This can’t be learned behavior, not when his eyes are molten lava and he looks at me with an intensity that steals my breath.
“Killian…”
“Don’t even think about doubting my words again.”
“I wasn’t… I’m just touched.”
“Of course you are. I bet you like the tidbit about how you hold power over me.”
“It’s only fair with all the power you hold over me.” I lift a hand and stroke his cheek, smiling, then wincing when my lip throbs.
He doesn’t seem to like that, considering the way his brows dip. Then he takes my hand and kisses my palm, eliciting a shudder from deep within my soul. “I promise I’ll never allow anyone to hurt you again.”
I believe him.
With the blood on his fingers and hand, it sounds more sinister, but it’s all a part of Killian. And when I fell for him, I had to take the whole package.
The good, the ugly, and the fucked-up.
“Are you sure you won’t get bored of me, after all?” I poke.
“Oh, baby. Not even after death.”
I smile because I know he means every word. “Good, because guess what?”
“What?”
I lean over and whisper, “I’m yours.”
His nostrils flare and a muscle clenches in his jaw. “Repeat that.”
“I’m yours, Killian. I think I’ve been yours since we first met.”
Wrapping my arms around his waist, I lean against his chest slowly so that I don’t trigger my injuries.
No clue where we go from here, but I’m ready for the world Killian sets at my feet.
I’m also ready to grow into the courageous girl I become when I’m with him.
LEVI
THREE WEEKS LATER
Isit beside my uncle on the leather sofa in my office while my boys stand behind us with the stance of rookie soldiers.
Or Bran does. Lan has been exuding the type of destructive energy that gets people killed.
All four of us are staring at the person who’s sitting in the chair across from us. Despite having a plaster cast covering his right arm, he still looks nonchalantly presentable in dark trousers and a button-down.
His hair is styled, his expression resembles a wise monk’s, and he has all the indications to pass as a respectable human.
But I know better.
I never thought there would be a day when I’d be talking to the guy who’s sleeping with my daughter.
Scratch that, I’ve thought of it ever since Astrid and I learned we were expecting a baby girl, and the image always, without doubt, blurred my vision.
Is it too late to ask some witch to take us back in time so my daughter can remain forever young? Because I’m having a hard time coming to terms with this.
Uncle’s state is even worse, but his expression is more in the calculative range. Apparently, he meant it when he suggested beating this fucker to shreds and sending him back to the States with a one-way ticket.
An option I’m not entirely opposed to as it’d mean I’d get rid of the guy Glyndon so brazenly introduced to us with, “Mum, Dad, meet my boyfriend, Killian.”
Yes, she’s had boyfriends before but didn’t feel the need to bring them home. Also, I knew they kept their distance because Lan made sure of it. Apparently, he can’t with this Killian.
“Levi,” Uncle speaks to me without breaking eye contact with Killian. “Don’t you think this chap is shameless enough to show his face in your house after he broke Glyndon’s heart?”
“Indeed, Uncle. He could’ve stayed away and avoided us, but he apparently thought paying us a visit was the right thing to do.”
“Who’s going to tell him that his parents might not recognize him when we’re done with him?”
“Let’s not beat him too much, Uncle. You’re acquainted with his father, after all.” I let my eyes fall on Killian, who’s been following the entire conversation with the same blank expression. “Tell you what, kid. If you break up with Glyndon, and she knows it’s all your doing, we’ll spare you the torture.”
“With all due respect, sir, those threats don’t work on me,” the little shit says with a small smile. “You should ask Landon here. He tried worse and failed.”
“I didn’t fail if I haven’t stopped trying,” Landon says. “And you should listen to Dad because he’s offering you the easy way out.”
“I most definitely am,” I say. “Uncle, under different circumstances, how do we deal with someone who thinks he can be with my daughter after he broke her heart?”
“Correction.” Killian raises a brow. “I didn’t break her heart. She thought I did after seeing a clip from a cut video in which I told a fake friend of hers that he could drop dead. What she didn’t see is the rest of the footage where he asked me what would I tell him if he wanted to die. And afterward, when he laughed and said maybe he’d take someone with him. That someone was Glyndon, by the way. He wanted to drive himself with her off the cliff, but she escaped at the last minute. Due to his actions, she felt horrible for months, thinking she failed him when he needed her the most and that was why he committed suicide. As I’m sure Landon and Brandon told you, he didn’t die, but he’s currently wishing for death.”
I raise an eyebrow at the sure, assertive way he speaks. It’s a startling, absolutely appalling reminder of how my cousin was when he was around this fucker’s age.
Uncle must’ve made the connection, too, because his lips tighten in a line. “Landon tells me you have a history of violence, boy.”
“And so does he, but you don’t see me airing his dirty laundry for everyone to see. If I must say, it doesn’t look good on you, Landon.”
I can feel the tension radiating from my eldest son, but Bran pats his shoulder—or maybe grabs it in an attempt to stop him from going off like a bullet.
Among the four of us, Bran is definitely the only one who’s on the little shit’s side.
“Glyndon already chose him, Dad, and he makes her happy, so maybe you shouldn’t intervene,” is what he told me earlier.
Like fuck I won’t intervene.
The more I talk to him, the less I like him.
I simply did not raise my only daughter all these years to eventually hand her over to this sod.
“Look, I understand your reservations about me,” he continues in a serious tone. “But my use of violence was in my teens when my impulse control needed more work. Now, the only violence I indulge in is when I have to protect Glyndon. It is never directed at her or her friends and family.”
“Those are some pretty words,” Uncle says.
“I mean every one of them and I promise that I’ll keep her safe with my life.”
“That’s if you don’t accidentally lose your life in the meantime,” Landon mutters.
“Now, Landon.” I try to sound stern. “No threatening in front of outsiders. It could be used against you later.”
Killian merely smiles as if he didn’t hear the last bits of dialogue. “Glyndon said it’d be difficult for you to accept me, but I’m willing to try to get your approval for her sake—minus you, Landon. I don’t give a fuck about your opinion. Mr. and Mr. King, I respect you for bringing Glyndon up all these years. In fact, I tip my hat to you for protecting her during the time I wasn’t in her life, but know this—you’ll never be able to take her away from me. You can break my legs and arms, but I can still crawl toward her.”
“So you’re telling us that you’re not backing away from my daughter?”
“Not even close, not even a little.”
“Very well.” Uncle stands. “I’ll keep an eye on you, boy. Make that eyes, plural, and if I find out that you’ve hurt my princess in any way, I’ll make sure you never breathe properly again.”
“Here’s a piece of advice, Killian—the only one I’ll offer you. If you do cause pain to my daughter, you might want to voluntarily disappear, because I’ll kill you when I find you.”
“Please do. You have permission to do whatever you wish if I do cross a line, but you are not permitted to intervene or sabotage our relationship.”
“Are you threatening us?” I ask.
“Of course not.” He smiles in that annoying way. “I’m just relaying a piece of information.”
Uncle stares at him, then walks out, and I follow after, leaving my sons with the vermin.
As we step out, I can hear Killian and Landon exchanging passive-aggressive remarks while Brandon tries to cool off the atmosphere.
“I need you to watch that boy closely, Levi,” Uncle says once we’re down the hall.
“You don’t have to tell me. What are the chances of Glyndon actually leaving the bastard?”
“Zero. She said she’s in love with him and that he makes her a better, more courageous person.”
The little fucking shit.
“As if that isn’t enough, Aurora already likes him and says I’m being too overprotective.”
“Nonsense. There’s no such thing when it comes to Glyndon.”
“That’s what I said.”
“If it’s of any consolation, Astrid has been running a campaign in his favor for weeks now. She even warned me not to be difficult or talk to him as if he’s a criminal. Doesn’t she know that I won’t hand my daughter over without some hard shaking?”
“We are not handing her over. We’re observing his actions for now.”
“Maybe they’ll break up in a few months and we’ll be done with this whole charade.”
Uncle releases a sigh. “I wouldn’t be so hopeful if I were you. They’re both in too deep. Just because you refuse to see it doesn’t mean it’s not there.”
I curse beneath my breath as we reach the dining room. Aurora, who was overlooking the staff in setting the table, smiles upon seeing us and leaves them to it.
“So?” She watches us. “Have you tortured the poor boy enough?”
“The bad news is that it’s impossible to torture him,” Uncle says. “The good news is that we know his weakness is Glyndon.”
“Oh, Jonathan.” She links her arm with his. “Let them be. Young love is so beautiful.”
Uncle and I share a look because, holy fuck, that’s almost the same thing Astrid said earlier.
Speaking of my wife, I leave Uncle and Aurora and head to her favorite place, after our bed.
Sure enough, when I open the door to her art studio, I find her standing in the middle of it with Glyndon.