Page 14 of Shameless Royalty

“I swear it,” I say firmly, brushing her hair back from her face. “No one’s ever going to hurt you again.”

Her lip quivers, and she nods, her head dipping back against my chest. She clings to me like she’s afraid I’ll disappear, her fingers gripping the back of my shirt. Her tears soak into my shoulder, and I stroke her hair gently, murmuring whatever nonsense comes to mind to calm her.

The only thing I’m thankful for is the fact that they didn’t sexually assault her, or Malachi would’ve been sent back to his father in tiny pieces by now.

“I’m sorry,” she chokes out between sobs. “I’m so sorry.”

“Sorry?” I pull back slightly, just enough to look at her. “What the hell are you sorry for?”

“I couldn’t stop them,” she whispers, her voice trembling. “I couldn’t—”

“Stop,” I say firmly, cupping her face in my hands. “This isn’t your fault, Cat. Not a damn bit of it. Do you hear me?”

She nods, but the tears keep coming, her body shaking against mine. I pull her close again, pressing my chin to the top of her head.

“None of this is on you,” I say softly. “You’re here. You’re safe and they’re dead. That’s all that matters now.”

For a long time, we just sit there on the floor, her sobs eventually quieting into soft sniffles. My body aches, every movement a reminder of what it took to bring her home, but I don’t let go. Not until she’s ready.

“You scared the hell out of me, y’know,” I say after a while, my voice light but laced with honesty.

She pulls back slightly, looking up at me with tear-filled eyes. “I didn’t mean to…”

“I know,” I say quickly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “I know, sweetheart. I’m just glad you’re back.”

She nods, her lip quivering. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too,” I say, my throat tightening. “Now, are you gonna get back into bed, or do I have to carry you?”

She hesitates, then gives me a small, watery smile. “You look like you might keel over if you try.”

I chuckle, the sound shaky but real. “Fair point.”

I help her back to bed, tucking the blanket around her like I used to when we were kids. She watches me with those big green eyes, the ones that always make me feel like I have to protect her from the world.

“Connor,” she says softly.

“Aye?”

“Thank you,” she whispers. “For coming for me.”

I nod, my chest tightening again. “Always, darlin’.”

I sit next to her and stroke her hair, watching as her eyes flutter closed. She’s a Cunningham, and that means she has a strong spirit, but she’s still my fucking baby sister. I know she’ll never get that part of her back, but I’ll be damned if I let her go through this alone.

She wraps her arms around her body and I can’t help but think of the baby in her belly. Even after everything she endured—the beatings, the torture—her baby survived. If that’s not a fucking testament to the Mikhailov and Cunningham blood flowing through that little bean, then I don’t know what is.

I’ll never admit it to anyone…but I’m glad the baby survived.

As she drifts off to sleep, I sit in the chair by the window, keeping watch. My ribs ache, my knuckles throb, and my mind is a storm I can’t quiet. But none of it matters.

I think about that night. About the blood on my hands, the way it felt to finally let the rage take over. About the way she ran to me, trusting me to protect her when the world had ripped her apart.

That man three nights ago—the one who walked into that estate and tore it to the ground—he’s gone now. Left somewhere in that blood-soaked room.

But the brother sitting here, watching his sister like she’s the most precious thing in the world—that’s the man I’ve always been. It’s just the part I can’t ever show the world.

Chapter 9

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