Page 51 of Wild Irish

Ican’t think, can’t breathe.

Owen.

There’s no fucking way that bastard is going to die on me. Not when we’ve been at odds. I may hate him for what he did, but he’s still my brother.

“What happened?” I rough my palms over my face and listen to Aiden tell the story.

“He was in a fight. Took a bad punch. By the time Shane and I saw what was happening, it was too late. They took him by ambulance, but…he hasn’t woken up.”

“A fight?” It’s the only thing I hear. One thing Owen isn’t is a brawler. Sure, we’d given each other a few beatings over the years, but he’d never been the one to start it. That was always my job.

I sit down on the edge of the bed and place my face in my hands. “Where is he?”

“Midland Regional,” Aiden says.

Shit. That’s almost a two-hour drive.

“Okay.” My head is spinning. “Let’s go. My car is parked–”

“You shouldn’t drive.” Delaney puts her hand on my arm, but I flinch and pull back.

“I’ll be fine.” I don’t look at her. Ican’tlook at her.

Aiden frowns, looking between us. “Delaney’s right. I can take you. We can come back for yer car–”

“No.”

“Cillian.” The agony in Delaney’s voice makes me pause, but I don’t have the strength to deal with her right now.

Keeping my gaze averted, I stand and pull out my keys, removing the spare house key, then hold it out to her. “Get yer stuff. I want it gone by the time I get home.”

She sucks in a shaky breath. “I don’t want it to end like this. I know you’re upset, but if you’ll just–”

“Take it,” I yell when she doesn’t move.

“Cillian.” Aiden’s voice is a warning. He takes a step towards me, placing himself between Delaney and I like he needs to fucking protect her. “Are ye really that set on pushing everyone away?”

“Ye’ll defend anyone but me, won’t ye?” I glare at him, then toss the key on the bed.

Aiden just shakes his head at me, then looks away.

When I start for the door, I think that Delaney might try to stop me. Hell, part of me wants her to. Wants her to fight. To tell me that the man was lying about being her fiancé. And I might just believe her.

I want to believe her.

But she doesn’t.

When I glance at her from the doorway, for the first time since I met her, I can’t read what’s behind those hazel eyes. But her final words are clear. “Goodbye, Cillian.”

I grunt and slam the door behind me, knowing I just lost the best damn thing that’s ever happened to me.

Chapter 23

Delaney

As soon asCillian is gone, I break down. Sitting on the bed, I let the tears I’d been holding back stream down my cheeks.

“Ye want to tell me what that was about?” Aiden crosses his arms, watching me with a frown.

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