Page 69 of His Deadly Devotion
“It’s not your parents I’m worried about, Aurora. Someone told my father we were on that island, and the only people who knew we were on that island are related to you,” he says.
“My family would never give me up.” It’s ridiculous that he even thinks they would.
“Maybe not, but someone did.” Connor pulls my shorts down my legs, cursing at the discoloration he finds all over my thighs. “Aurora, did they… did…?”
“No,” I answer the unspoken question hanging between us. “No…”
Connor sighs in relief. “I’m sorry,” he tells me again.
“I’m going to be fine.”
“I know.” He reaches into the shower and turns it on, making sure the temperature is warm before he helps me inside the stall.
The water stings the open gashes on my skin, but I welcome the burn. I need this. I need to feel clean. The thought has me glancing down at the puddle on the shower floor. It’s covered in a mixture of blood and dirt.
After Connor helps me wash my hair and every inch of my body, he wraps me in a big towel and takes me back into the bedroom. Then he opens the door and yells out, “Aisling, come here!”
I stay seated on the bed, holding the towel tighter in my hands. When a gorgeous redhead comes into the room, I glance over at Connor.
“Aurora, my cousin, Aisling.” He waves a hand between us.
“Levi’s Aisling? No wonder he’s strung up. Hi, I’m Aurora.” I smile, trying not to feel self-conscious about the way I look.
“Hi, Aisling and definitely not Levi’s anything. Your cousin is a—there aren’t even words for what that ejit is,” she says.
“I know.” I laugh.
“She needs clothes,” Connor chimes in.
“Right. Hold on a sec.” Aisling walks back out the door.
“You should say please,” I tell Connor.
“What?” He glances at me with bewilderment.
“You just ordered your cousin to get me clothes. You should have said please,” I explain.
He opens his mouth to say something, but Aisling walks back into the room holding an oversized hoodie and a pair of sweats.
“Thank you, I really appreciate this,” I tell her since my husband seems to have lost his manners somewhere along the way.
“Thanks. Can you send the doc up? As soon as he’s seen Aurora, we’ll leave,” Connor finally adds.
“Sure thing, boss. You do know they’re combing the streets looking for you, right?”
“I have no doubt.” Connor smirks.
I don’t ask him any of the million questions that are on my mind. I’ll wait until we’re alone for that interrogation. I’ll also wait until I have more energy.
I grit my teeth and bear it as the doctor applies some kind of balm to my cuts. He then gives Connor a rundown of my injuries, which are all minor, while I lie here and wait for him to leave. I want to be alone—well, alone with Connor.
“Thanks, Doc.” Connor shakes the old man’s hand as they both walk towards the door. Once it clicks closed, he turns back to me. “We need to go.”
“Okay. But can I call my dad?” I ask him. “Or my mom?”
“Aurora, if your family sees you like this, it’s going to bring World War III to the streets of Dublin.”
“Would that be such a bad thing?” I shrug.