Page 15 of The Tides of March (Moon Murder Mysteries)

Fourteen

R onan braced himself, prepared to be cruel as necessary and determined to get it over with as quickly as possible. He couldn’t risk losing his nerve or breaking and telling Tony the truth.

“Time to wake up,” he said as he patted Tony’s cheeks.

“Huh?” Tony scratched his head groggily and attempted to wind his other arm around Ronan but he pulled away.

“Up with ye. Time to get movin’,” Ronan commanded briskly.

“Okay…” Tony sat up, blinking and bleary. He thanked Ronan when he was handed his sweater. “Where are we going?” he asked as he pulled it on, then slid off the bed to put on his jeans and socks.

“Ye’ll see. Put these on,” Ronan said, dropping Tony’s boots by the bed. He looked around, grimacing. Tony only came with the clothes on his back but Ronan didn’t want him leaving empty-handed. “Don’t ask questions. Go get yer favorite thing, whatever it is,” he said, earning a confused frown from Tony.

“Aside from you or Myrtle?”

“Aside from me or Myrtle,” Ronan confirmed, feeling every bit of the monster as Tony looked around, then retrieved the copy of the Odyssey from the bedside table. “Aye… Take that,” Ronan said with a terse nod, jettisoning memories of Tony reading to him in the tub and while they reclined by the fire. “Let’s go.”

He grabbed Tony’s wrist and towed him to the door. “You still haven’t said where we’re going,” He obediently pulled on his coat and allowed Ronan to wind the scarf around his neck.

“Don’ worry. Ye’ll see soon enough.”

The pack must have caught on, they whined and yelped as they blocked the door and Ronan had a beast of a time getting Myrtle to stay. He had to fight to keep them all inside the cottage and the howling was horrendous as Ronan led Tony up the trail to the dock, instead of taking the beach path.

“Are we making a pickup?” Tony guessed as he was guided up the ramp and onto the boat’s deck. “I finally get to go for a ride,” he noted cheerfully.

“Put on a life jacket and stay out of the way,” Ronan told him and went about untying the boat from the dock and pushed off. He started the engine, avoiding Tony’s nervous smiles and hopeful glances.

“It’s a gorgeous morning,” Tony shouted so Ronan could hear him and pointed at the sunrise.

Ronan nodded but kept his attention fixed on the windshield and steered them toward Maryland and Bowleys Marina. The tide was low, the skies were clear, and the sun was rising. They weren’t ideal conditions for a kraken so Ronan had decided to make a run for it with Tony. The sea was calm and Ronan didn’t see any sign of the tentacled beast as he pushed his faithful old sloop to run as fast and as hard as she could.

“That’s it! Good lass!”

“We’re headed to Maryland?” Tony guessed once he got a sense of their direction. “It’s kind of early for a delivery from Howard,” he said as he joined Ronan at the wheel. “Why are we headed to Maryland?” This time, his tone was suspicious and Tony’s eyes tightened when the other coastline came into view.

“Ye’ll see soon enough.”

“Why are you acting like this? You’re making me nervous,” Tony said and tried to turn Ronan but he didn’t budge. “Ronan.”

“Let me be. We’re almost there.” Ronan nodded at the marina, sniffing hard to keep his nose from running and blinked back tears as his eyes stung.

Tony searched the docks as Ronan steered around and found a place to park. It was a weekday and too early for recreational sailing so the marina was quiet, allowing Ronan to pull up easily. He sidled alongside the dock, then cut the engine and put down anchor. He pushed past Tony as he went to get the ramp.

“Are you expecting someone?” Tony asked as he crossed his arms and waited by the steering wheel.

“Nope,” Ronan finally said once the boat was secured and it was safe for Tony to disembark. “Ye don’ need to make a big fuss,” he muttered as he went to Tony and gestured at the ramp. “It’s fer the best.”

“Don’t need to make a fuss about what?” Tony asked. “What’s for the best?”

“Time fer ye to get,” Ronan told him and pointed at the ramp.

Tony’s head cocked and his brows pinched. “What? Why?”

“I told ye, it’s fer the best.”

“No, it’s fucking not,” Tony countered, shaking his head stubbornly. “I don’t want to…get.”

“Too bad. I don’ want ye anymore and ye have better things to do than lay around on yer arse all day.”

Tony blinked and reeled. “Excuse me? I’ve been trying to get up and off my ass for weeks. What the fuck happened, Ronan? Why are you doing this?”

“Nothin’ happened,” Ronan said and steeled himself as he took Tony by the elbow. “I’m done with ye, is all, and it’s time fer ye to move on and forget about me.” His voice dropped to a ragged growl, matching the burning sourness in his gut as he shoved Tony toward the ramp.

“No!” Tony yanked his arm free and shuffled back. “You don’t mean that and I don’t want to go. Why are you doing this?” he demanded, but Ronan offered him a deceitful sneer.

“Ye don’ know my heart as well as ye think ye do. I’m done with ye, lad. Go back to yer life and forget about me.”

“No! You’re lying, Ronan. You love me,” Tony insisted. “You said you would love me forever, until the sea took you. Remember?”

Ronan shook his head, avoiding Tony’s eyes. “They were just pretty words. I didn’ mean any of it and I can’t waste any more time playin’ nurse to a spoiled lad,” he said and this time, Ronan didn’t have any trouble leading Tony down the ramp.

“I didn’t realize you were so busy! Thank you for clearing your schedule to care for my spoiled ass.” Tony laughed incredulously. “Are you serious, Ronan? Did I say or do something? What the hell did I miss?”

“Ye didn’ miss anything,” Ronan said, backing up the ramp. Tony started to follow but Ronan pointed and prepared to take his cruelest shot. “Grow up and get yer own life, Tony. Ye don’ have to follow MacIlwraith around, waitin’ for a pat on the head like a good little pup,” he said and saw that he’d scored a direct blow as Tony staggered back onto the dock.

“Really? That’s what you think of me?” Tony verified and Ronan had to look away as he nodded. He couldn’t take the way Tony’s lip wobbled or how his hand shook as he swiped at his cheek.

“Aye. Yer just a spoiled lad who finally realized he wasn’ the center of the world.”

Tony sniffed hard, his tongue pressing against the inside of his cheek as he nodded. “Maybe you’re right. You’re a miserable, lonely, old asshole, but you didn’t have to be. We could have been happy but you’re throwing us away for what? Why, Ronan? What did I do?”

“I’ve had enough of ye, is all,” Ronan said simply, ducking to untie the boat.

“Why are you doing this?” Tony’s voice was soft and cracked as he watched Ronan shove off and head back to the wheel. “You’ll regret this,” he shouted when Ronan started the engine. “You love me and you already know this is a mistake!”

There was more truth to that than Tony would ever suspect but Ronan tossed a hand in his direction. He gunned the engine, giving it gas as he steered away and Ronan risked one last look. “Don’t even think about comin’ back. Move on with yer life, lad, and forget about me. Better yet, do us both a favor and stay the fuck away from Chesapeake Bay.”

“Stay away?” Tony yelled as he jogged to keep up. “Don’t worry. Hell will freeze over before you see me again,” he vowed, his voice shaking with anger at Ronan’s betrayal.

Ronan offered him one last salute. “That’s how I’d have it. Stay far, far away from me lad.”

“Fine! Kiss my ass and enjoy the rest of your lonely, shitty life, you oversized asshole!” Tony roared back and hurled the copy of the Odyssey off the end of the dock, sending it spinning into the boat’s wake.

That was for the best as well, Ronan decided. He’d rather the book rested at the bottom of the marina than imagine Tony holding it and missing him. A memento would act as an invisible cord between them and it was better if that was severed too. He didn’t want Tony dwelling on the good times and wondering if Ronan ever did or if they deserved another chance. Tony’s hopes belonged at the bottom of the sea, along with that book.

Ronan’s heart sank along with it as he turned toward Pooles Island, leaving Tony behind. He couldn’t remember the last time it had happened, but Ronan cried. He let out loud, heaving sobs that swelled like waves in his chest, bellowing Tony’s name and wishing the sea would swallow his ship. He dared the kraken to come and take him, feeling like he had nothing left to lose.

When he returned to the cottage, the pack whined for Tony, and Fergus and Flynn scratched at the door, desperate to get out and find him.

“He’s gone. Lay down and be quiet or I’ll put ye out,” Ronan had threatened but they were restless all day and Myrtle wanted nothing to do with him. She curled up on her blanket with her back to Ronan and wouldn’t eat the rest of his eggs when he put his plate down for her. “Suppose I deserve that,” Ronan accepted with a heavy sigh and closed his eyes to rest.

The tide would be high that evening and Ronan would need every bit of his strength when the kraken returned.