AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Now,” he repeats. An edge of impatience creeping into his voice.
“Run!” Liam shouts.
But I can’t run. They’ll shoot him.
One man clocks him upside the head. I whimper. I feel worse than useless standing here watching my little brother take a beating.
“Jesus christ! Run already!” dad shouts.
If I run, the intruders will kill them. There is no doubt about it.
I take a tentative step forward, then another coming to a stop a good two feet away from the intruder. I don’t want to be within his reach. He pulls up a chair for me like we’re on a date. Solidifying this horrible mental image, he holds his hand out to me.
When I hesitate, he glances at my family. His eyes are ice cold and devoid of any human emotion. Reluctantly, I put my hand in his and let him guide me into the chair. His hand is rough. I hate that his touch brings me back to that night. It surprised me then, too. He doesn’t look like he has rough hands. Aside from the ink, he looks like a white-collar criminal.
He pulls a second chair in front of me. His knees brush mine and I pull away, snatching my hand back as if burned. The feel of his touch lingers.
“We’ve not been properly introduced. I’m Caine O’Connor. I didn’t realize Billy had a daughter. If I’d known, we would have come on a night, you weren’t present.”
My jaw drops. Is he insane?
“Feel free to get the hell out. No hard feelings,” I say.
The Dullahans chuckle. Their moment of amusement is short-lived. A tall, dark-haired guard kicks Stink, who is still unconscious on the floor. That shuts the Dullahans up, but I can feel their rage simmering in the air.
Caine’s eyes widen in surprise. Then he laughs. “I suppose that would be the civilized course of action, but I’m here on business.”
“Fuck you,” dad snarls. “The Dullahans ain’t gonna roll over for you. Killing us ain’t gonna make a lick of difference.”
Caine’s eyes pass over dad indifferently before returning his attention to me. I shift uneasily under his gaze.
“That’s certainly one option. It’s usually the one we employ when dealing with gangs of your caliber.” Caine’s lip curls back in disdain, leaving no doubt what he thinks of outlaw motorbike clubs.
If I expected dad to grovel, beg Caine to spare the lives of his children, then I was to be disappointed. The club always comes first with him.
Caine shakes his head. “You aren’t going to plead with me to spare your children’s lives? Not even your daughter’s?”
I blink. Did Caine read my mind?
“Fuck you,” dad repeats. He thrashes against his bonds, rattling the old wood chair.
A tendril of fear slides down my spine.
“And here I was going to make you, or rather Aurora, an offer.”
My head shoots up, and I stare at Caine. His steely blue eyes are impossible to read. The hairs at the nape of my neck stand on end. Years ago I went hunting with dad and Liam. The whole day I had this strange feeling I couldn’t shake, like I was being watched. Turns out a mountain lion was stalking us. When I look into Caine’s eyes, I get that feeling again. This isn’t a man the Dullahans are prepared to handle.
“Maybe you should listen to him, dad,” I say quietly.
Caine’s eyes flash with approval. Whether it’s because he thinks I’m afraid or because I’m being reasonable, I don’t know. And I don’t care. I waited for the right moment and I killed that mountain lion with my crossbow. If I have to, I’ll do the same to Caine.
“At least someone in this shithole is sensible,” Caine says with far more cheer than the situation warrants. “I’ll make you a deal, sweetheart,” he says, freezing me in his intense and inescapable gaze. I flush. The conversation has taken on an intimate note. “This is a onetime offer of alliance.”
“I can’t make an alliance on behalf of the Dullahans, which you know. Or should know. Except your men strike me as dumb as fuck, so I guess they screwed up their investigation. Real impressive organization you’ve got there,” I say.
“You can if your father agrees. I suppose it’s really up to him, but I consider myself a modern man, so I’m asking you,” Caine says.
Dad glares at him as if he wants to tear him limb from limb. “Stay the fuck away from my daughter.”
