Page 61 of His Deadly Devotion
The woman laughs. “Funny coming from a chained-up whore. What makes you think I’m going to die?”
“Because I’m going to kill you. If Connor doesn’t get to you first, that is,” I tell her.
“Connor is going to see you for what you are. He’s coming home and you will be nothing but a mistake he once made. Don’t you worry, though, because I’ll be sure to keep him busy once he’s my husband,” she says.
My blood goes cold. “What are you talking about?” I want to tell her that, that could never happen because Connor is already mine.
“We’re getting married. As soon as he arrives. Mr. O’Malley has made all the arrangements.”
I laugh. “Yeah, good luck with that. Let me know how that goes for you.”
“He will. I was his first. We wereeach other’sfirsts. And you know what they say about your first. You never truly forget them. Connor loves me. He just needs the reminder.”
I take a deep breath. She’s trying to get me to react.
It’s working. It’s also taking every ounce of my self-control to keep from showing her that. “I broke a classmate’s arm, fractured her jaw, for just touching him. What do you think I’ll do to someone like you? Someone who wants to steal him from me?” I ask.
“It won’t matter. You won’t be able to do anything when you’re dead. And Connor will never know about this little chat. He’ll forever see me as the victim in all this, just like he sees himself. It’s something we’ll bond over. Now, since you’re not going to eat, I’m leaving. I have a wedding to prepare for.”
I close my eyes and picture Connor on the beach, standing inside the big heart he drew on the sand. The vows we exchanged. They can’t be undone. Connor will not marry someone else. He will always choose me.
That knowledge is what keeps me going. He’s coming. Patty said he’s coming. I just have to hold out until he gets here.
A few days ago, I didn’t think I could kill another member of Connor’s family. Now, I’m ready to slaughter them all. There is no mercy left after what they’ve done to me. Connor may hate me for it. But his love has always been stronger than his hatred. And he loves me.
29
The streets of Dublin have seen many horrors, but never before have they seen what’s coming for them as soon as the wheels touch the tarmac.
My father wanted to remind me who held the end of the leash in the family. That’s why he took her. My wife. That’s why he has her locked in some damp, cold basement while he has his men do whatever the fuck they want to her…
No. That part of the sick game he’s playing wouldn’t have started yet. He doesn’t have his audience. Me. They won’t touch her until I get there.
Like I said, he’s underestimating me, because I will never be chained to him again. I might be heading right into his trap, but when there’s only one way in, you take it.
I slide into the back of the waiting car, my body tight and my mind focused. I’m ready.
“Mr. O’Malley, welcome home,” the driver says.
I look up and smile at one of my oldest friends. “Patty, what the fuck?”
“I offered to pick you up. Surprisingly, your old man trusts me.” Patty smirks.
I climb my ass over the center console and park myself in the front passenger seat. “Have you seen her? How is she?”
“I’ve seen her. She’s… alive.” He looks away.
“What?” I press him. “What have they done to her?”
“Nothing she won’t survive. Come on. Let’s get this show started.” He pulls away from the plane and maneuvers through the back gate.
“How many do we have?”
“Twenty,” Patty says. He’s been here for a day already, recruiting the men who are loyal to me and not my father. Twenty isn’t many but it’s better than none, I guess.
The car turns onto the busy streets of Dublin, passing pubs I used to sneak into with friends. Patty and I have had plenty of good times in this city, and so did Kenny. I always knew I’d be back here one day. I just didn’t expect it to be so soon. I didn’t expect my father to find us so quickly.
“Tell me,” I urge Patty after a few minutes of seething silence. I need to know how bad they’ve already hurt her. I was certain they wouldn’t have touched her yet.