Page 53 of Killian

“What is it you want with her?”

I knew he would come to see me after I met with Greer at the café. I’m only surprised he didn’t stop me there.

“I want to court her,” I tell him honestly.

His eyes narrow. “She’s not some plaything you can play with. One call to Bastiano, and this will all be over. So, tell me why I shouldn’t.”

“She’s special. You are worried about me hurting her? That woman is going to chew me up and spit me out. I know that, but I don’t care. It’s worth it for whatever amount of time she allows me. She’s wild. Free. Independent. It’s addicting,” I say truthfully.

He stares at me, evaluating if I’m telling the truth or not.

“She is a spitfire,” he says after a moment. “She smiled when she spoke to you today.”

She did. It was a beautiful smile too. I’m not sure what he means, though.

“Yeah?” I say instead, leaving the ball in his court.

“I’ll make you a deal. Cat’s going to do whatever she wants. She always has and always will. I’ll agree to keep this secret of yours. In exchange, she’s under your protection. If she’s not with you, she will be with me. You agree that her safety is your number one priority. I don’t care if a war is going on back home. You make sure she’s safe first and foremost. Agreed?”

“Agreed. Her safety will always be my priority,” I say without hesitation.

“Good. Also, if you hurt her, I’ll kill you, the Irish be damned.”

I chuckle. “I think you’ll have to get in line behind Greer. She’d prefer to slide the knife in herself.”

He smirks. “That she would.”

To this day, I still take that promise to heart, and I will for the rest of my life. The Westies should be my priority, but she will always come before them. That’s why she’s here right now. In my home, so I can protect her better.

She’s been here before, but having her here now, in my home office at my desk working, is killing me. All I can picture is bending her over my desk and fucking her until she forgets why she wants to leave.

Does she though?

I want her. I want her by my side until I draw my last breath, but she’s meant for so much more. Does she even want to live this life? Be the wife of a mobster? She may be able to sneak away without consequences, but I never will. They would hunt me until my head was served on a silver platter. I can’t do that to her.

I don’t want her to go either, though. Although she will be safer without me, she still will not be safe. She still has Catalini blood running through her veins, making her a target.

The fight from the last time we saw each other in Ireland comes rushing forward.

“Where do you think you’re going?” I demand as I step into the room, eyeing her suitcase on the bed.

“I’m going home,” she says, not looking at me as she folds a piece of clothing.

“Excuse me?” I ask, trying to rein in my temper.

“You heard me.”

“Why?” I demand, turning her to face me.

“Because that’s where I belong.”

“Says who?” I snap.

“I know it. You know it. Hell, even your friend Cashel knows it. It’s obvious for everyone but you.” She jerks out of my hold, walking toward the bathroom.

“Don’t walk away from me!”

“You leave me no choice, Killian!”

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