Page 95 of Craving Sin

“How?” Tiernan asks.

“You’re not the only one who can find things out. I understand why you kept it from me.” By our rules, Liam betrayed us, but the thing is, I would have let Cillian out if he wanted. I still will. How can I blame Liam for doing what was best for his family? He had the balls to do it when I didn’t. I give my attention to Dean. “I loved Liam…and I loved you too, kid. Even at four years old, you were enamored with Tiernan. But I promise you, I didn’t know, and if I had, I would have stepped in to help.”

Dean nods…then unexpectedly asks, “He would have been proud? Even though I’m exactly where he didn’t want me to be?”

“Things are different now, and Liam was just like you—a bit of a hothead.” I smile. “Liked to fight…but loved fiercely and did everything with honor.”

Dean nods and looks away as though he’s trying to compose himself, but when I make eye contact with Tiernan, I see the appreciation in how he’s looking at me.

Thank you.

“It would be great if you guys all stayed here tonight. I’m going to go upstairs and talk to Abbott. I don’t know if he’ll be ready to come down tonight, but we’ll need to make a plan—the rest of us. This won’t go unpunished.”

“Fuck no, it won’t,” Rory says.

“We’re here for whatever you need, Rian,” Conan says.

“I know, brother.” Without another word, I go upstairs. The second I open the door to our room, I know something is off…that something isn’t right. I can feel how empty it is, feel that Abbott isn’t here.

Still, I call out, “Abbott,” with my heart in my throat.

He doesn’t reply, and when I walk over, I see a note on the made bed.

Rian,

My father needs to talk to me. Nothing will happen to me there. I’ll be safe.

Love you and see you soon.

Abbott

PS…Don’t be mad at Conan. I left while he was busy with work.

I crumple the note against my chest, seeing nothing but red.

Abbott is with the man who had his mother killed, who tried to have him killed too.

I can’t fucking lose him. I won’t survive losing someone I love again.

I won’t allow it. It’s not even a fucking option. I don’t care what I have to do.

I pat myself down, looking for my phone, but it’s not on me, so I rush downstairs. I’d felt guilty about having the tracking device put into the watch before I gave it to Abbott. It was a breach of trust, something I know he wouldn’t have been happy about, but all I can do is thank God I did it.

My footsteps are loud against the stairs—the bang, bang, bang loud enough to rival that of my heart.

What the fuck will I do if I lose him? The thought makes me dizzy, makes my head spin as I make it down the stairs, turning to head for the living room.

“What’s wrong?” Conan asks the second he sees me.

“You fucked up, is what’s wrong,” I seethe, grabbing Conan and shoving him against the wall.

His back hits it with a loud whack, Conan’s eyes narrowing in anger.

“Rian…” he says with warning in his voice.

“Get ahold of yourself,” Tiernan says behind me, but I ignore him, throwing the crumpled piece of paper at Conan.

He catches it, but I don’t have time to sit around playing this game with him, don’t want to waste a second.