogue back there and had him check it out. He told me the assailant climbed through the window in the stall next to hers."

"And none of the cameras caught his face?" Tynan asks.

"No. He wore his mask the entire time he drove off, then we lost him."

"We need to get Mason. Now." Iseult curls and uncurls her fingers.

Gio grabs her hand and brings it to his mouth. She glances at him, her brows knitted, emotions swimming in her eyes. She was really worried about Eriu when I called in to Gio, asking to use their hospital.

I know the girls are close, and I'm glad Eriu has someone who looks out for her with such force the way Iseult does. It's important to have a family that gives a feck. It's one thing I had with my brother.

"I agree. We need to move on Mason." Tynan cracks his neck. "He will talk. And he will tell us everything."

"I won't leave Eriu," I tell them.

"I'll do it." Iseult volunteers. "He doesn't know me, and I'm sure a man like that doesn't think a woman can hurt him."

Her lips curve, and I pity any man who gets in her way.

"We'll all go together." Tynan removes his phone and starts to dial, speaking to someone. "Gather the men. We leave in an hour. Will send you details." He returns the phone to his pocket and says to me, "We'll keep him alive for you."

"I'll get there as soon as I can. I just hate leaving her alone."

"She won't be alone, son," Patrick adds. "I'll be here, and so will my army. No one will touch her. I'll be outside that room twenty-four seven."

Maybe I should go with them. I want to hear what that rat Mason has to say firsthand, but I need to see her before I go.

The doctor is still working on her, and I don't know how long that'll take, but I won't leave without seeing her first. She lost so much blood. I can't get it out of my head.

Over twenty minutes pass, and finally, one of the doctors steps out from behind the doors, removing his blue scrub cap.

"How is she, Doc?" I rush forward, my pulse blasting in my ears.

"She's fine. No serious damage." His attention flicks to everyone. "We gave her some blood, stitched her up, and she's resting now in room seven. But she was asking for you," he tells me. "So if you wanna go?—"

I don't even wait for a response, running through those doors and down a hallway until I find room seven.

Through the glass window in the center of the door, our eyes connect. And with a trembling bottom lip, she starts to cry. Immediately, I rush inside and reach for her, my arms tighten around her while that soft crying rips at my heart.

I scoop her up and place her on my lap. "Don't ever scare me like that again, mo stoirín."

Her sobs grow heavier. "It all just hit me." She sniffles. "It could've been so much worse."

"I know, love. I know." My own emotions pound through me. "The thought of losing you, the one person in this world I love more than anything… I did this to you, and I need to end it."

She slants back. "End it how? Are you leaving?"

Her whispered worry makes my chest tight.

"I have to find out how Mason knows the people from my past, the ones who came after you. I'm going with your sister and brothers to get answers. But I swear…" I grasp her jaw and kiss her slow. "I swear I'm coming back to you and making you my wife."

Tears gather in her eyes. "Please don't let anything happen to you. I won't survive it."

"I promise to do everything I can to come home to you, lass. You've given me purpose. Made me believe that I'm a man worthy of something. Worthy of a love from a woman like you."

She lifts her good arm and clasps a palm around my cheek. "You have always been worthy of love, Devlin. I'm sorry your parents made you believe otherwise."

She lays her head against my chest, my fingers stroking her back as we stay there, minutes bleeding into one another, until it's time for me to go.

Before I do, I vow to come back to her one last time. I just hope it's a promise I'm able to keep.