Page 65 of His Deadly Devotion

“How the fuck did you get out? And where did those come from?” Mr. O’Malley gestures to the glasses on my face as he jumps off Connor and storms towards me.

I smile.Good. Get away from him.

“Scared you can’t beat a girl when she’s not tied up?” I ask.

As soon as he reaches me, his hand tangles in my hair and he yanks me upwards. The knife is firmly clenched in my fist. I havethe opportunity to use it and I… pause and look over to Connor. I don’t know what to do. I need to help him. I just don’t know the right thing to do anymore.

Connor stands, aiming a gun in our direction. His father’s direction. “Get your fucking hands off her.”

“How the fuck?” Mr. O’Malley pats himself down, obviously no longer in possession of the gun Connor is now holding.

“You’re too predictable, old man. I’m not going to ask you again. Get your fucking hands off her. Now,” Connor hisses.

“Or what? You’ll shoot me? You’re not going to kill me, son. You can’t,” Mr. O’Malley says.

“I can actually. And I will.” Connor’s finger skims the trigger.

“Yeah? Does she know what happens if you do? You think you can outrun this? The organization will follow you to the ends of the earth, boy. You kill me, it’s all on you.”

“It’ll be worth it,” Connor replies.

“You can’t outrun who you are. You will always be my son. Killing me won’t change that. I made you. Don’t you forget it.” Mr. O’Malley’s hand clenches tighter in my hair. I’m surprised it’s not ripping right out of my skull.

“Connor, you don’t have to do this,” I chime in. I can do it. He can hate me. It’s better if he hates me instead of himself.

Connor’s gaze flicks to my hand. He sees what I’m holding. “Actually, I do, babe. Do me a favor and close your eyes.”

“Why?” I ask him.

“Because I don’t want you to remember me as the monster who killed his own father.”

I can’t let him do this. Twisting around, I use every ounce of strength I can gather and throw my hand towards Mr. O’Malley’s chest. The knife pushes through and his fingers release their grip on my hair.

My body drops to the floor.

“You fucking bitch.” Mr. O’Malley’s foot connects with my ribs as he pulls the knife out of his torso.

Then the sound of a gunshot echoes off the walls. I look up and see Mr. O’Malley holding his right arm. Another shot and then he drops too.

“You won’t get away with this,” he grunts.

“I already have,” Connor says as he scoops me into his arms.

“Hi.” I smile up at him, my head resting against his chest.

“I’m sorry,” he tells me, but I don’t need him to apologize. I close my eyes. Because, for the first time in days, I feel… at peace.

31

My heart races as I clutch Aurora’s limp body to my chest. Before I can get to the door, it swings open.

“We gotta go now,” Patty says.

“Take her. Get her out,” I say while passing him my wife. “I need to finish this.”

“No, you need to get the fuck out of here, Connor. Now.” Patty takes hold of Aurora but doesn’t give any indication that he’s leaving.

“Bring her to Aisling’s. I’ll meet you there. And get her a fucking doctor.” I know my cousin will help us. She’s always been loyal to me. Plus, she owes me for that incident with Levi.