Chapter 9 Kieran
nine
Kieran
As soon as the drugs take ahold of her, she collapses in my arms. I lay her down on the rundown couch that’s ratty and sagging in every place.
Sitting on it earlier to give Mia time to process while she was in the shower, I kept wondering why she would even have such a thing here.
Why has she been living like this for the last year?
She is worth so much more than this hell hole.
Pulling out my phone, I text Henry to pull the car around. It's time to go. Immediately, there is a knock on the door. Opening it up, Henry is standing there with a shit eating grin. Seeing him with that look makes me want to punch him in the face, but we have more pressing issues right now.
"You've got the goods?" he asks.
"Yep. Grab her bag and I'll carry her down to the car," I command, pointing to the bag and picking up my beloved in my arms, bridal style. It won't be long before I'll be doing this for real, because she'll be my wife, whether she likes it or not.
Since the first moment I had her, she sealed her fate. I knew coming into this that I wanted to marry her, and when her soft lush lips hit mine, it confirmed everything I knew deep down.
Mia Thomas belongs to me.
We both walk quickly but silently down the darkened hallway toward the stairs. How is this even safe? The idea of her walking around this complex at night without any type of protection makes my blood boil.
Henry opens the back door to the SUV and I carefully place the sleeping Mia in the backseat. Once she's in safely, I secure her seatbelt and let out a small breath. I’m not sure my anxiety has ever been so high, and I've had a gun put in my face.
The first step is taken care of—Mia is securely with me. Now to make it legal.
Henry climbs into the driver's seat after placing her bag in the trunk. "To your house, boss?"
I hit him upside the back of his head, and he lets out a yell. "What was that for?"
"You know I hate it when you call me 'boss.’"
"But that's what you are."
I narrow my eyes at Henry, and mumble, "I'm not the boss, yet, that's Da."
He smiles at me and repeats, "Yet."
I just shake my head and focus on the scenery outside the window, pulling out the pack of gum from my pocket. Grabbing a stick, I place it into my mouth, savoring the cinnamon taste, just like my Mia.
Henry doesn’t say anything else the whole ride to my place, but I don’t need to know what he’s thinking—that kidnapping Mia is a bad idea, but I don’t give a shit.
"Kieran? Seriously man, where do you want me to go?"
"Let's go to my apartment in the city. And call Collin. Tell him to bring the paperwork. We'll forge her signature."
"Got it," he says as he puts the car in drive and pulls out into traffic, heading home. It’s completely guarded by my men. This will give us the privacy we need while I’m convincing my wife to stay with me.
I recall the conversation two years ago leading me to how I got here, kidnapping the girl to make her my wife, instead of dating her while convincing her.
A knock on my office door interrupts the reports I’m combing through. "Yes?"
The door cracks open and Da peeks his head in. "Kieran, do you have a minute?"
"Yes. Come on in and have a seat."
He walks in and sits down in the seat in front of me. We sit in silence allowing my thoughts to run rampant. "Da? What's going on?"
He clears his throat, but doesn't make me wait any longer. "As you know, it's in our creed that for you to take over as boss, you have to be married. Well, it's time, son."
My brows furrow. "Time for what?"
"Your cousin, Murphy, has started spreading rumors in some of the factions leading to distrust of our organization. Especially about the stability of you as my successor, since you haven't taken a wife and your marriage contract fell through with Suri."
My head starts pounding with every word that comes out of his mouth. Rubbing my temples to help relieve the pain, I say, "Let me get this straight, if I don’t get married then there might be some resistance to me taking over."
"No, son. Not resistance, that's what's happening right now. If you don’t get married soon, then they will be coming for all of us."
"All of us?"
"Yes, the Irish don’t mess with traditions you know that”—Da lets out a breath as if this is costing him— "It's why I've been trying to get you married. This time I'll let you choose the bride, as long as you’re married within the next six months. After that, I choose."
"Fine."
"That was easy. Do you have someone in mind?"
My mind drifts to the only woman who has been on my mind for the past year. The way her back arched when she came. How she tasted like the most delicious combination of salty and sweet. If I’m going to marry anyone, it's at least going to be with the woman who has taken over all of my thoughts.
"Yeah, I have someone in mind."
"We're here, brother. I'll grab her duffel and put it in the living room." Henry turns, looking at me before getting out of the car.
I open my door and look up at the brownstone I bought a while ago, one that will become the place that Mia and I call home.
I look over at my sleeping beauty and pick her up, carrying her over the threshold of the brownstone. Making a beeline for the temporary bedroom I set up in the basement—just for this moment—I place her on the bed, taking care not to wake her.
The drugs should be wearing off soon, which means I need to be ready. Moving toward the nightstand, I pull out the handcuffs I had custom made just for her. When I bought them, I thought we would use them in a different way, but this will work, too.
Leaning over, I give her a small kiss on her forehead as I handcuff one of her hands to the headboard, whispering, "I can't have you running off. At least not until you've agreed to stay with me.”
A throat clearing brings my attention to the door of the bedroom. Henry is standing there, and if he's surprised by the little affection I’m giving Mia, he doesn't show it. Good man.
"He's here," he says.
"Good. Let's get this over with. I’m ready to spend time with my wife, alone."
Everything is about to change for me and Mia.