Page 3 of His Deadly Devotion

I could correct him, explain that I very much meant it. But what’s the point? They all think I’m crazy. The thing is, if they don’t fix him, the whole world is going to find out just how crazy I can be when I have nothing left to lose.

2

He hasn’t moved. It’s been hours. Doc said he’d come to on his own and that the wound was nothing serious. If Connor doesn’t wake up, I have every intention of making good on my threat to the old man and his family.

Connor looks as though he’s just napping. But if that were the case, my nonstop pleading should have him opening his eyes.I just want to see them again, those green eyes, even if they’re looking at me with hatred and disgust. I need to see them.

“Aurora, come here.” My father is standing by the door.

I glance towards Connor. I shouldn’t leave him.What if he wakes up and I’m not here?

“Just step out into the hall. Enzo can sit with him.”

My brother walks through the door with a smirk on his face. “Sure, I’d love nothing more than to babysit my little sister’s fuckwit of a boyfriend.”

“Technically, he’s not my boyfriend. He dumped me, remember?” I cross my arms over my chest.

“What was he doing with you all the way out here, then?” Enzo lifts a questioning brow.

“I… ah… He didn’t really come willingly. But I was working on changing his mind when we got ambushed,” I spit out fast. It sounds less insane in my head.

“You kidnapped him?” This comes from my father.

“He got into my car of his own free will. I just helped him go to sleep until we made it to the cabin. It’s not a big deal.” I shrug.

“Aurora, you kidnapped the fucking heir of the Irish mafia. It’s a big deal.” Enzo laughs before shaking his head. “I mean, of course you did. I shouldn’t even be surprised.”

“Come here.” My father takes hold of my hand and leads me out of the room, shutting the door behind us.

I want to protest but the look on his face is telling me not to bother.

“Sit.” He points to a chair, and because I’m not going to poke the bear, I do as I’m told. “I don’t even know where to start. What on earth made you think you could kidnap the O’Malley heir?”

I watch my father run a hand through his hair in frustration—it’s not the first time I’ve seen him do it because of my actions.“I didn’t kidnap him. I just didn’t let him say no to coming with me.”

“And there’s a difference in that how?” My father raises a brow at me. I can see his lips fighting a smile. “Never mind. Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why did you do it?” he clarifies.

“Because I heard you all talking about going after his family, and I wasn’t about to let Connor be collateral damage,” I explain.

“Are you forgetting that the little fucker broke your heart? He made you cry, Aurora. I should kill him just for that.”

“He didn’t mean it. And hewillchange his mind once he works out a way to look past what I did.”

“You’re settling. You’re better than that,” Papa tells me.

“How? The guy just saved my life. He didn’t have to, and he did without hesitation,” I point out.

“He broke up with you, Aurora. You shouldn’t have to change someone’s mind about you. They should know that you’re the best thing that will ever happen to them.”

“I killed his cousin, Papa, so he didn’t really have a choice but to break up with me.” Truth is, if it had been the other way around, I’m not sure I would have done it differently.

“There is always a choice, and he chose wrong,” Papa says. “Aurora,I knowthatyou knowyour worth, and that kid in there is not even close to being worthy of you.”

I shake my head. “You’re wrong.”