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“This is—” But she stops midsentence, clearly needing more time.
I really need to regroup with my men as time is of the essence. But I won’t rush this. Babydoll always comes first.
“You killed a cop?” she questions, only wrapping her head around what I shared.
“Aye. But it’s goin’ to be okay. We’ve laid the evidence out for the peelers to find. They’ll see he was dirty. That he was workin’ with Sean. With Sean missing, they’ll assume he killed the constable. They won’t stop lookin’ for him, which means he doesn’t have many places left to hide.
“His time is comin’, and it’s comin’ soon. We will find him, and he will get everythin’ he deserves.”
“But last time—”
“This isn’t like last time,” I assure her. “There is no sequel.”
When her bottom lip trembles, I lower my mouth to hers and kiss her softly. I can’t stand to see her cry.
“I promise ye, y’ll be my wife,” I whisper against her mouth. “Yer goin’ to be the mum to my kids. We’re goin’ to live a normal, boring life. We’re goin’ to grow aul’ together. And when this life ends for me, I’m goin’ to look back and not regret a thing because I got to live it…with you.”
She bursts into tears, wrapping her arms around me and hugging me tight.
Everything I do, I do for her. I want her to know that.
We stay hugging for minutes, and when Babydoll’s breathing becomes shallow, I assume she’s almost asleep on her feet.
“Get some rest, Baby.”
This time, she doesn’t protest.
However, I don’t want to be away from her, so I gently lead her to the couch. She lies down, her eyes at half-mast. Reaching for a blanket, I gently place it over her, and she’s asleep within seconds.
Peering down at her, I smile, unbelieving she is mine.
My phone chimes, and when I reach for it, I see it’s a text message from Ron.
We’re out looking for him. There aren’t many places left for him to hide.
I know this means Ron won’t give up either. I could help him, but I don’t want to leave Babydoll and Shay. I know that’s selfish, but I won’t lose either of them again.
I’m sure Alek has his own men looking out for Sean because this affects him too.
There is no way he will elude us again, which is why I decide to get to know the man who is my father better. I reach for the journals, but an envelope pushed aside on the bench catches my eye. Turning it over, I see the official stamp of the paternity testing company I used.
Slipping my finger under the seal, I open it and retrieve the sheet of paper. I don’t take a moment to process what I’m about to read. Instead, I scan through the results and read what I already knew to be true.
Shay is my son. He is a Kelly. And I’m the only parent he’ll know.
But when I look at the sleeping angel on my sofa, I realize that’s not true. Cami knew who Shay was the first moment she met him. She will love and nurture him like he is her own. She already has.
Tucking the results away, I decide to show Shay them when he’s older as this is who he is, and I want him to be proud of the fact. I want to be the father I never had. Iwillbe.
With that thought, I reach for the stack of journals and bring them over to the sofa. I sit next to Cami, ensuring not to wake her. I run my fingers over the leather bindings, wondering why someone like Sean Kelly would write in a journal.
When I look down at the love of my life, I suddenly understand why.
Sean has no one to share his secrets with. My mother was probably the closest thing he knew of love, and look what he did to her. So, writing in these journals is Sean’s only form of communication with “another.”
Even sociopaths need a good gurn every now and again, it seems.
Opening the journal, I instantly clench my jaw when I see Sean’s distinct handwriting. Memories of when I first saw it crash into me, and I inhale slowly, needing to calm down.
