Page 25 of Velvet Chains (The Dark Prince of Boston #2)

A flicker of a smile passed over her lips, fast and bitter.

“No, I don’t. He’s an asshole and a shit husband.

But he’s a good dad . That’s not a feeling, that’s a fact.

He’s been there. Every fever, every fall, every first word.

I didn’t change a single diaper her first year…

because he did . Because he wanted to. Because he loved her. ”

I stared at her, heart pounding.

“You didn’t even give me the chance to prove I could be one.”

She met my eyes. “You’re right. I didn’t.”

I expected her to stop there.

She didn’t.

“You disappeared on me, Kieran. I was pregnant, and you were gone. I made that choice alone. You may not like it, but that’s the long and short of it. Rosie has a father. My ex-husband.”

My stomach dropped.

“You fucked me,” she said, soft and sharp. “And then you left . Do you understand that?”

I shot up in bed, heat ripping through me. “Don’t fucking talk like I abandoned you.”

“That’s what happened.”

“I left to protect you!” I shot back. “Because you were wrapped up in something too dangerous, and I didn’t want you getting buried in it. I thought—Christ, I thought you deserved better than this life. Than me. ”

She looked at me like she was trying not to feel anything. “Julian isn’t a good man, Kieran. He’s just a reliable one.”

That landed like a blade to the gut.

Not a good man.

Just not you.

I wanted to scream. To grab her and shake her and make her see what she was saying.

But I didn’t.

“No, Kieran. No—don’t do that.” Her voice cracked, and she sat up straighter, eyes sharp. “You didn’t want me. And by extension, you didn’t want her. That was your choice.”

I flinched.

“Just because you’re good in bed doesn’t mean you get to be her father.”

The words hit like a punch. Still, I kept my voice level. “What do you want me to say?”

“I don’t know,” she said. “But maybe try remembering what you did say. The first time we met. What was it again?”

I looked away. “I don’t remember. It was a long time ago.”

That was a lie. I remembered every second. Every word. Ruby Marquez had been carved into me since the moment she first looked at me like I was someone worth undressing. Worth believing in.

And I’d been too much of a fucking coward to admit it.

“You told me you didn’t have a girlfriend because you couldn’t commit,” she said. “Said you weren’t built for it. Said you were really good in bed, though—that part you were proud of.”

I almost smiled. Almost.

“You ghosted me, sure,” she continued. “But you didn’t lie. You told me exactly what you could handle. And Kieran…” Her voice softened, but her eyes didn’t. “You can’t handle this. You never could.”

I wanted to be angry.

God, I wanted to be angry.

But I wasn’t.

When I blinked, I realized I was holding back tears. Her words cut deep—too deep to fight. Too true to dodge. They gutted me.

And I had no defense. Not even close.

I swallowed. Hard.

“Okay,” I said quietly. “You made your point.”

I stood, feeling the ache in every joint like it was grief settling into bone. I looked at her one last time.

“Just know,” I said, “when Tristan comes around sniffing, I could’ve protected you. Both of you.”

“Kieran—”

“I’m doing what you wanted.”

I bent to pick up my clothes. My hands were shaking, but I kept it together. Barely.

“I’m leaving.”

“Kieran.”

I didn’t stop.

“Kieran, don’t you fucking dare walk out like that.”

I froze with my shirt half in my hand, back to her. My breath sawed through my chest, uneven.

“You want to drop some tragic line about protecting us like you’re doing us a favor and just disappear again?” Her voice was rising now. “That’s not protecting anyone. That’s running. You do it every time things get hard.”

I turned slowly. She was standing now too, blanket clutched tight around her, eyes shining.

“Jesus, Ruby, what do you want from me?”

“I want you to fight, damn it!” she shouted. “You always act like you’re the one losing everything, like we’re yours to mourn—but you left us. You decided we weren’t worth the risk before we ever had a chance.”

I stared at her, throat tight. “I didn’t even know she existed.”

“I’m not just talking about Rosie,” she said, voice shaking now. “I’m talking about me. You knew what you were walking away from.”

I stepped closer before I could stop myself, eyes locked on hers. “And what, you wanted me to stay? Back then? You would’ve let me?”

She didn’t answer right away. And in that silence, I felt the worst possible thing settle into my chest—hope.

“I don’t know,” she admitted. “But you didn’t give me the chance to find out.”

The silence between us stretched, thick with everything unsaid.

I took one slow step toward her.

“You still want me to go?”

Her mouth parted like she had a quick answer—but none came.

“I’ll leave,” I said. “If that’s what you need. I’ll walk out that door and disappear again.”

Her throat bobbed as she swallowed.

“But you say it,” I said. “You look me in the eye and tell me to go. Tell me you don’t want me here. Tell me I don’t belong.”

Her lip trembled.

I stepped closer. Close enough to feel the heat of her body under the blanket.

“You say it,” I whispered, “and I swear to God, I’ll go.”

She looked at me. Looked through me.

And didn’t say a word.

“You know what,” I said. “Fuck you, Ruby.”

Then I pulled my shirt on and I left…and it wasn’t until I’d made it all the way to the street that I remembered.

I couldn’t fucking breathe without her.

And even if she didn’t want the fairy tale escape…she was getting it anyway.