Does she still need me?
That thought hits harder than any of Ronan’s punches.
“And Adriana what?” Ronan asks. There’s a smile playing athis busted lip. Like he can see exactly where my head just went. “Starting to realize your little arrangement has an expiration date?”
“Shut up.”
“Face it. You were a placeholder. A warm body to keep the seat filled until Daddy got better. Now that he’s awake, how long before they decide they don’t need a Molloy in their bed anymore?” He steps closer. “I guess we both have some things to think about, yeah?”
I want to hit him again. So fucking badly. I want to beat that smug ass look off his face until there’s no trace of it left.
But I can’t. Because some part of me is terrified he’s right.
“That was never me, Ronan. The power plays, the schemes. That’s why I left the Molloy organization. And Dad. I don’t want any part of this shit.”
“Yet here you are. Married into another crime family because Dad gave the order.” A sharp laugh pierces the air. “You can pretend all you want, but you’re one of us.”
“No. I’m nothing like you,” I say.
I really look at him, trying to find something… anything… worth fighting for. Not against.
But I can’t. There’s nothing there beyond cold ambition masked by my arrogant brother’s face. He looks at family and sees leverage. Looks at Adriana and sees an asset to be controlled.
He’s exactly what our father raised him to be. And it disgusts me.
“We’re finished here,” I say to Cillian and Wolfe.
“Running away again?” Ronan taunts.
“Nope, I’m just done pretending there’s something left.” I duck out of the cage and grab my bag. “You made your choice.”
“Lochlan, wait,” Cillian starts.
“I’ll be outside,” I say.
I shove my hands against the door, pushing it open. Early evening air hits my face, the sharp sting of the cuts making mewince. I lean against my car and press the edge of my shirt to my eyebrow, trying to stop the bleeding while my thoughts spiral, plaguing me.
Francesco’s awake. Adriana doesn’t need me anymore.
What if I lose her?
I press my hands to my temples.
Fuck, I can’t lose her.
A few minutes later, Cillian and Wolfe come out. Ronan’s not with them.
“That went well,” Cillian says, his voice laced with sarcasm.
I don’t answer.
“Hey.” He leans against the car next to me. “Whatever he said in there… you know it doesn’t mean shit. He’s just angry and jealous. He’d have said anything to piss you off.”
“Well, he’s definitely right about one thing,” I say, my voice hollow. “The contract was about protecting her while Francesco was down. Now he’s awake. So what the hell happens to me?”
Cillian’s quiet for a second. “You really think she’d cut you loose just because her dad is awake?”
“I don’t know.” And that’s the worst part. I really don’t know. “The marriage was an arrangement. A business deal. What if that’s all it ever was to her?”
