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CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Tara

FORTY WEEKS AGO when I agreed to go home with Sean, I never expected my life to change so drastically. I thought I was getting a hot night of sex and nothing more. How wrong I was.

I’m back in the city I love. I’ve now got a husband, a daughter, and an entire new family of friends. Three if you include the Italians and Russians.

Life is perfect. Or at least as perfect as it can get. Sean and the family still have some loose ends to tie up with Patrick, then there’s still the task of helping Ivan overthrow Miskin, but I’m confident things are only going to be looking up from here.

Speaking of Killian. “Knock, knock.” He says as he walks through the open door. “How you doing honey?”

“I’m good. Tired but good.”

He looks to Sean who is asleep in the uncomfortable hospital chair, smiles and shakes his head. Poor guy pulled first shift overnight so I could sleep. Only thing he let me do was hold Aisling as she breastfed.

Love that man.

Looking back at Killian, I see him watching our daughter. I haven’t gotten the chance to know Killian very well, but from what I know, family means everything to him. Both by blood and by choice. Having Patrick betray him has left a dark mark on his heart. A mark that joins the one already there from sending away his twin.

Sean shared the story with me. Shared how Killian knew it was the best thing for his brother, even if it hurt him in the process to see him go.

“Want to hold her?” I ask, holding Aisling up and offering her to him.

“I’d love to.” He says. As he picks her up and pulls her to his chest, you can see the longing in his eyes.

It is a well kept secret that Killian will never be able to have a child, at least not the traditional way. He has plans to secure a wife and have a child via IVF with sperm his brother donated, so that way a piece of him is still used to make his future family.

Grady enters the room, just as Killian’s phone rings. He pulls it out quickly and silences the call. His face goes white as he looks at the screen. Grady notices the same time I do, and takes Aisling from him.

Killian is silent for several long moments. “Are you sure?” Silence again. “And his wife and kids?” Another pause. “I’m leaving now.”

“What’s going on?”Asks Grady.

Sean must have sensed the tension even as he slept because his eyes spring open. Immediately alert.

“Kiernan’s been attacked. Patrick found him.”

Sean stands and rushes to my side as Grady hands me back Aisling. “What? How? When?”

Without my daughter in his hands, Grady’s posture and face turn murderous. I’m not the least bit afraid. Not for me. “What do you need?”

“I have to go.” Says Killian. “I have to bring him home.”

“And the family?” Sean asks. “Are they okay.”

Killian gives a nod. “Ronan has them. They made it into the safe room.”

“And Patrick?”

Killian gives a menacing smile. It sends a chill up the spine of everyone in the room. “Luna’s tracking him. Looks like he’s trying to get out of the country. He turns to Grady. Want to go cut him off?”

Absolutely!