Chapter 31
CHAPTER 31
K iera
The clock on the wall ticked softly, each second stretching longer than the last. I sat curled up on the couch, my arms wrapped around my knees as I stared at the empty space where Ronan had been just hours ago.
Leena.
Her name pulsed in my mind, a constant drumbeat of worry and guilt. She was out there somewhere, scared, alone, and I couldn’t shake the horrible thought that this was my fault.
If I’d told Ronan about her trip sooner, if I’d been honest from the start, maybe he could have done something. Maybe none of this would have happened.
I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat making it hard to breathe.
The sound of the elevator opening snapped me out of my thoughts. My heart leapt as Ronan stepped inside the penthouse, his broad frame filling the doorway like a shadow. His expression was hard, his gray eyes cutting as they landed on me.
“Kiera,” he said softly, shutting the door behind him.
I didn’t hesitate. I stood and walked straight into his arms, burying my face against his chest as his arms wrapped tightly around me.
“It’s my fault,” I whispered, my voice muffled against his shirt. “This whole thing is my fault.”
His arms tightened around me, his hand moving to the back of my head as he pressed a kiss to my hair.
“No,” he said firmly. “It’s not.”
I pulled back slightly, just enough to look up at him. My eyes burned with unshed tears. “Yes, it is. If I’d told you about Leena being out of town sooner—if I hadn’t tried to protect her privacy?—”
He cut me off with a look, his voice calm, but edged with steel.
“Yeah, you should’ve told me sooner. But we’ve dealt with that, haven’t we?” he said pointedly, raising an eyebrow and making me blush. “But this? What’s happening now? That’s not on you, Kiera. The bad guys would’ve gotten to her eventually. Sooner, maybe. This isn’t your fault. It’s theirs.”
I stared at him, my chest tightening as I tried to process his words. “But?—”
“No,” he said again, his tone leaving no room for argument. He reached up, his fingers brushing against my cheek as his gaze softened. “You’re not the one who took her. You’re not the one who pulled the trigger on Finn. The only people responsible for this are the ones who did it.”
Ronan held me for a moment longer, his strong arms a fortress against the storm raging in my head. His words had calmed me, but as I pulled back to look at him again, I noticed something in his eyes—something I wasn’t used to seeing.
He was tired.
Not physically, though I could see the strain in his posture, the faint shadows under his eyes. It was something deeper than that. A weight he was carrying, one I hadn’t noticed until now.
“Ronan?” I asked softly, my hand brushing against his jaw. “Are you okay?”
He straightened slightly, his expression shifting as if he was trying to push whatever he was feeling aside.
“I’m fine,” he said, but the way he avoided my gaze told me otherwise.
“You don’t have to do that,” I murmured, guiding him toward the couch. “You don’t have to pretend with me.”
He hesitated for a moment before following me, sinking down onto the cushions beside me. His shoulders were tense, his hands resting on his knees as if he was bracing himself for something.
“I can’t lose her, Kiera,” he said finally, his voice quiet. “She’s my sister. She’s all I have left of my family. If something happens to her…” He trailed off, his jaw tightening as he stared at the floor.
“You won’t lose her,” I said firmly, taking his hand in mine. His fingers were cold, but they tightened around mine as if he needed the anchor. “You’re Ronan O’Malley. You’re the strongest person I know. If anyone can bring her back, it’s you.”
He let out a quiet huff, his lips curving into the faintest smile. “You make it sound so simple.”
“It is,” I said, leaning closer until my shoulder brushed against his. “Because I believe in you. And you don’t have to do this alone, you know. I’m here. Whatever you need, I’m here.”
Ronan turned his head to look at me, his gray eyes softening in a way that made my chest ache. “You’re too good for me, you know that?” he murmured.
“Not true,” I said, giving his hand a gentle squeeze.
He chuckled softly, the sound low and rough, but it lacked its usual sharpness.
“Yeah, we’ll get her back,” he said, his voice gaining a bit of its usual edge. He sat up straighter, the mask of confidence slipping back into place, but I could still see the vulnerability lingering beneath it.
I rested my head on his shoulder, my free hand brushing lightly over his arm.
“We will,” I said softly. “Together.”
He turned his head, his eyes meeting mine. There was something raw in his gaze that made my chest ache and my pulse quicken all at once. His hand tightened around mine, and for a moment, he just looked at me, as if trying to decide whether he could let himself believe it.
His lips brushed mine, soft and tentative at first, as if he was giving me the chance to pull away. But I didn’t. I leaned into him, my free hand sliding up to rest on his chest as the kiss deepened.
It wasn’t rushed or frantic. It was slow, intentional, filled with an intensity that made my breath falter. His hand cupped the back of my head, pulling me closer as if he couldn’t bear to let go.
When we finally pulled back, our foreheads touched, our breaths mingling in the small space between us.
“I love you,” he said softly, his voice steady and sure.
My fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt.
“I love you too,” I whispered, the words slipping out without hesitation.
He smiled—a genuine smile that lit up his face in a way I’d never seen before. His thumb brushed against my cheek, his gaze steady and warm.
“When this is over, I’m going to remind you all the different ways that you’re mine,” he purred.
“I’m looking forward to it,” I murmured, my voice soft as a smile played on the edges of my lips.