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CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

VICTORIA

After what feels like an eternity, the guys make their way back onto the patio. Finn pulls Catlin from the fire pit, her face falling flat as though she knows that he has ominous news. Sasha, Layla, and Quinn each walk from where we sit when Conor approaches looking solemn.

“Con?” His name cracks off Elena’s lips in a whisper as he kneels before us both.

He cups her cheek and gingerly explains, “It’s okay, cailín leanbh . Finn and I are going to help Ivan and Rory with something. Dec is going to take you two home.”

“No,” I huff, knowing he won’t listen. I shake my head and cross my arms, sulking like a brat. I know this is his life. While I don’t like it, I’ve never had this reaction to him needing to go out late at night. I can’t explain why tonight is different, other than something about this just doesn’t feel right. I’ve had a sinking feeling in my gut since they walked inside. I want to tell him that I have a bad feeling about whatever it is that Ivan needs them for, but I also know you don’t put that shit into the universe. You don’t jinx them like that.

“Don’t do that, cailín dáigh .” He rubs his hands along my thighs as I pout. “It’ll be a couple of hours max. The second we’re done, I’ll come to your place and climb into bed so you can wake up with my arms wrapped around you. Around you both .”

“I’m ready whenever they are,” Declan interrupts, inadvertently informing me how direly Conor needs to get wherever he is needed.

“We’re right behind you.” Conor nods, dismissing Declan and taking both our hands as he stands. The three of us walk through the house toward our awaiting car. Goodbyes after a family dinner usually last as long as the night itself. Tonight, they are unnaturally short, each of us giving a quick hug to those we pass on our way out the door.

Everything about this feels wrong.

Catlin climbs into the backseat of Tristan’s sleek black sports car with Layla, the look of concern on her face mirroring the mine. I wave awkwardly at the three of them as they pull from the driveway while I wait for Conor to finish saying good night to Elena.

He rounds the back of Declan’s Suburban and pulls me into him. “I love you, cailín dáigh.”

“Don’t you do that, Conor Evans,” I snip. “Don’t tell me you love me like you’re saying goodbye.”

Holding me firm against his chest, he strokes my hair. “Always so fucking stubborn. It’s a few hours. You can go a single night without my cock fucking you to sleep,” he teases.

“That’s not fucking funny.” I shove away from him.

Grabbing my wrist, he yanks me back into him with a thud that knocks the breath from me. “You know this is my life. You knew it before we started any of this. This is my life. It will always be my life.”

“It doesn’t have to be.” I shake my head. “You know I can take care of us.”

His lips purse and his brow furrows slightly. “And who will take care of my brothers?” he asks rhetorically. “You know this isn’t about the money. This is about family. Rud ar bith do mo dheartháir.”

I hear the words he’s saying, and I know how close he is with his family, but the meaning doesn’t register. My family is equal in size to Conor’s but I’m certain my brother would be more likely to slit my throat to inherit my portion of the family fortune than risk a papercut to safe my life. His notion of ‘family’ isn’t the same as mine. And while I love his, I absolutely hate the danger that it can put him in.

“If you want to have this argument, we can.” He squeezes me tighter before releasing me from his embrace. “Do you want me to wake you when I get home? Or do you want to wait until morning?”

Scoffing, I hate both options since they mean he won’t be coming home with us.

“When I get home it is.” He smirks, opening the rear passenger door for me. I climb into the SUV and take the seat beside Elena. Conor leans into the door and buckles my seatbelt, a gesture I usually find endearing. “I lov?—”

I shove my fingers against his lips to silence him. “You can do that when you get home, too.” My bratting hiding my upset. He cups my left cheek and presses his lips to my right.

Letting his hand slide from my face, he tells Declan, “See to it they get home safe.”

“Always, brother,” Declan promises. He looks between the seats and catches Conor’s gaze. “You make sure you get home safe.” His words are both a demand and a request. He is equally as concerned for Conor’s safety as I am.

Conor’s throat bobs as he swallows hard. He gives a quick nod and echoes Declan, “Always, brother.”

Regretting nearly every second of the last few minutes, I part my lips to speak but find myself silenced by the door of the SUV closing. Elena reaches for my hand. She laces her fingers with mine and gives me a firm squeeze as Declan slips the SUV into drive.

Conor, Ivan, and Finn all climb into Finn’s Bronco, and we follow them to the end of the driveway. They pull from it, heading in the opposite direction as us and I watch them slowly disappear through the rear window of the SUV.