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IwatchKatyanapon the sofa after we spent the morning on the beach. The sun knocked her out. I want her to rest up and be strong for her audition. I also want to kidnap her and lock her in my house so she can never leave me.
Those ideas vividly playing out in my mind make me nervous that I’m not thinking rationally. Heck, with Kieran angry with me for busting into Katya’s school locked and loaded, I’m tempted to rig this audition and then go live in London with her.
Someonethere can use a hitman.
Hitman…
My brain twitches and next, I’m dialing a number for the one man who understands me best.
“Aye, mate. Good to hear from you.” Ewan Quinlan picks up on the first ring. “How is that new wife of yours?”
Ewan may very well have been my father’s enforcer had I gone to seminary. Priscilla’s father, Craig Nolan, served my dad loyally before he died. Ewan was his top hitman and investigator.
I was fresh from the camp with the taste of blood in my mouth from what they put me through. Ewan and his brothers, Griffin, Connor,andShane, worked for me for years, doing investigations, interrogations, surveillance, and hits.
I’m closer to Griffin, who’s my lieutenant, but the guy fucks around with women. He can’t help me.
“She’s experiencing some temporary hearing loss. I drew fire from the shooter, figuring he’d empty the magazine on his assault rifle and give me the kill shot.” A shot I couldn’t take.
“Do you want Darcy to look her over?”
“I’ll see how she feels tomorrow.” I don’t mention the audition on Monday. “I’m actually calling to ask you somethingaboutDarcy.”
“Yeah?” His voice turns low and dangerous. “Something wrong?”
“Not at all. How… How did you know?” I rub my eyes. “How did you know you loved her?”
Raucous laughter erupts on the phone. “If you have to ask someone how they knew, then you’re in love, mate.”
Heat crawls up my neck. “Can I have one clue?” I’m grasping because he’s right. If I’m even thinking about this, then I must be in love.
The ‘Zero to Sixty’ is throwing me off. How she went from a distant obsession I didn’t think I’d ever touch, to a woman in my bed every night who thinks she loves me, too.
“A clue? When you’re ready to throw everything away to be with her. When you can’t think of anything except the next time you’ll smell her hair. Aye, I’m talking about you, love.” He muffles something away from the phone, suggesting Darcy is right there.
“It’s probably not good for an enforcer to be so reckless, aye?”
Ewan laughs. “When you have something to lose, the stakes are even higher. Then you’re ruthless, not reckless.”
“I feel like I can’t do both,” I admit, quietly. “I can’t love her and be this heartless murderer.”
“Sure, you can. You love your ma and your sister. Everything you do is to protect them.”
I think about that, freaked out that it’s so simple.
“Do you miss it?” I’m curious how he’s dealing with being a city councilman instead of a hitman.
“Sure, I do. But I get home, and my daughter runs into my arms. Next, her mum and my other wee one sink into them, too. That feels better than any kill.” He clears this throat. “Except for the beating I gave the fucker who hurt my Darcy years ago.”
I recall Griffin mentioning that when Ewan was in Waterford, where he hooked up with Darcy again after five years, he damn near killed the scumbag who’d hurt her.
“I ran right past those cops yesterday, not caring if they shot me. The drive to get to Katya, to protect her… It ate me alive.”
“I think you got a case of true love, Lachlan. I’m happy for you if it’s mutual. Do you think she loves you?”
“She’s young,” I say in response. “She’s got one more year of college.”
“That gives you both time to grow into your relationship.”
