Page 25 of His Deadly Devotion
“It’s like that, huh? Well, your father has every resource out there looking for you. He’s all over New York at the moment. They’re attacking every known Valentino location.”
They think we’re still in the city. That’s a good thing. The longer they think that, the better.
“They’ve even sent word to Ireland, so if you’re thinking of hiding out there, don’t.”
I did consider it. My father has loyalists in Dublin, but so do I.
“You know this isn’t going to end well.” Patty sighs into the phone.
“It’s going to end how I say it fucking ends,” I grunt.
“Yeah, how’s that?”
“My girlfriend in one piece and breathing,” I tell him. “Do me a favor. Let it slip to someone that you heard I was in Boston. Make up sightings of me around the city.”
“You want me to bring your father’s war here?”
“I want it as far away from her and her family as possible,” I tell him. “They’re not like ours, Patty.”
“They’re a crime family. They’re exactly like ours,” he balks.
“No, they’re different. Just do it. I’ll owe you one,” I say. “And let me know if they have any movements out of the country.”
“You’re not even in the States, are you?” he asks.
“I gotta go. Don’t call this number again,” I tell him.
Heading back towards the house, I see Aurora sitting on the deck chair I just vacated. Her gaze fixed on me. I don’t know how she does it, but she manages to take my breath away every fucking time I see her.
The thought of never seeing her again sets my heart racing and causes sweat to form on my forehead, which is exactly why I’m here. Why I chose her. Because I physically cannot be away from her.
Those weeks I hated her, when I kept warning her to stay away from me, I still saw her. I still watched her. She was right there. Alive. Now I find out she has a way out, a way to leave me forever.
Fuck that.
Anger rages through me at the thought. I’ve gone against everything I’ve ever known and believed to have her. I’ve betrayed my cousin, my parents. For her. And I’ll be damned if I let anyone take her from me, not even her.
“You know you’re kinda hot when you’re pissed off.” Aurora smirks, trying to ease the tension that’s built up between us.
“It’s really not the time, Aurora,” I tell her. I came outside so I didn’t say something I’d regret. I don’t want to take my anger out on her, even if she’s the cause of it. I’m fully aware that I’m a fucking asshole when I’m in a mood.
“Not the time for what?” she asks.
“This.” I point from her to me. “I can’t talk to you right now.”
“Well, tough shit, because you are talking to me, Connor. You promised you wouldn’t leave and you just upped and walked out.”
“I walked out to save you from me. You don’t get it…” I shake my head, running my fingers through my hair.
God, she’s infuriating when she plays dumb. No matter what she claims, Aurora’s not dumb. She knows exactly what’s bothering me. She just wants to hear me say it.
“Then educate me, Connor. Clearly, you’re the intelligent one here. Tell me, what is it I don’t get?” Aurora fires back. She stands and stomps her way towards me.
I ignore her dig at herself because that’s not something I can fix right now. “I chose you, Aurora. I fucking chose you because I love you and I’m not going to let any fucker take you from me. And you’re sitting in there acting like it’s totally fine foryouto be the one who takesyoufrom me. You want to swallow a fucking cyanide pill? Fine, I’ll swallow one too. Let’s go do it now. Get it over with, right?”
Aurora flinches. I’m not sure if it’s at my raised voice or at the thought of us both taking our lives. “It’s not like that. Would you rather I let them torture me? Rape me a million times before they kill me?”
“I would rather you fucking fight and not give up. I would rather you stay alive long enough for the fucking army you have behind you to find you. I would rather you choose me.”