Chapter 2
H e hasn’t moved. It’s been hours. Doc said he’d come to on his own and that the wound was nothing serious. If Connor doesn’t wake up, I have every intention of making good on my threat to the old man and his family.
Connor looks as though he’s just napping. But if that were the case, my nonstop pleading should have him opening his eyes. I just want to see them again, those green eyes, even if they’re looking at me with hatred and disgust. I need to see them.
“Aurora, come here.” My father is standing by the door.
I glance towards Connor. I shouldn’t leave him. What if he wakes up and I’m not here?
“Just step out into the hall. Enzo can sit with him.”
My brother walks through the door with a smirk on his face. “Sure, I’d love nothing more than to babysit my little sister’s fuckwit of a boyfriend.”
“Technically, he’s not my boyfriend. He dumped me, remember?” I cross my arms over my chest.
“What was he doing with you all the way out here, then?” Enzo lifts a questioning brow.
“I… ah… He didn’t really come willingly. But I was working on changing his mind when we got ambushed,” I spit out fast. It sounds less insane in my head.
“You kidnapped him?” This comes from my father.
“He got into my car of his own free will. I just helped him go to sleep until we made it to the cabin. It’s not a big deal.” I shrug.
“Aurora, you kidnapped the fucking heir of the Irish mafia. It’s a big deal.” Enzo laughs before shaking his head. “I mean, of course you did. I shouldn’t even be surprised.”
“Come here.” My father takes hold of my hand and leads me out of the room, shutting the door behind us.
I want to protest but the look on his face is telling me not to bother.
“Sit.” He points to a chair, and because I’m not going to poke the bear, I do as I’m told. “I don’t even know where to start. What on earth made you think you could kidnap the O’Malley heir?”
I watch my father run a hand through his hair in frustration—it’s not the first time I’ve seen him do it because of my actions. “I didn’t kidnap him. I just didn’t let him say no to coming with me.”
“And there’s a difference in that how?” My father raises a brow at me. I can see his lips fighting a smile. “Never mind. Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why did you do it?” he clarifies.
“Because I heard you all talking about going after his family, and I wasn’t about to let Connor be collateral damage,” I explain.
“Are you forgetting that the little fucker broke your heart? He made you cry, Aurora. I should kill him just for that.”
“He didn’t mean it. And he will change his mind once he works out a way to look past what I did.”
“You’re settling. You’re better than that,” Papa tells me.
“How? The guy just saved my life. He didn’t have to, and he did without hesitation,” I point out.
“He broke up with you, Aurora. You shouldn’t have to change someone’s mind about you. They should know that you’re the best thing that will ever happen to them.”
“I killed his cousin, Papa, so he didn’t really have a choice but to break up with me.” Truth is, if it had been the other way around, I’m not sure I would have done it differently.
“There is always a choice, and he chose wrong,” Papa says. “Aurora, I know that you know your worth, and that kid in there is not even close to being worthy of you.”
I shake my head. “You’re wrong.”
“I’m never wrong,” my father states, as if his word is law.
“About this you are. He is my person, Papa. I know he is,” I say, a little deflated.
“Does he know that? Does he want to be your person, Aurora?”
“He just saved my life. He lied to his family to cover up what I did. He is loyal to me even when he doesn’t want to be,” I insist.
I have no doubt where Connor’s loyalties lie. He, however, hates that he is always choosing me. I can’t make him forgive me, or move on. What I can do is not give up on us. I can be the anchor we need to hold us steady while we get through this storm.
“I don’t like it, Aurora,” Papa says.
“I know, but we don’t get to choose who we fall in love with,” I remind him.
“They aren’t going to stop looking for you. His family isn’t going to stop coming after you. And until we have them all, you need to keep out of the city. Do you really think that boy is going to leave everything he’s ever known for you?”
I consider my father’s question. Can I really expect Connor to give up his legacy to be with me?
No. There has to be another way. I don’t know what it is, but there has to be. Then again, Connor has never been that thrilled about taking over the family business.
“I know that he will choose me, Papa,” I say with a newfound confidence. He ran when his family turned up. He could have stayed in that cabin. He could have handed me over to them on a silver platter. But he didn’t. He chose to save me. “Whatever it takes, we will do it.”
“I have connections at the church. It’s not too late to choose a life of serving God,” Papa suggests.
I smirk. It is actually. But if I voice that out loud, I might as well put a bigger target on Connor’s forehead. Although my father already knows I’m not as innocent as he wants to believe I am, I’ll let him continue to live in that denial. It’s safer for everyone.
“I know this is hard for you, but it’s time, Papa. You have to let me go,” I tell him.
He scoffs. “That is never happening. I don’t care how old you get. I’m never letting go of you, Aurora. You will forever be my little girl.”
I stand and wrap my arms around him. “Good.” When I pull back, I smile up at my father. “You’re going to like him, you know? Connor.”
“Don’t count on it,” Papa grunts and walks out of the living room.
I have no doubt that he will continue to hate Connor, while secretly liking him. How could you not like Connor? He is perfect. And the way he loves me, well, I’ve never experienced that kind of devotion.
My mind goes back to what he told me in the cabin. How he gave up two innocent Albanians to cover for me. I hate that two people died—no, not just died. They were tortured. All because of Connor’s deadly devotion towards me.
He’s going to pick me. I know he is. He can’t not … right?
Shit, I should have thought to bring the zip ties.
What if he wants to leave? My father and brother are not going to let me tie him up until he changes his mind.
Which means I need a plan. I need to find a way to stop him from wanting to leave when he wakes up… on the off chance he doesn’t choose me.
Think, Aurora, think.
I could fake an injury, tell him I need help.
I could cry. Though I doubt my tears would affect him the way they do my father and brothers.
It used to be my go-to with them whenever I wanted to get my way.
Connor isn’t going to be as easy to win over.
I need something big. Something he can’t walk away from.
I just don’t know what that something is.
I’m making my way back down the hall towards the bedroom when I hear shouting. “Aurora! What the fuck have you done to her? Where is she? Aurora!” Connor’s scream booms through the house.
I rush forward, push the door open, and stare at the man I love with everything I have as he faces off with another man I love. Just in a very different way. My brother.
“Connor.” My voice is quiet. I don’t know why now is the moment those damn butterflies in my stomach choose to make an appearance. My skin ignites with awareness as he runs his eyes over me. “It’s okay. I’m okay,” I assure him as I make slow steps in his direction.