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“They think you and your brother Kai are incompetent and don’t know how to lead your clan. Lachlan told them to sit tight. They are trying to get the other members to overthrow you … maybe even join forces with some of the other Irish clans. Apparently they can’t hold a meeting without you calling or approving one. They mentioned going to my father to tell them that it is you who took me.”
“God-fucking-dammit,” I yell as I push off the bed. I know that every word she speaks is the truth. There would be no way for her to make any of that up.
“Lennon,” she says much softer.
“What?” I answer with more aggression than I intended. She has managed the power of transference because she is not the source of my murderous thoughts right now.
“They want to kill you and your brother Kai. They think that’s the only way to overthrow you because your other brothers don’t know your world and wouldn’t stand a chance against them with you two gone.”
I turn to her now, allowing my anger to simmer under the surface. This question means everything, so I need her to be truthful. She could have let them carry out their plan, ensuring her freedom as a result.
I walk back toward the bed and look down at her. “Why tell me any of this, Aurora? Whether they chose to go to your father or set me and my brother up to be killed, you’d be free. Why take away your guaranteed shot at freedom?”
A lone tear runs down her cheek because she knows as well as I do that I won’t let her go even with her helping me. I’m rarely shocked or surprised by the shit people do and say, but the words that spill out of her mouth next rock me to my core. My entire world tilts on its fucking axis.
“I don’t want anything bad to happen to you. I don’t want you to die.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Aurora
I’ve been in and out of sleep, only waking to eat the food brought to me by Aoife and briefly to answer some questions from the paramedic guy who came to check on me. The pain and discomfort have been minimum thanks to the pain meds Lennon left with the house staff to issue to me during my meals. I haven’t seen him since I shared what I overheard. He questioned why I would tell him what I knew, knowing it would jeopardize my chance to get away from here. The truth is, I do too.
My loyalty is to my family, yet knowing I was caught anyway, I couldn’t allow things to play out in a way that would surely get him killed. I think back to how many times I’ve thought about the slow torture that would come to him at my father's hands and how justified it felt. So why did I interfere to give Lennon the best odds when the opportunity arose for this vengeance to be a reality? I could have been back home by now or at least soon, dealing with whatever consequences my father saw fit for the trouble I’ve caused my family. My fate could have been resumed— betrothed to Niccolò. I still need to find a way to get free because I know even with all that I’ve shared, Lennon will not let me go. Although not my intent, I hope my disclosure will earn me some goodwill. Lennon said he would show me mercy. My hope is that this mercy could also be extended to my family. I rationalize that if I had let things play out, Lennon would be dead, but what vengeance would erect because of it? Who else would die as a result? Hopefully, I not only saved Lennon today but my family as well.
It’s midmorning, and I need to get out of this bed. I took the Vicodin at breakfast, but the tray of food remains. I ease out of bed, careful to guard my ribs against the movement. The moment my left foot touches the floor, I instantly lift it — the pain breaks through the meds. The bathroom seems so far away. I alternate limping and hopping until I reach the tub. I’ve yet to use it before now, but I don’t know if I can stand long enough to shower and wash my hair. The tub is encased in black marble with specks of gold. Three steps lead to this modern luxury because it's so deep. I lean over the steps to climb up knee first and rest on the tub’s edge to turn the water on to draw a bath. It was a workout to get this far, so hopefully I can manage to get out once I’m done. I turn as the door at the other end of the bathroom pushes open, half expecting to see Fiona or one of the other staff.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Lennon chastises, taking long strides toward me.
“Taking a bath,” I say, gesturing to the running water as if it isn’t obvious. “I feel icky.”
I flinch as he nears. Is he going to hurt me now? What is the definition of mercy for a man like him?
“Aargh,” he half growls. He places a hand at my back and sweeps an arm under my legs before lifting me and setting me on the wider base of the steps.
He doesn’t say a word. He digs through the fancy cabinetry that I have yet to take the time to explore. I watch in shock as he adjusts the temperature of the water before pouring some scented bath salt into the tub. He follows it up with a generous amount of silky liquid that makes bubbles. The lavender notes begin to waft in the air, and I must admit it’s quite heavenly.
“You should have called one of the maids to help you if you wanted a bath,” he grunts. “I don’t know why you keep insisting on being reckless.”
“I didn’t want to bother them or wait on anyone,” I say.
He removes the sweatsuit I’ve been wearing since this entire incident happened. Surely, he can understand why I felt dirty. I raise my arms and let him undress me, but one wrong movement has me wincing as I suck in a breath between my teeth. His eyes meet mine as I work to slow my breathing.
“How much does it hurt?” he questions.
“I can feel the meds working, so the pain is much less. It just breaks through with certain movements, like when I first stepped out of bed.”
“You need to stop trying to be so goddamn independent. The house staff is here to see to your needs. You’re injured, so you need to let them help you. Your defiance keeps getting you into predicaments.”
When he removes my panties, I look away. It feels too intimate. At least I’m off my period now. I can still feel his relentless gaze, though. He lifts me again and submerges me into the water. It’s hot but not scalding. He slowly leans me back against the tub.
I can’t resist a retort. “Do you really think one of the women could have gotten me in the tub the way you just did? Unless you meant Oisín or Mr. Doyle.”
No way I would let either of those men assist me, but I’m making a point. His gaze snaps to mine.
“You’re fucking mine, Aurora. I need you to get that because no man will ever see you naked without me making it so. You got that?”
He’s alluded to his ownership before but never like this. It catches me off guard. “You can’t make someone yours,” I push back. “You can’t actually own people.”
