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An hourand twenty minutes later, I’m walking into Chloe’s room. She’s awake. The bruising on her face has come out more. It’s like an array of colors. Dark purple, blue, green, yellow, and black. Fuck, seeing her so hurt is like a shot to the gut.
“How are you feelin’?” I ask as I climb onto the bed beside her.
She immediately presses closer to me. “Better,” she says softly.
“They’re dead, Little Bird,” I tell her. “Those fuckers are dead.”
She gives me a wobbly smile. Her eyes fill with tears, but they don’t fall. “Thank you.”
The door opens, and I glance up and see both Denis and Callie enter the room.
“What’s happened?” Chloe asks as she cautiously watches her parents.
“Uncle Butch called your da,” Callie begins as she comes to sit down beside her daughter and I. “Hades was killed today. He was keeping watch over Sean until your da came home, but Sean escaped.” The sadness in Callie’s voice makes me realize that the guy who died must have been someone she knew.
“He’s gone?” Chloe whispers. “What happens now?”
Denis and Callie share a glance. “Your ma and I have spoken, and while we understand that you don’t want to stay here in the US, we both know that it’s the safest place for you until Sean is caught.”
“What?” Chloe whispers, her mouth agape and her eyes wide.
“We’ve spoken to Ace, and we’d like for you to go to New York and stay with Pyro and Ace until your da, uncles, and the guys have found Sean. We need you safe, Chloe. We can’t lose you.” Callie’s voice breaks as she talks to her daughter.
“Why go with James and Ace? Why not Makenna?” Chloe asks. There’s no anger in her voice, just curiosity.
Callie smiles. “Honey, your da and I adore Makenna, and we know you’d be safe with her. But we both realize that no one can protect you like Pyro can. Whatever the two of you have going on is something we’ll talk about when you’re safe and home. We just want to make sure that you’ll be okay with going with Pyro.”
“Really?” she asks in shock. “Da, how did you manage to make Danny and Mal okay with this?” Silence spreads between them. “They don’t know, do they?”
Denis shakes his head. “I’ll sort Danny Boy and Malcolm, but are you okay with staying with Pyro?”
She nods as she presses closer to me. The fact that she feels safe with me means the fucking world. The woman was held captive for thirteen days and yet she’s here, safe and wanting to come back to New York with me.
She shifts in the bed and sits up straighter.
“Ma,” she says. “You know how you always described finding it?” Callie’s breath hitches, and her eyes fill with tears. I have a feeling that Chloe’s words hold a lot of meaning. “I found it,” Chloe whispers as she glances up at me.
“Okay, baby,” Callie breathes. “You’ll be safe with the Vipers. Makenna and Finn will no doubt be around a lot while you’re staying with them in New York. But we’re a call away. We’ll come and get you whenever you need us.”
“You need to go home and make sure Mary, Gareth, Fiadh, and Tagdh are safe.”
I blink at the way the names roll off her tongue. Her accent is fucking sexy as hell.
“We do,” Denis says. “But we also need you safe. That’s why we’re leaving you here. You’ll have the full weight of the Vipers at your back, as well as Makenna and Dante. Besides, your sister will be hovering.”
Chloe rolls her eyes. “I’d rather Makenna hover. Holly mothers me too much.”
Callie laughs. “She cares, that’s all.”
“She’ll be safe,” I promise them when I notice Denis is watching me.
I’ve put my life on the line for my brother’s old ladies, and I would do it time and time again. Just as I know my brothers would do the same for my old lady. I know deep in my soul that Chloe is the woman I’m going to grow old with. She caught my attention from the moment I met her. Even when we were apart, I couldn’t stop thinking about the woman.
She’s mine. Has been from the get-go. I fucked up and let her go. I promised myself that if I found her again, I’d claim her, and that’s exactly what I intend to do.
“I’d die to protect her,” I say, and watch as he pulls in a breath, before he gives me a sharp nod.
“Our jet is fueled and ready for whenever you are ready. The doctor will check her once more and ensure she’s safe for traveling, but from what he’s said, she should be good to fly.”
