Chapter 25
Mia
“That’s impossible,” I whisper, tears still streaming down my face. “No.”
“You know Angelo?”
I feel like I might pass out, and I grab onto Killian to steady myself.
“I need to leave,” I whisper. “Please. If he sees me-"
“Wait,” Killian says, his eyes widening in disbelief. “Is Angelo the person you’ve been running from?”
I nod, swallowing the lump that’s formed in my throat.
“Fuck,” Killian mutters. “How the hell do you know him?”
My head is spinning as I try to take in this information.
Angelo Corso is Killian’s cousin. That means when Angelo “found me” with Killian, he already knew who Killian was. He just made me believe that he didn’t.
“Is there a way we can leave?” I ask, my heart racing. “Without anyone seeing us?”
Killian nods, taking out his phone.
He shoots off a text and a moment later he says, “We’re good.”
He hurries me out of the coat room and the two of us walk down a narrow hallway, and then he’s pushing the door open that leads to the parking lot. We head towards his SUV, and he opens the door for me and buckles me inside before he makes his way around to the driver’s side and gets in.
“Mia, what’s going on?” he asks, once he starts the car up. His handsome face is etched with concern.
“Please get me away from here,” I say, my voice barely a whisper. “Please, Killian.”
He swears, shaking his head as he pulls out of the lot.
My own head is swimming. Nothing makes sense right now. I feel like I’m free falling through an abyss. I can’t even wrap my brain around the fact that Angelo and Killian are related.
Killian drives a few miles and then he turns into a McDonald’s parking lot. He pulls into a random spot, putting the car in park.
I take a deep breath, looking at him.
“I’ll tell you everything,” I say. “I’m sorry. I just…”
There’s a bottle of water in the cup holder, and I pick it up, taking a sip. Then I take another deep breath before I start talking again.
“I never wanted to leave back then, Killian,” I say slowly. “I didn’t take your money, either. Or trash your house. That was Angelo.”
Killian looks shocked.
“Fuck, my head is spinning,” I say, more tears welling up in my eyes.
To my surprise, Killian leans over and takes my hands in his. He rubs my palm gently with his thumb, his gaze soft as he looks at me.
“Start from the beginning, sweetheart,” he says, his tone uncharacteristically sweet. “You’re safe right now. I’ve got you.”
I nod, swallowing nervously.
“Two years ago, my mom lost our house,” I start again. “She took off. Left me to deal with all the people she fucked over. And I had nowhere to go. I was terrified of my uncle, the one who owned Red, because I knew she owed him money. I knew he’d come for me when he wasn’t able to find her.”
I take another sip of water before continuing. “I’ve known Angelo for a long time. He pursued me…but at one point, I was actually promised to Gus.”
“Wait, what?” Killian interrupts me, his hand flying to his mouth. “You were going to marry Gus?”
I nod. “I was supposed to. And then he died, and the whole thing was called off.”
Killian just nods, a look of shock on his face.
“I…I made a deal with the devil, Killian. I was always hungry and broke, and I was jumping around from house to house because I had nowhere to go. I was crashing with strangers. And I stole food from the wrong people one night. I thought they were going to kill me. I’d always gotten myself out of tough situations, but I didn’t know how I was going to get out of this one. ”
My mind spins as I recall the memory from that night; the night that put me in Angelo’s debt. The night that I essentially sold my freedom, I just didn’t know it at the time.
“One of the guys that I thought was going to kill me said Angelo’s name.
And I used it to my advantage. I told them to call him, and that Angelo could vouch for me.
They called him, and he came down.” I take another deep breath.
“I was so relieved at first. Until I realized Angelo wasn’t going to let me go. He told me that I owed him.”
Killian’s jaw is clenched so tight, it looks like it’s going to snap.
“I basically became Angelo’s bitch,” I admit, shame coursing through me. “But nothing I did was ever enough. And when he wanted to me kill someone for him, I knew that I had to get away. I ran. And I met you.”
I’m fully crying now, unable to stop my tears from falling.
“And then he found me. That’s what I thought at the time.
I had no idea you guys were related. He didn’t say anything, either.
I thought he was just following me and that’s why he knew so much about you.
But I really thought that he was going to kill you, Killian.
It’s why I ran. I didn’t want to run. I never wanted to leave you.
Fuck, I think I was in love with you, I… ”
My voice trails off as sobs rack my body, and Killian leans over, pulling me onto his lap. He holds me as I cry, his hands gently smoothing my hair over my back.
“It’s okay, Mia,” Killian says soothingly. “I’m so fucking sorry. I am so sorry.”
“Please don’t apologize,” I murmur, looking up at him. “You didn’t know. I didn’t tell you-"
“You tried,” he says, gritting his teeth. “You tried to tell me you were sorry, that you didn’t want to leave, and I didn’t fucking listen to you.”
“No, Killian,” I say quietly. “Please. Please don’t.”
He kisses the top of my head, looking lost in thought.
“I had to go back,” I tell him now. “I didn’t have a choice. And he did this.”
I move so I can lift my shirt up to show him. There’s no way he noticed it the night of the snowstorm, because the lights were off. And the time he took care of me in the bath, he wouldn’t have seen it based on the angle that I was sitting at in the tub.
It’s also small. A tiny tattoo that says Property of A.
“He told me if he ever found me with you again, you were dead,” I admit.
Killian looks absolutely lethal right now.
“That motherfucker,” he says, his voice low.
“I gained his trust again. And once I had it, I ran. And I was doing okay, until I got caught by my stupid fucking uncle.”
Killian looks down at me, his eyes full of sadness.
“No wonder why you were always running,” he says. His finger gently strokes my cheek. “I’m so sorry, Mia.”
“Please stop apologizing,” I tell him.
“I’m going to make this right,” he says now. “I’m going to kill him.”
Fear shoots through me.
“He’s ruthless, Killian-"
“So am I,” Killian snaps, cutting me off. “When it comes to you, Mia, I will fucking burn the world to the ground if someone tries to hurt you.”
Killian’s staring at me, looking lost in thought, when he says, “Did you say you loved me?”
Did I say that? Fuck.
“I was rambling,” I say quickly. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to say that out loud. I –"
My words die in my throat when Killian’s lips meet mine. His kiss is deep, sensual. Full of passion. My entire body is tingling as Killian’s tongue explores my mouth eagerly, and I can’t get enough of it. I can’t get enough of him.
When he finally pulls back, he grins at me.
“I love you, too,” he says. “I always have. Even when I thought that I hated you.”
“You don’t hate me anymore?” I ask, and he chuckles.
“No, sweetheart,” he says, tucking my hair behind my ears. “I never hated you. I wanted to hate you. I was hurt. You broke my heart.”
“I’m sorry-"
“Don’t apologize,” he says, shaking his head. “It wasn’t your fault.”
I rest my head on his chest.
“What are we going to do?” I ask eventually, looking up at him.
“We’re not staying in Rosebrook Falls. We need a plan. We’re going back to Briarwood. Tonight.”
I nod in agreement.
Killian takes my face, cupping it in his hands.
“I’m so sorry that you had to deal with this alone, Kitten,” he says softly. “I’ve got you. I will never let anyone hurt you. Especially not Angelo. We’re going to get through this together, okay?”
I nod, a feeling of warmth rushing through me.
I climb back over to the passenger seat, feeling dazed. I’ve exhausted myself from crying so much, and the rush of adrenaline that I felt earlier when I saw Angelo has left me completely gutted.
Killian pulls out of the McDonalds parking lot, and he leaves one hand on the wheel and the other in mine as he drives.
Despite everything, I feel better. I feel safer. Killian knows the entire truth, finally, and it’s like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I can breathe easier now.
I have no idea what’s going to happen, but I’m not as scared as I was before. I’m not alone anymore.
I have Killian, and whatever happens, we’ll get through it.
Together.