Page 66

66

I MUST NOT TELL LIES

RORY

K oen’s pacing the length of the living room when we arrive. The flash of relief in his eyes at the sight of us is gone in an instant, replaced with a hardened expression. Alexei sits as still as stone on the couch. Liam’s beside me, clenching and unclenching his fists. I can practically feel the violence emanating off of him.

Aidan filled me in on the ride over. Somehow—someway, the Russians got Reagan.

Still holding Aidan’s hand, I squeeze it. His body is deathly still and hard. Gone is the sweet boy who just wants to play hockey. Only the Irish’s deadliest enforcer remains. I can’t help but feel like this is all my fault. If the Irish weren’t protecting me, Reagan wouldn’t be in danger right now.

“It’s not your fault,” Aidan’s voice pulls me out of my mind, reading my thoughts. “We all chose this life. We know the risks. We accepted them,” his jaw tight. A quick glance about the room shows all four brothers’ eyes on me, guilt and concern on their faces as they all give me various degrees of reassuring nods. It doesn’t make me feel better, but my heart warms in my chest.

Aidan directs me to the couch, and I take a seat near the end before he turns his attention to the Irish boss.

“Any contact?”

“We’re about to,” Koen holds up his phone. His grip is so tight I’m surprised by the thing’s durability. Koen hits the call button, switching it to speaker and the resounding rings echo throughout the high ceilings of the near silent loft.

“DeLuca.” I sit up straighter at the sound of Cole’s cool voice coming through the other end of the phone.

“Where’s my sister?” Koen growls.

There’s a pause on the other end before Cole responds, his voice devoid of all emotion. “Koen, always a pleasure…Where’s my cousin?”

I freeze at the mention of Matteo, my eyes darting back and forth, torn between watching Koen and Aidan’s reactions. Aidan joins Koen by the phone, making it easier to watch them both.

“Do you have her? Or was it that son-of-a-bitch Kostalov?”

Cole hums lightly, sounding amused, “The Russians don’t have your sister.”

Koen’s grip tightens on his cell, his knuckles turning white. “Stop fucking around DeLuca. What do you want?” he bites out. Aidan listens intently, his arms crossed, the muscles in his arm flexing.

Cole just laughs. The bastard knows he holds all the cards here. “I think it’s obvious what I want, O’Rourke. I’m owed a particularly pretty Russian bride.” Koen’s eyes meet Aidan’s. “I want the girl back. Aurora ,” he purrs, his Italian accent rolling over the r’s in my name.

Violence flashes in Aidan’s eyes. There isn’t a moment of hesitation before Koen responds, “Not going to happen.”

“Fine,” Cole doesn’t even sound surprised, “Then I want your brother. Your hockey star little brother killed my beloved cousin. Blood pays for blood. That is, if you don’t want your little sister paying that price. It would be a shame,” he clicks his tongue in disapproval, “such pretty green eyes…”

“No,” I whisper, fear ripping through my chest and squeezing it so tight I can’t breathe. Liam looks ready to lunge through the phone to strangle DeLuca himself.

Aidan steps forward, taking the phone out of Koen’s hands, “If any harm comes to my sister, there won’t be a corner of this world where you can hide.”

“No need for threats Ace, I’m a man of my word. I won’t hurt your sister.”

“When?” is Aidan’s only response, his dark eyes finding mine.

“One hour, at the pier.”

“Done.” He hangs up the phone, handing it back to Koen.

Liam rises, “You know it’s a trap, right?” He looks between the brothers, “You can’t seriously be considering this.” They’re not just going to beat Aidan, they’re going to kill him.

Aidan shrugs, a far off expression on his face. “They have Reagan, Liam. If they want me, they can have me. So long as Reagan and Rory are safe.”

Tears well up in my eyes and threaten to spill down my cheek. I wrap my arms tightly around myself as if they can hold me together. “They’ll kill you.” I take a few steps toward him.

Aidan’s eyes soften. “Give us a minute, guys.” He takes my hand in his and tugs me down the hallway toward his bedroom. I can hear Liam continuing his argument with Koen as we go.

As soon as the door shuts, I lose my self control and tears coat my cheeks. Aidan says nothing, just swallows me in a hug, clutching me tightly to him. “The Irish will protect you. That won’t change, even if… you will be safe.” He swallows hard and I peek up at him.

“They’re going to kill you.” There wasn’t a doubt in my mind about that. Cole might want to just teach Aidan a lesson, but my father won’t.

“Probably.” The corner of his lip ticks up, finding amusement even now.

I shake my head, my tears drying up and anger finding their place. “Take me with you.”

Aidan’s face hardens, and he pulls away, “No.”

“You heard Cole. They want me . Give me back and all of this goes away. Reagan will be safe and you’ll stay alive.”

“But you won’t!” Aidan shouts, and I reel back. “Do you think the Italians will let that little insult slide? Your father?” I wince, and he nods arrogantly. “No. This is the best plan. And you’ll finally be free of them. Once things calm down, Koen will set you up somewhere safe, and you can move on.”

He catches me shaking my head, and I shake it harder as he continues through his tirade. “No… No.”

“Why, Rory? You don’t even like me.”

“Not true.”

“Sure it is. It was only just last week you tried running away, wishing somebody would come and save you from me.”

“I don’t need saving from you!”

“And why’s that?”

“Because I love you!”

Aidan stares back at me, his eyes widening before they narrow into a glare. “Take it back,” he growls.

I glare right back, defiantly lifting my chin. “No.”

He stalks closer, eyes dark. Reaching out, he grips my chin as he walks me backwards until there’s nowhere left to go, my back pressed against the wall. “ I said, Take. It. Back.”

“I can’t.” Shivering in his grip, my nerves are shot with him so close. “That would be lying.”

A flash of emerald is all I see before his lips slam into mine, full of passion, fire, and—goodbye. I don’t realize I’m crying again until I taste the salt of my own tears on my tongue.

Aidan lifts me up and I cling to him. My arms wrap around the back of his head, letting him own my mouth. He holds me closer, deepening the kiss as he moves us through his room. My eyes close, savoring every bit of him, inhaling his scent—committing it forever to memory.

After what seems like an eternity, he pulls away, breaking the kiss. I peer up at him through my lashes, his face a mix of awe and regret. “I love you too.”The heart threatens to beat right out of my chest, warmth filling my body at Aidan’s words:“But I made a promise to keep you safe, and I always keep my promises.”

Confused, I open my mouth, but it’s too late. He tosses me. I let out a surprised grunt when I land on a soft heap of fabric, searching for Aidan, demanding an explanation.

My entire body goes rigid when I realize where I am… Too distracted by Aidan’s kisses, to notice where he was bringing me—the guest room closet.

Aidan stands in the doorway, a tortured expression on his face.

Having already wasted too much time, I scramble up, tripping over myself in my haste to reach the door, but it’s too late.

With one last forlorn look my way, Aidan slams the closet door shut just as my body crashes into it. The telltale sound of a lock clicking sends me spiraling, screaming, banging up up against the door, kicking it with my boot, but it’s no use…

Aidan’s already gone.

And I’m too late to stop it.