Chapter 38
Breathe
Ciara
“Ciara, Ciara. Baby, wait.” I can still hear Dylan calling after me as I ran from his family’s home.
However, I moved too fast for him to catch me. I was able to get to his truck and grab the key I know he keeps in the hidden lockbox behind the back plate.
I took off without having a clue where I planned to go. Ciarán is with Taegan today. He won a bet between them, and she owed him lunch and a new game.
She was supposed to drop him off at the house after. I’ll have to text her to bring him to me when I figure out what I plan on doing. I heard everything.
I had been right outside the room when Logan arrived. I don’t even think he saw me when he walked past. Seeing the look on his face, I took a pause and was ready to turn around and head back to the kitchen with Kate and Kara.
However, curiosity got the best of me. I stood there listening to my history unfold. To be honest, I don’t know how to feel about any of it. I’m devastated and confused.
Shauna’s mother was my cousin? Logan knew everything. He knew where I was and who had me.
I feel sick to my stomach. My parents … heck, my entire family has been picked off. And for what?
Some inheritance I knew nothing about. Speaking of inheritances. I’m going to fucking kill Theo. He fucking kidnapped us. Then he spent every dime of my and Ciarán’s money. That’s why he was so desperate right before I left.
My head begins to hurt. I palm my forehead as the memories hit me. It’s the day of the accident, but not from the same point I always dream of and remember.
It’s earlier. Before Mom rushed us into the car. It all begins to make sense.
“Laki, what do you mean? The police said there was no foul play. He OD’d in that hotel with that woman,” Mom nearly sobbed into the phone.
It was on speaker so I could hear the next words of the man she was speaking to. “Iesha, Don loved you and those kids more than he loved life itself. He would never cheat on you, and you know he wouldn’t touch that shit.
“Damn it. This wouldn’t have happened if I were there.”
“This isn’t your fault. You had to go home to take care of your family. Don understood that,” Mom sobbed.
“Yeah, but you don’t find it strange that something came up with all the guys at once, leaving Don all by himself? Those cops are setting him up. It’s all bullshit.
“Listen, baby girl, you’re not safe there. I need you to get out of America now. Get to Scotland to your mother and grandmother-in-law.
“You’ll be safe there until I can get to you guys. This is all bigger than Don. I can’t get too much into it right now, but they can help keep you safe once you get there.”
“Laki, I’m scared. I need to protect my babies. Don would want me to protect our kids.
“I’m just so confused and hurt. I’ve been on my own for months, trying to figure things out. I miss him.
“I never thought it was true, but they made me believe it was. Who do I know here to find out the truth?” Mom sobbed into the phone.
“It’s going to be all right. I’m here now. Get to Scotland and I’ll take care of the rest.
“We’ll get justice for Don. I promise. My brother isn’t going to die in vain. Call me as soon as you touch down. You can reach me at this number.”
“Okay, we’ll leave now. I’ll pack the kids up and get out of here. Thanks, Laki.”
“Anytime. I will protect you all with my life.”
I come back to the present as my head throbs. My mother never married that asshole Theo. I was right all along. He didn’t even know her.
I blink and realize I’m standing in Dylan’s apartment. I didn’t even think about coming here. I’m just here.
However, the comfort I used to feel isn’t here anymore. I feel so cold inside. Dylan knew the truth and didn’t tell me. I get that he didn’t know everything, but I could read between the lines that he knew more than I did.
“What do I do now?” I sob as I wipe the back of my hand across my face. “I know one thing. I can’t stay here.”
I take off jogging up the stairs. When I get to the bedroom we share, I rush straight to the walk-in closet I have called my own. Grabbing a duffel bag, I start to toss things inside.
The tears haven’t stopped, but I ignore them and keep packing. Vega has some things of her own going on. I’m not about to call her for help.
Ciarán and I could go back to our old place with Daliah. She hasn’t moved, but she was talking about getting roommates because she’s been lonely there all by herself. However, I don’t want to put her in the middle of all this.
I’m forming a plan in my mind as I toss the things I came here with into my bag. I refuse to take anything Dylan has given me. This is already going to kill me.
“Fuck me,” I sob as music starts to float through the house.
I thought I had more time to get out of here. As Benson Boone croons about beautiful things, I can’t stop sobbing. My life was beautiful for just a little while. Now I don’t know what to think.
I’m losing everything all over again. Too weak to deal, I slide to the carpeted floor of the closet and lie there in a heap. I’m completely heartbroken.
Dylan
Taegan and Ciarán pulled up right after Ciara took off in my truck. I had Taegan drive us home. The tracker I keep on my vehicle led us here. I’m so lost.
I never meant to hurt her. I didn’t want her to find out like this. Hearing movement inside our bedroom, I pause and pull out my phone. Connecting to the sound system in the bedroom, I play the first song that comes to mind to block out any arguing we might do.
Taegan and Ciarán went up to the rooftop to give us space.
Taking a deep breath, I then walk into the bedroom in search of the woman I love more than anything.
As “Beautiful Things” plays and Benson Boone begs for her to stay, for me, I move to the closet where the lights are on.
I freeze when I find her lying on the floor.
Panic fills me. Seeing that she’s only lying there as she sobs and she’s not physically hurt, I drop to my knees and crawl over to her slowly. When I get about a foot away, I reach for her ankle and wrap my fingers around it, needing to touch her.
She jerks away, killing me. I move closer and hover over her small body. My own tears sting the backs of my eyes.
“Baby, come here. Talk to me, let me be here for you,” I whisper in her ear.
She curls into a tighter ball. Reaching for her back, I begin to rub it. She turns her head slightly to look at me.
So much hurt fills her gaze. I cup her face and press my forehead to the side of it. Ciara reaches for my shirt and fists her hand in it.
“You lied to me,” she says softly.
“Baby, I planned to tell you everything once I had all the details and the okay. Logan said it wasn’t safe to tell me everything while we were in Dublin. He asked me for some time,” I reply.
“How much did you know?”
“I knew how your parents died and that my grandda had something to do with their deaths. Not what or how. The rest I learned today with you and Cole.”
“Can you give me some time? I don’t know how to feel right now. I’m hurt, angry, and confused.
“I want to be mad at you, but if not for you, they would have killed me and Ciarán like our parents. Somehow, you’re always keeping me safe, whether you know it or not,” she scoffs.
“No matter what, I always will. I love you. I’m not going to allow anything to happen to you. I swear, I wasn’t going to keep this from you forever.”
“But what does it all mean? What’s the Alliance? How do I fit into that?”
“It means you’ve been the key to one of the most powerful movements in the underworld. The Alliance will be the future of the world. The power, the money, the change.
“It means my evil-ass grandfather is rolling in his grave because we’re about to turn the world on its fucking head … together.” I swallow hard as I say the last word, unsure if she’s still with me.
She pushes me away as she turns on her back and looks up at me. I stare down at her, holding my breath. Blinking back tears, she pushes her hand into the front of her curls that are sprawled wildly around her head.
“What exactly am I inheriting?”
“A very old, very powerful Scottish clan. Cole inherited Clan O’Brien in Ireland, and like yours, Clan Black in Scotland has been passed down to Logan. From what I understand, all three clans come with names and power.
“We’ll be here for you. We’ll help you. It’s what our grandfathers wanted. We’ll finish this for your ma and da and for Raven. If you’ll allow me, I’ll be there every step of the way.”
“Dyl, I’m open to hearing them out, but first I need to settle the score with the Youngs. They owe me in blood. I won’t rest until I collect.”
“I hear you, baby. We’ll make that happen, I promise.”
She sits up and cups the sides of my face as she kisses me. I’m finally able to breathe again. Wrapping my arms around her, I hold her tight.
The more our lips touch, the deeper she seeps into my skin. I would never survive losing her. One way or the other, I’ll make this right.
“I need you,” I groan against her lips.
“I’m numb and confused. I want to feels safe and sure again. Can you do that for me?”
“Yeah, baby, I can. I told you I’m always working to keep you safe and protected. That’s all I’ve been doing.
“I love you. I’ve got your back. You can always trust me. I love you so much.”
I run my hands down her back and tug her shirt from her jeans. We breathe each other in and begin to peel each other’s clothes off. A desperation begins to set into our connection.
Our lips, teeth, and tongues are all involved in the passionate kisses we exchange. I know I need her more than anything. On the way here, thinking I lost her forever burned me deep inside.
“I love you too, Dylan. Never lie to me again.”
“I won’t, baby. It killed me to have to keep things from you for so long. From here on out, we’re in this together.”
“Dylan,” she cries out as I sink into her tight heat.
I haven’t even gotten my jeans down all the way. I’ve only shoved them down under my ass and freed my cock and balls. That’s how much I need her.
“Mm, baby. I need you so much.”
I reach for her hands and lift her arms over her head as I move my lips from sucking on her neck to capture her lips. Lacing our fingers together, I thrust deep inside her.
She wraps her legs around my waist and locks her ankles over my ass. It’s as if she can’t get close enough. I totally understand the feeling.
I want to get deeper. I want to be closer. I want to be wrapped in her until there’s no telling us apart. She’s getting so wet and I’m so hard for her.
“Dylan,” she screams.
The music is still playing, thank God, because between her screams and my groaning and grunting, anyone outside this room could hear us going at it.
“I love you so much. I’ll die before I lose you,” I groan in her ear.
“Dyl, I can’t even pack a bag and leave. It hurt so much to think I’d never see you again,” she snicker-moans.
“Don’t ever leave me, Ciara. No matter what, I know we can fix it. Even now, take all the time you need to process this, but remember I’m here. I belong to you and always will.”
“Ah, yes, okay. Okay, babe. I’m not leaving. I love you too.”
We make love on the floor of her closet until we’re both breathless and spent. As we lie catching our breath, I look up at the ceiling, wondering the same thing as Ciara.
What does this all mean for her?