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The last thing I want is to get attached and something happens to him because of me. This has to end before it gets started. I’m not going back out there.

* * *

Ronan

“That should beenough to close his coffin,” Eugene says as I pace while watching the door Dean disappeared behind.

“Aye, sounds like it’s time I head to New York. I’ll stop by to check in with ya and drop off a care package to help ya disappear. Don’t leave too soon and make it obvious. We don’t want to tip him off.”

“I’ve got ya. Sorry about the hour, ya know how it is.”

“Aye, don’t worry about it.”

I know he has to call when he can. Ernest likes to keep him close, so it’s not easy to get away to make calls like this. It sounds like Ernest has pissed the Albanians off enough for a wee bit of pressure to cause them to turn their backs on him. This is good news for Brax.

“So this is what the Alliance will look like? Fall in or lose it all?”

“Aye, if ya know the right people, these are the perks.”

“Sounds good to me. Get some sleep. I’ll see ya soon.”

I hang up and go to knock at Dean’s door. The room seems still, as if she’s gone to bed. I move the hand I have hovering at the door to my lips. That kiss lit me on fire.

I haven’t felt anything near that in twenty-four years. I blink a few times and shake my head. She knows she’s mine.

For tonight, that’s enough. I want to be fully sober when we come together, if that’s what a kiss will do. I will have her soon enough, I will.

CHAPTER14

Confused

Ronan

I wakeand have to look around to remember where I am. I’m naked and my head is pounding. I’m getting too old for this shit. I’m not the drinker I used to be.

I groan and rub the sleep from my eyes with the heels of my palms. Suddenly, that kiss from last night slams into my mind. My cock tents the sheet as I think of the feel of my woman in my hands.

A smile comes to my lips. I plan to spend the day teasing and tasting those lips. I want to drink from her mouth until I’m drunk all over again.

“Fuck, I want ya,” I murmur to myself.

I shake my head and climb out of bed to head for the shower. I should have some things here that I can change into. After breakfast, I’ll take my girl back to my place and we won’t need any clothes for the rest of the day.

I make quick work of getting cleaned up and dressed. I’m in a pair of slacks, a dress shirt and loafers as I jog downstairs whistling. My headache is already forgotten after the hot shower.

“What the fuck did ya do, ya big oul overgrown brat?” Ma hisses the moment I enter the kitchen as she shakes a spatula at me.

I look back at her in confusion. Cass and Joe are sitting at the nook, trying to hide their laughter. Da walks in and places a hand on my shoulder.

“Run, lad. She’s been on a warpath since your bird and her friend took off. None of us will have any peace.”

“Wait, Dean left?”

“Ya would know that if ya gave her a good shagging like I set ya up for. I gave her the room right next to ya. Why didn’t the two of ya wake up in the same bed?

“How did ya muck this one up? I like the lass. She has a good head on her shoulders and she’s funny.

“Ya did this to spite me, ya did. I don’t know what I did to ya. All I want is to see ya happy. Jonah and your brothers said ya liked this one, ya’ve been courting this one, she’s pretty in the face and has meat on her bones, all the things ya said ya wanted.