Page 15 of Sweet Vengeance (Sins of the Father #2)

Cillian

It’s the middle of the afternoon, and Ollie’s out cold to the world.

That’s a good thing. He needs his rest so his body can heal, but I’m bored as shit. I’m not used to sitting around like this. There’s nothing else to do, so I end up just watching him.

Ollie’s lips are slightly parted in sleep.

God, he’s got a fucking mouth on him, his lips plump and kissable.

He looks so peaceful, like he’s not always worried about a million things, which I think is true of him when he’s awake.

He takes school and his responsibilities so seriously, I can’t help wondering what he does for fun, how he unwinds and relaxes that busy head of his.

I shouldn’t have told him what I did earlier, shouldn’t have let him follow those breadcrumbs of truth.

He would have known whether I’d admitted it or not, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t have denied it.

I’m surprised I’m here, that I’m lying in this bed with him after he asked me if I’m a murderer and I didn’t say no.

It makes me an asshole that I’m compromising his beliefs this way, that I know Ollie is firmly on the side of right while I revel in being wrong, but knowing what I’m doing makes me an asshole won’t change anything.

I’m still going to stay here, I’m still going to protect him, because I want him.

I want Ollie more than I’ve ever wanted anyone, and that’s incredibly fucking fascinating to me. I’m not the type to deny myself something I desire, and I don’t plan on starting with Ollie.

I watch him for another moment. He’s soft, tender, but still masculine. Every other time I’ve seen him, Ollie kept his face shaved, but he’s getting a bit of splotchy scruff along his jaw.

The bruises on his torso and face pull another low growl out of me. I still plan to kill the men who did this to him, despite telling Ollie I wouldn’t. They’ll die for what they did, and Ollie will never know the truth.

I slip out of bed, trying not to jostle the mattress. Ollie makes a soft moaning sound that goes straight to my dick and makes me smile. I’m going to enjoy this bisexuality thing. I just hope I’ll be able to enjoy it with him.

I walk over to my duffel, make sure Ollie didn’t wake up, then open it to look inside. It’s got my clothes and toiletries, but there’s also a metal box, one that’s just big enough to hold my gun and ammo.

Hefting my bag into my hands, I go into the bathroom, open the case, and slip my gun into my holster, which goes at the small of my back.

I put the duffel bag away, get my other one, grab Ollie’s keys off the table, find paper to write him a quick note, lock the door, and leave.

I’m not planning on going far, but I need some fucking air.

Need to be able to talk without worrying he’ll hear.

The sun is bright and warm against my skin as I step outside the building.

I love this time of year, love the weather before it gets too cold and snowy, which is miserable as shit.

The Ashford campus is gorgeous, the lush greenery standing out among the white-and-red architecture.

I find a quiet spot at a picnic table under a tree, sitting on the top, feet on the bench and watching Ollie’s building as I pull out my phone.

Conan answers on the first ring.

“Hey. You find anything out yet?”

“Impatient little shit, aren’t you?”

I chuckle. “It’s important.”

“Getting closer. I should have some info for you soon. Trying to find out where these bastards are running their business.”

I nod as if he can see me.

“This is personal,” Conan says, not phrasing it like a question.

“Yeah. They hurt a friend, so I need to hurt them.”

“You’re not supposed to get your emotions involved in shit like this.”

I appreciate his concern. It’s not as if my own father ever shows me any, but I’ve also learned to take care of myself a long time ago.

I don’t need him or anyone else telling me what’s best. “I know what I’m doing.

We have it under control. Did you say this same shit to Tiernan last year when you helped with our problem?

” Some fucking loser had slipped drugs in Aislin’s drink.

Dean had seen him do it, so the guy didn’t get what he wanted, but that didn’t mean we weren’t going to kill him for it.

When Tiernan called, Conan jumped in to get rid of the body for us, no questions asked.

Not only that, but he helped when everything went down with Sloan.

Besides me, Tiernan, Rory, Dean, and Aislin, the only ones who know the truth of what went down that day are Conan and Fia.

“Just trying to help, kid.”

“I know.” I rub a hand over my face. “Thank you.”

“No problem. This boy, the one you’re helping out, he gonna be an issue for you? We gonna have another Dean on our hands?”

I get an annoying pinch in my chest. “Nah, nothing like that. I’ll hopefully have some fun with him, but that’s that.

I’ll leave that settling-down shit to Tiernan.

I think I’ll be more like you.” Conan hasn’t ever been in a serious relationship.

Things are a lot safer that way. The difference being, as far as I know, Conan doesn’t even have sex.

If he does, he keeps that shit on the super down-low.

“And like your father,” he says.

“No.” Because he fell in love, and when Mom died, he never recovered.

“It’s not as fun as you think…being alone. It wears on you, no matter the reason you’re doing it.”

I don’t move, maybe don’t even breathe. Conan has never spoken to me like this before. Is he talking about himself? I think so, but I also think he’s talking about my father, and maybe saying he doesn’t want me to be like them. “I know what I’m doing,” I say again.

“Okay. I’ll be in touch soon. We’re having a gun issue here, shipments keep getting fucked up, but I’ll let you know when I find anything out about your marks.”

“Thanks, Conan. I appreciate it.” I end the call, then fuck around on my phone for a few minutes.

I feel like shit not being home in case Tiernan or Rory need me.

I’ve spent my whole life being right there with Tiernan, always there to take care of whatever has to be done.

Rory is our guy, but Tiernan is my cousin, and I’m always the one he goes to.

Yeah, I’m only five fucking minutes away, but in this strange way I’m not familiar with, it feels like I’m abandoning T and even Rory for Ollie…

and I’d make that decision again. Ollie needs me right now. They can take care of themselves.

I look up and see this fucking dude bro with brown hair watching me. It’s clear he wants to come over and talk but isn’t sure if he should.

I give him a nod, and he comes over. “Do you have any…” He looks from left to right as if someone magically popped up beside me.

There are people around, walking across the greenery, but no one close enough to hear what we’re saying, and they know better than to pay too much attention when it comes to me anyway.

“Any what?” I ask, bored with him already. “Actually, you know what? Never mind. Get the fuck out of here. You’re annoying me.”

“I…okay.”

He turns, and I let him get five feet away before I say, “I changed my mind. Come back.”

Dude bro stops. The frustration on his face is clear, his jaw tight, but he does as I say. It’s impossible not to enjoy this power.

“Now, spit it out. What would you like?”

“Coke.”

“How much?”

He tells me, and I give him a price, then stare at him while I wait for him to hand me the money.

“What? Right here?”

“Did you want to take me on a date first?”

He opens his mouth, then closes it again before sputtering, “No…am I supposed to?”

I laugh. “Give me the fucking money, dude bro.” He does, and I slip the coke out of my backpack, glad I brought it out here with me. I’m not surprised I’ve already gotten hit up. The best place to sell is a college campus.

I stay out there a while longer, getting a few more people coming up to me and buying some more shit, but eventually my stomach feels like it’s going to eat itself, and I figure Ollie must be the same. It’s getting close to dinnertime, and if he sleeps too long now, he might not sleep well tonight.

There’s not a chance in hell I’m leaving this bench, though, so I pull up a food-delivery app, hoping he likes burgers and fries, then head over to the stairs leading into the dorm building to wait for them to bring it to me.

It takes half an hour for them to get there, but then I go straight for the elevator and up to Ollie’s floor. My stomach growls, the scent of fries making me salivate nearly as hard as I do over Ollie.

I unlock the door to his room and push it open. The second I do, something swings at my head, and I have to jump backward not to get knocked the hell out.

“Ouch! Shit.” Ollie clutches his side.

“I’m the one who almost just got my head taken off.”

His pupils blow wide as if he just realized what he almost did. “Oh my God. I’m so sorry. I…” He looks down, then away, still holding on to his hurt rib. “I thought you left and they…”

“I did, but I was coming back. I stayed right outside so I could watch your building.” I set the food on the counter. “I left you a note.”

“I didn’t see it.”

His hand is shaking. He has a tremble in his voice too.

Jesus, he’s scared as shit. I forget that things like this aren’t normal for everyone.

He was attacked last night, and now he doesn’t know if people are after him.

I left him alone on his first day back in his dorm, while he was sleeping.

Of course he would wake up and be afraid. “Jesus, Kitten. Come here.”

“I’m fine.” He shakes his head.

“There go those claws again.” I reach for him, but he sidesteps me.

“I can take care of myself.”

“I know. You almost bludgeoned me to death with a broom.”

He wrinkles his nose, squinting at me in his cute, annoyed way that definitely shouldn’t be making me hard in this situation, but it is.