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“Nothing of mine will ever be touched by you again. Especially Aurora. And we have to keep being the people the rest view us as, civil and friends. So, you will just smile and say how fucking pleased you are that the son of your best friend married your daughter.”
At the door, I say over my shoulder, “Good night. You’ll need a clear head tomorrow.”
Silas curses, but I ignore him. My job here is done.
In the van, I shoot Cam and Cato a message.
Done.
When the van parks in front of my estate, I carry her sleeping body inside and up the curved staircase. Her sweet scent washes over me, a bouquet of cherries and cotton, calming every nerve ending as I bury my head in the crook of her neck. As if she was made to fit in my arms.
Inside the bedroom next to mine, I tuck her in. With the adrenaline spike crashing, I get in my office and pour myself a glass of whiskey.
“Kieran?” The woman who has been more of a mother to me than my own steps inside.
“What did you do?”
Tamara definitely made the wrong choice career-wise. With her skill of analysis, she would have been one hell of an asset to my team. Instead, she insists on making sure my household runs well. That works too.
“Aurora will stay with us from now on.”
Worry lines her forehead.
“I don’t have to explain myself to you.”
“Don’t take that tone with me. I wiped your ass as a child,” she scolds me, and I grunt for patience.
“And you never let me forget about it,” I say, exasperated, before chuckling.
“Why did you do it, Kieran?” Her voice takes on an eerie softness, pushing the guilt button with an expert touch.
“Aurora did nothing wrong. Why kidnap her?”
I wave her off. I didn’t kidnap her, I saved her from a much worse fate. I shove away the guilt at how I took her, but I had a point to make.
I have never been the type to explain myself. Still, I say, “She’ll be my wife. Treat her accordingly.”
“You can’t do that to your mother.”
I snap my head in her direction. “I am doing this for my best friend. Cameron means more to me than the hysterics my mother will have over this.”
Tamara tips her head in a nod, her stiff body reeking of disapproval.
Taking one last glance at my father’s picture, I wonder if he’s smiling or thinks I made a stupid mistake. What I did is stupid, but the fucking oath and my weakness for the blond sunshine turned into one heck of a beautiful ruin.
I drag in a lungful of air and leave my office. And it’s Aurora’s image I take with me to sleep.
Shaking the remnants of my nightmare away, I swipe at the dampness soaking my skin. Opening my eyes, I adjust to the blinding sun pouring in. Panic scratches at my ribs with sharpened claws. I scoot to my butt, realizing I am not in my bed. My eyes wander around the white-and-beige room. A room that is not mine.
My hand shoots to my mouth, my heartbeats threatening to split my chest.
Be strong.
Be brave.
Be happy.
This mantra usually helps, but not today.Calm down. I am obviously not tied up. I search in vain for my phone. I need my phone. My uncle has to reach me. He has been my only hope for the last week.
