Page 168 of Handsome Devil

“Promise,” said Luca.

Achilles took a second, mulling it over. He loved keeping people on their toes. “I guess.”

Tiernan released Gia. She staggered to me, silent tears running down her cheeks.

I immediately tossed Tierney into Achilles’s hold and bundled Gia in my arms, kissing her tears, the tip of her nose. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”

She nodded, unable to produce words.

My stomach rumbled with rage. She was far from okay, and recovering from this experience was going to take time. I turned to yank the coat from Tierney’s shoulders and wrap it around my wife. I buried her head in my chest and praised her in hushed, gentle whispers. Telling her how brave she was, how strong, how graceful.

“Now, may I please have my sister?” Tiernan opened his arms wide, smiling.

“No need,” Tierney said coldly, slapping away Achilles’s hold but standing by his side. “You already gave up my right tochoose. I have nothing to gain under your protection. I’m staying with the Ferrantes.”

Achilles snorted. “Hadn’t realized we offered to house you.”

Tiernan’s expression thundered. “Cut the bullshit, Tier.”

“Do as he says,” I instructed. “I don’t have time for these theatrics. I need to take Gia home.”

They could all die on the spot, and I wouldn’t even attend their goddamn funerals. All I wanted was to take care of the woman who almost paid for my mistakes with her life.

“No.” Tierney folded her arms. “I’m not coming.”

“We’ll see about that,” Achilles muttered. He was fucking with her. If he was smart, he wouldn’t fuckher, though. She seemed like a headache no Advil could fix.

“Fine.” Tiernan tossed a careless hand. “As you wish.”

He was about to turn around and make his way back to the Mercedes when Achilles gave Tierney a push forward, making her stumble all the way to her brother’s arms.

“I’ve no use for her now.” Achilles shrugged. “She’s another mouth to feed. Keep her safe and those legs closed. If I hear she’s been fucked, I’ll chop off the guy’s cock. Pass it on. I’ll find her an appropriate match when I feel like it.”

The heartfelt union came to an abrupt end when Tierney punched her brother’s face, giving him a prominent shiner. She stomped to the car, cursing up and down the entire Callaghan ancestry.

I turned to the Ferrante brothers. “Ride with your soldiers.” It was an order, not a request. “I’m taking my wife home.”

“Hey, Gia, you good?” Enzo’s eyes were soft.

She nodded, trying to smile.

I crouched down to pick Gia up and carried her to the Escalade. The journey home was quiet. I didn’t dare speak. I didn’t darebreathe. She warned me this could happen. I failed toprotect her. No matter what happened from this point forward, I would always remember this failure.

She stared straight ahead, her jaw tipped up regally, her eyes heavy-lidded. “They tried to drug me when they caught me.” Her sweet, soft voice pierced through the condensed silence. “When they thought I was knocked out, I heard them talking. They’re planning a bloodbath. Killing the Russians, up and down the ranks, and taking over.”

I was so wrapped up in her I couldn’t even give a shit. If the Irish wanted to start shit, this was Achilles and Luca’s problem. As far as I was concerned, I was done with this world.

When we reached the first traffic light in Manhattan, I turned to look at her fully. The back of her head continued to bleed. It trickled down in a steady stream, running down the seat all the way into her lap. She didn’t even notice.

“Apricity.” I tried to sound calm. “You’re bleeding.”

“I am?” She reached to the back of her head. Her fingers shook when she brought them in front of her face and noticed how bloodied they were. Her mouth dropped open.

“I’m taking you to the hospital.” I made an illegal sharp turn south and floored it all the way there.

“…typically takes a few days to come out of a coma, right?” Rhyland’s familiar baritone seeped into my ears.

“Not if you’re married to the Antichrist and the only thing that waits for you on the other side is his sorry ass and another half-baked apology,” Row’s voice groused.