Page 33

Briar

I stopped cold as I heard the words and retreated, retracing my steps as softly as I could back up the stairs.

It’s time for me to return to Byron Bay and live my life away from everyone in this house. I slammed the door shut behind me, my breath coming in short, ragged bursts. How could I have been so stupid?

The air in the bedroom was thick. Lorcan’s cologne permeated it, choking me, suffocating me.

How had I let myself wake up and think that just because we fucked each other, he would love me?

I knew better. I was smarter than this. An icy chill gripped my heart.

The way he had made me feel—like I was the most important person and deserved all the orgasmic pleasure in the world.

It had all been a show. For what? To simply show me he was the one in control?

I couldn’t believe what a fool I had been because now he was downstairs with his brother and sister-in-law, trying to get back to Australia— away from everyone in this house.

The words—Lorcan’s words—echoed in my mind.

I rubbed my head as the empty wine bottle on the end table caught my eye, and a wave of shame washed over me as I pictured myself bent over the bed, Lorcan’s cock slamming into me while I submitted to his demands.

I clenched my teeth, not wanting to admit it had been the best sexual experience of my life, trusting him enough for me to let go and let him guide me to a part of myself I didn’t know existed, one that craved to let go—that craved to give in to him and him alone. I wouldn’t make that mistake again.

I tore into the bedroom, snatched my suitcase, and threw it open on the bed.

When I yanked open the doors of the wardrobe, the clothes swayed in the breeze created.

The hangers rattled as I tore through my belongings, throwing them onto the bed.

I pulled the phone from my pocket, my fingers fumbling as I dialed Amy’s number.

It had only been three hours since I had spoken to her last, but hopefully, she would answer.

“Hello?” Her voice was groggy and strained.

“Amy…” I forced her name out of my throat as tears fell from my eyes. “I’m sorry for waking you—”

“Briar, what’s wrong?” Concern seeped across the connection.

“Everything.” My voice cracked. I bit my lip hard enough to taste iron, making myself hold it together. “I don’t know how I let him… And now, he’s downstairs telling his brother he wants to be free of everyone in this house.”

“Oh, Briar, I’m so sorry.” I heard the rustle of sheets as she sat up. “Give me a minute. Let me go to the other room so I don’t wake Hugh.”

“It’s fine,” I said, shoving my clothes into the bag. My breath caught in my throat, my fingers clutching the shirt I wore to the garden party the night I met him. I pushed the thought of my fluttering heart that night out of my mind and stuffed the shirt in my bag.

A few seconds later, Amy broke the silence, her voice clearer. “Okay, sorry about that. What happened?”

I shook my head as I walked into the bathroom, tossing everything I had brought into my toiletry bag.

“I don’t know, but I have to get out of here.

I can’t be around him. I can’t stay here.

” I caught my reflection in the mirror. My eyes were red-rimmed, my lips swollen, but the unmistakable marks left by Lorcan’s passionate kisses were on my neck.

I clenched my jaw, barely recognizing myself as I spun away from the mirror and returned to my packing.

Why was I this upset over a one-night stand?

Amy’s voice was soft as she spoke, as though she didn’t want to ask her question. “But what about everything you needed to learn for your mother?”

I sighed, running my fingers over the leather portfolio Cormac gave me. “Rory and Cormac found it for me. It’s all the information I wanted.”

“Okay… so what are you going to do?”

“I don’t know. I need to get out of here—get home.” I sat down on the bed. My heart sank as I realized how dependent on them I had allowed myself to be. Even the phone was theirs.

Amy inhaled deeply, and something rustled on her side—a chair, maybe. “How much is in your Europe fund right now?”

I shook my head. “Maybe about a thousand dollars?”

“Alright.” I heard typing, followed by a sharp exhale. She was at her computer. “Shit.”

My chest tightened. “What?”

“Nothing… let me try to figure this out. Flights are not cheap. For anything without a sketchy layover, there is only business class.” There was more typing.

“What are you finding?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Economy is completely sold out, and I’m not sending you through Russia. Okay. Here it is. But you’re not gonna like it.”

“Does it get me out of here?” I turned to my suitcase and zipped it closed.

“It looks like the best way to get you home is a flight leaving Dublin next week. It is the only thing that we can afford, even combined.”

“Next week?” I shook my head, trying to get my thoughts straight.

“Go ahead and book the seat.” Keys clicked through the phone.

I nearly choked, looking around the room that had once felt so luxurious.

Now the walls were closing in on me, his scent clinging to everything around me.

I refused to look at the bench at the end of the bed.

“God, I should have listened when you said this would end badly.”

“Well, you aren’t dead.” Her smirk came through the phone, and I couldn’t help but chuckle as she continued. “Remember the gift I gave you just in case you weren’t back by your birthday? Time for you to open it.”

“Is this really the time?”

“Don’t argue with me. Just get it.”

I sniffled and removed the gift from my backpack, where it had sat for the past few days, turning it over in my hands before ripping off the paper and opening the box.

My mouth dropped open as I wrapped my head around the stack of twenty-pound notes in my hand.

“Amy! How much is this? Why? How?” I could barely form all the questions.

“Because you were being impulsive and stupid, and you wouldn’t have taken it from me. There are two thousand five hundred pounds there.”

The thumping in my chest softened, and my stomach knotted. “Where did this come from?”

Amy’s words were soft. “Hugh agreed to let me empty the wedding fund. I know it isn’t much, but we only want something small and—”

I pulled in a sharp breath. “No. Amy…” My eyes stung again.

“I needed to know you would be safe, and now you will.”

“I’ll pay you back. Every cent. And you will have the wedding of your dreams.” My throat was tight.

“Only with you there.”

I wrapped an arm around my stomach as my gaze fell to the portfolio. “So I have about a week?” I ran my fingers over the supple leather before opening it. Names of places stared back at me—locations I might never get the chance to see again, that my mother would have adored visiting.

“Yes. What are you thinking?”

“I’m going to follow in Lady Isobel’s footsteps and explore the spots important to her, just like my mother would have.”

Amy chuckled. “What do you mean?”

“I’m here, right? And this—this is everything my mother ever wanted me to learn. I may as well take the chance. It’ll give me something to do.”

Amy was silent for a moment, as if she was considering chastising me and telling me to go to Ireland. Finally, I heard her inhale. “Where are you headed first?”

I bit my lip, glancing at the clock—seven thirty.

Everyone would be in the drawing room for dinner soon.

“It is probably too late to get started now, so I’ll find a room somewhere in London tonight.

Hold on.” Just as I was about to lower the phone from my ear to search, I realized I would need to leave it behind.

It wasn’t right for me to steal it from Cormac, no matter how much money they had.

I didn’t want any ties to them at all. “Can you see if you can find a place with a room tonight for me?”

“Yeah sure.” I heard the keys again. “What about near the train station?”

“Perfect.”

“Ready for the address?”

I grabbed my pen and wrote the address she gave me on the page in the portfolio. “I’m going to have to leave this phone, so I’ll call you as soon as possible.”

“Make sure it isn’t long,” she said. “And keep me updated on where you are.”

I smiled despite the ache in my chest. “I will. I wish you were here with me.”

Amy chuckled again. “No, you don’t, because if I were, I’d tear his heart out with my bare hands.”

I smiled, my chest blooming with gratitude for her friendship. “You always were one to protect me, weren’t you?”

“That’s what friends are for. Are you going to be all right?”

“Yes, thanks. You should get a bit more sleep.” My heart settled in my chest now that we had a plan to move forward.

“I love you. Don’t forget to check in.”

“Love you too, Mum.” I smiled as I threw the word out, content for her to keep tabs on me. I disconnected the call, glancing around the room again before placing the phone and the key card on the dresser.

I picked up the portfolio and slid it into the front pocket of my suitcase, along with all but a few of the bills Amy had hidden from me, which I put in my pocket.

I took one last look around the room, throwing my backpack over my shoulder and breathing in the space that had held me and Lorcan together.

Then I squared my shoulders and reached for the bedroom door.

As I passed through the sitting room, my eyes landed on the empty wine bottle on the table, and my heart sank.

It sat where we’d left it, a silent witness to the afternoon, to what could have been.

I ran my fingers over the glass, remembering how he had poured it for me and his lips had curled into something almost tender.

I held my breath as I tiptoed down the stairs, praying not to meet anyone.

The brothers were still fighting, by the sounds of things, so they wouldn’t notice.

I clicked my tongue. I wasn’t a prisoner.

But I didn’t want to explain why I was leaving.

I clenched my jaw, reaching for the glass doorknob of the front door.

If Lorcan wanted me out of his life, it would be on my terms, not his.