Chapter 36 Aisling
AISLING
The Murray house is already full when I hear the engines outside, my father and brothers having arrived not five minutes ago.
Their raised, strained voices cut off mid-sentence as everyone turns toward the windows. My father straightens, jaw tightening. My brothers move without speaking, instincts snapping into place.
Raf arrives like a storm in the shape of a man. I’ve never seen him look so thunderous.
So deadly.
When the door opens and he steps inside, alone, the air shifts. It sharpens—focused and dangerous.
My heart lurches painfully at the sight of him.
He looks carved out of resolve and fury, eyes dark, posture rigid, a man who has already decided how much of himself he’s willing to sacrifice.
For a horrifying second, I know with absolute clarity that he’s ready to die if that’s what it takes to get Riley back.
The thought steals my breath away.
“I have a plan,” Raf says without preamble.
Everyone moves toward the table.
Maps are spread out again, coffee shoved aside, weapons not far from reach.
Raf doesn’t sit.
He braces his hands on the wood and looks at my father first, then my brothers, then finally, at me.
I don’t know why that last part feels like a gut punch.
“Tatsuo wants me,” he continues. “And you’re going to give me to him.”
My mother gasps softly behind me.
I close my eyes for half a heartbeat. “No,” I say. “Absolutely not.”
Raf’s gaze flicks to me, unreadable. “Aisling.”
“He wants your head,” I press. “You think just giving him what he wants is going to solve anything? Tatsuo has already proven his word isn’t worth a thing.”
“Not my head. You’re going to give him me. It will buy us time,” he says calmly, “and ensure we get Riley back before he gets what he wants.”
I shake my head, fear crawling up my spine. “Or it gives him the opportunity to torture you to death.”
My father raises his hand, silencing me before turning his gaze back to Raf. “Explain.”
Raf does, coldly, methodically, like he’s discussing a business merger instead of offering himself up as bait.
“You’ll agree to the exchange,” he explains, meeting my father’s eyes unwaveringly.
“Ryan, Cillian, and Patrick will bring me to Tatsuo, restrained but breathing, but they won’t hand me over until Riley is released—”
“To me. I’m coming with you,” I cut in, stepping forward in my determination. “Riley will be scared. She needs me.”
Raf’s sharp gaze meets mine, but rather than objecting, as I expected, he just gives a single nod.
Like he wouldn’t have it any other way.
And it sends a wave of relief through me.
He trusts me to be an asset in the situation, and I fully intend to do whatever it takes to make his plan work—to ensure we all come out of this alive.
“The moment you have Riley, you will take her and leave,” he says, and my pulse stutters.
I don’t like the thought of running from a fight, of leaving Raf vulnerable, exposed—even in the hands of my brothers.
What if something goes wrong?
But I know the most important thing is to get Riley to safety. And I will make sure that happens, no matter what it costs me.
“Meanwhile, our timeline just accelerated. The attack that was supposed to happen in a few days is happening immediately. Miko’s forces are already on the way.
Sandro is rallying my men. Callum, I’m relying on you to have our backs.
Everyone will already be in place, hidden, waiting for Riley and me to appear.
Aisling, you and Riley are the signal. As soon as you appear, we’ll strike them with the full might of our combined forces. ”
I listen, heart pounding, every word etching terror deeper into my chest.
“In the broad light of day?” Ryan counters, his expression skeptical.
“This leaves too much to chance,” I add. “So many things could go wrong.”
“They always do,” Raf replies.
“You could be killed before we even get Riley back.”
“I’ll make sure we get her into the room with you.” He shrugs. “Then you take her by force if you must.”
“You can’t control what happens once you’re a prisoner, Raf,” I insist. “You can’t control what they’ll do to you.”
His jaw tightens. “I’ll stay alive long enough for you to get our daughter back.”
The room catches on a breath as everyone I love and care about is brought up to speed in an instant.
But no one says a word.
Too much is at stake right now to worry about simple petty things like the truth about the past.
My voice drops. “And you’re willing to just sacrifice your life after that?”
“For Riley?” he says quietly. “Yes. If that’s what it takes. Protect Riley and don’t look back.”
The finality of his command breaks something in me.
“This is insane,” I whisper. “You can’t just… offer yourself.”
His mouth twists. “Seems appropriate. I owe her.”
“You owe her being alive,” I fire back.
Silence stretches, taut as wire.
Raf turns fully toward me then, his eyes sharp, infuriatingly calm, but I see the flicker of warmth behind them that I could almost mistake for… amusement.
“You have terrible timing, you know that?”
I blink. “What?”
He tilts his head, his mouth curving into an ironic smirk. “Did you really pick now to start caring about what happens to me, focosa? You should be happy—if things go wrong, you won’t have to worry about me being in your life any longer.”
The room seems to contract around us.
“That’s not funny,” I say, throat tight.
“I’m not joking.”
Anger surges, hot and desperate. “You think I want you gone? You think I want Riley to lose her father?”
The word father hangs between us, heavy and unignorable.
Something shifts in his eyes. Surprise. Then something deeper.
Before he can respond, my mother speaks shakily. “We don’t have another option.”
I hate that she’s right.
I hate that logic and love are pulling me in opposite directions, tearing me apart.
I know what I have to do.
I get that this is the only way we can ensure Riley makes it out of this alive.
So why does it feel like I’m being ripped to shreds?
“Give us a moment?” I murmur, meeting my family’s eyes.
With a nod, my father ushers my brothers and mother from the room.
Raf and I are left standing near the window, the afternoon light slanting across his beautiful face.
“Are you still angry?” I say quietly, wishing there were some way I could mend the rift between us before it’s too late. Before I never see him again.
He exhales. “I’m terrified.”
The honesty catches me off guard.
“For Riley,” he adds. “For you.”
My chest aches. “Then don’t do this. We can find another way.”
He steps closer. “We don’t have the time.”
I swallow hard. “I don’t like this plan.”
“I know.”
“It leaves you exposed.”
“I know.”
“It could kill you.”
His gaze softens then, just a fraction. “Aisling.”
I hate how he says my name. Like it still belongs to him.
He lifts his hand, hesitating for half a second before brushing his thumb along my cheek.
The touch is shockingly gentle, even reverent.
My breath catches painfully.
“I’m glad you called me. Despite everything,” he says quietly.
Tears burn behind my eyes. “I didn’t have a choice.”
“You did,” he says. “And you chose me.”
The words undo me.
All the anger, the fear, the days of distance and bitterness collapse into this fragile, unbearable moment.
I lean into his touch without thinking, my hand covering the back of his palm.
“Please come back,” I whisper. “Please.”
His thumb pauses. He doesn’t promise. Instead, he leans in and presses his mouth to mine.
The kiss is brief but devastating.
Soft.
Familiar.
Full of everything unsaid.
It tastes like goodbye and hope tangled together so tightly, I can’t tell them apart.
He pulls back just enough to rest his forehead against mine. “Just in case,” he murmurs.
I close my eyes, clinging to him, knowing with terrifying clarity that everything we could be hangs in the balance.