Chapter 38

I’m not afraid of a damn thing, so I suggest you stay in your lane as far as we’re concerned because I’m no puppy with my tail between my legs,” Killian growled as he leaned in closer to my father. Oh no. “If you want a fight, I’ll give you a goddamn war. I’ll lay out your sins for the whole world to see how far the holy man has fallen. You think you know the kind of man I am, but I know the kind you are. Just remember that. I know what you did to those girls. I know your secrets, you hypocritical bastard. I don’t need to hit you to hurt you.”

No, no, no.

“Okay.” I surged forward and wedged myself between the two of them. Killian’s gaze dropped down to me as I laid my hands on his chest. If anyone could get him to back down, it was me. I whispered with hopes only he would hear me, “Killian, please don’t.”

Those midnight eyes searched my face, and I couldn’t look away. Everyone always said the six Byrnes had the same eyes, but I didn’t think so. There was something dark and stormy about Killian’s—heavy with the unspoken emotions he carried like a burden.

How much of that was my fault?

He was at war with himself as he considered me—a battle of emotions etched on his handsome face. It wrapped tight around my heart, hurting with every squeeze. It wasn’t lost on me how his eyes slid down my body. I grew uncomfortably warm. Even under his angry stare, he did things to me.

Standing this close in broad daylight gave me a chance to honestly look at him—to see him in ways I hadn’t between all our fighting. The intricate black design of an upside-down arrow on his neck was fascinating to look at. Its half-compass design resembled the one on his chest, but there was more to it with its geometric lines, letters, and birds. I wanted to ask him what it meant—to know what was so important that my husband had to tattoo it on his body—but I couldn’t do so. It felt wrong.

He reached out, his fingers grazing my skin as he brushed a strand of hair away from my face. I felt the way he lingered on that single coil. My heart hammered wildly in my chest. The moment was so oddly intimate for being so out in the open.

As his hand fell, he grabbed a fistful of my sweater and yanked me closer. The single movement ripped the very breath from my body. I was utterly captivated by him, unable to stop him, even if I wanted to.

“You deserve better than what they’re putting you through, Genevieve,” Killian whispered. His tone and his expression were soft compared to everything else about him. “You deserve to be happy.”

Oh… it just didn’t work like that.Things like happiness were easy for him—they’d always been. His family was built around love and joy. That wasn’t my world. Those weren’t things I could focus on. Not really.

“Killian, don’t get involved,” I pleaded with him.

“Too late, princess, I’m back, and unless you divorce me, I’m staying involved,” he said with such conviction it hurt. My eyes widened, and I opened my mouth to say something—anything—but nothing came out. “You’re mine. No one hurts what’s mine.”

He let me go before my stumbling brain could put together a coherent response. I was painfully aware of the gazes that bounced between me and him as he stormed back up to the pack house.

So much for not making a scene.

Dad was livid. His anger was palpable, the air around him vibrating with it.

Me? My head was spinning as I chased after my father through the lot to his car. I knew I should’ve focused on my family—on calming my father down, but Killian took over my mind.

“You’re mine. No one hurts what’s mine.”

What did that even mean? The way he softened—practically melted for me when he spoke—it did something to my heart. Something I didn’t want to think about.

And his words? What did I do with those? He left me unsteady. The rocky foundation I’d built over three years was crumbling every time I was around him. I didn’t like it. Not one bit.

“Get in the car, Genevieve,” Dad snapped, his voice ripping through my thoughts. I stopped dead in the grass.

“I don’t want to leave,” I said. “I want to stay. The other packs are coming—”

“We’re leaving,” he interrupted. “I don’t care about the other packs. I won’t have you around that boy!”

The venom in his tone was nauseating. How long would it be before the two of them killed each other?

“I’m not spending time with him—”

“End of discussion, Genevieve Giselle!” he exclaimed. The involuntary shudder that moved through me at his raised voice was embarrassing.

“Please,” I tried once more and prayed he’d cave. I sure as heck knew I would.

“Genevieve.” The warning in his voice was more than enough to break me.

“Oh! Ginny!” Raven’s yelling made me turn. She sprinted across the lawn and weaved between cars. When she came to a stop in front of me, she folded over, hands on her knees as she breathed hard. “Shit! You’d think with all this training I’d be in better shape. God damn! Oh! Forgive me, Pastor Goodwin!”

“Ask the Lord for his forgiveness, not me,” Dad replied gruffly.

“Okay,” she said. She wouldn’t. As supportive as she was of my faith and Declan’s, she didn’t believe in God. Still, the sentiment was nice. Huffing out a fast breath, she stood upright. “Ginny, I need your help.”

“She can help you tomorrow,” Dad answered before I could. Damn it. “She needs to be at home with her family.”

“Well,” she clicked her tongue, “it’s to do with the shop. It really can’t wait.”

“It’s okay, Daddy,” I told him. “I can—”

“Talk to the Byrne that runs the shop,” he interjected.

“I would, but…” Raven’s gaze drifted to the sky. She was stalling. She’d come over here without a plan. And my God, how pathetic did I have to come across that she was trying to help me get away from my father? How old was I really? Sometimes I felt young and stupid. She squealed out, “It’s about the anniversary of my husband’s death! I need to talk about… my hours at the shop… because I just… “

My heart sank as I watched her struggle to help. God, I was pathetic.

“It’s fine,” I said quickly before she felt the need to keep going. There was no need for her to torture herself because I couldn’t get myself together and handle my father on my own. Standing on my tiptoes, I kissed him on the cheek. “I need to help her with this. It’s my job. I’ll see you later, Daddy. I love you.”

Slipping my arm through the crook in Raven’s elbow, I hurried away.

“You stay away from that boy, you hear me?” Dad shouted after me.

“I will!” I lied. I had a feeling I couldn’t stay away from Killian, even if I wanted to—a thought that absolutely terrified me if I was honest with myself.