Page 212 of Ignite

“You don’t want to know. Now, let’s go kill some men and have a beer after.”

I sigh. I know something happened to him when we were kids. He was always the smart and quiet one compared to me and Declan. But I remember a day—I must have been about ten—when I heard my dad throwing glass in his office, ranting about something happening to Finn. But I was confused. Finn was just sitting in his room, doing a Rubik’s cube over and over, staring at a wall. There wasn’t an injury on him.

But he was never the same after that. Like something snapped inside him. He just turned off.

I love him the way he is. But I’ll always wonder. And I don’t dare ask again.

I sigh.

“Okay. Let’s go.”

Chapter 79

HALLIE

Ithink I’m losing my mind.

I swear my dog smells like Conan.

I’ve been home three days now, and that strong, masculine scent is still clinging to his fur.

Sliding my hands along my curves, this black dress looks cute. It hugs me in at the waist and shows just enough cleavage. I have to look professional for Lily’s art gallery, but hot enough to go clubbing after.

“Right, Bertie. Be good for Lisa.”

He comes and sits by my feet. For some reason, Georgia said she couldn’t look after Bertie again. So I’ve found a new dog-sitter for the time being.

I have no idea what time I’ll be home. Once me and Lily start, sometimes we don’t venture in until four a.m. But I can’t wait to see what she’s pulled off, she’s been so excited about this new artist.

I grab my bag and do one final sweep of lip gloss before I head out to wait for my cab.

I guess this is what I have to get used to again. A normal, single life.

How long will it take for me to stop thinking about Conan every free second I have?

Chapter 80

CONAN

I’m weirdly nervous stepping out of the car. The flashing sign of the club almost taunts me.

“Con. You know I love you, right?” Declan says from behind.

My brothers are both getting bored of babying me, waiting for me to explode and fuck my life up.

I spin to face him.

“Yeah. Why?”

My knuckles crack as I squeeze them, waiting for him to answer.

“You’re a huge guy. Covered from head to toe in tats. There’s a very small—no, fuck that—zero percent chance of you walking into this club unnoticed. By anyone.”

Okay. He has a slight point.

I don’t care about anyone else seeing me. Just not Hallie. She can’t know I’m watching her.

That’s the only reason I’m here. I just want to see with my own eyes that she’s okay.

---