Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79046 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79046 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
I poured tea, adding some honey the way Una liked, and she returned. Calmer, but still obviously distressed. I patted the cushion beside me, and when she sat down, I handed her the cup, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “I’m here,” I repeated.
She nodded, sipping her tea, a slight tremble to her hand.
I spoke, telling her what had happened since I had left her at her apartment. “I wasn’t ignoring you, Una, or still angry. I was desperately trying to figure out what was happening. To help the people who needed me. Do you understand that?” I asked gently, somehow worried about pushing her over an edge I couldn’t comprehend.
“Yes,” she replied.
I took her cup, filling it again. She accepted it, and I was pleased to see the tremble had lessened. I inhaled. “I saw Brian at the warehouse.”
“I know.”
I frowned. “How?”
“He came to see me.”
“And, of course, gave you his version of the story.”
“He said you roughed him up and talked down to him.”
“He’s lucky I let him go.”
“You did that for me,” she whispered.
“Yes,” I stated honestly.
“I won’t ask that of you again.”
Something in her voice, the way she tensed, gave me pause.
“What happened, Una? What else did he say?”
She began to tremble again.
“Una?” I asked, trying to stay calm. “Tell me.”
“It was awful,” she replied. “He seemed okay, and then suddenly, he was a different person. Angry and bitter. Nasty. He said terrible things. Threatened me. I was so scared.”
“Tell me exactly what he said,” I demanded through tight lips. “Every word.”
She replayed the visit, and my fury burned hotter the more she spoke. He had fucking been lying the entire time, and I had allowed him to leave. When she repeated his threats, it was all I could do not to throw something. I wanted to pick up the phone and order him found and killed.
“Did he touch you?”
She hesitated.
“Una, did he hurt you?”
She slipped off her jacket, showing me her upper arms. Each one bore the same black-and-blue marks of a handprint. I knew the kind of pressure it would take to leave imprints that dark.
I had to count to ten. Twice. Curl my fists hard enough that my knuckles cracked. Brian Murphy had just signed his death warrant.
“You were right, Finn. All along. I refused to listen, but I know now you were right. My brother is gone, and I don’t know the man who replaced him.”
“That doesn’t give me any satisfaction.”
She nodded, still not meeting my eyes. I stood and tugged her jacket back into place. I lifted her chin. “Your brother is the one responsible here. He has made his choices. He was tense yesterday, no doubt needing a hit of whatever he’s on. He held his temper in check to buy himself some time. Then he got high and came to see you, letting his real agenda out. You can’t be around him anymore.”
“No,” she whispered, her lips quivering.
I bent and kissed her soft mouth. “I need to make sure you’re safe.”
“I think someone is watching me,” she blurted.
I tightened my hand on her chin. “What?”
“I went for a run, and there was a man. He stared at me. Not just a casual look, but intense. Angry. It gave me goose bumps, and I joined a couple other women because I was afraid to run alone.”
“What did he look like?”
She frowned. “Dark hair, average height. But it was his eyes, Finn. They were dead. And he looked cold. Emotionless. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end with one glance. I looked away really fast, so I didn’t get a good look at the rest of his features. I thought I saw him again the next day, but I wasn’t sure if it was my imagination or not.” She laughed, the sound nervous. “Maybe the whole staring thing was my imagination. I was upset and everything.”
I shook my head. “You aren’t prone to fits of imagination, Una. If your gut said he was dangerous, I’m glad you listened to it.” I frowned. “Why didn’t you call? Or, even better, why didn’t you come here? You’d be safe.”
“I wasn’t sure what you would do if I showed up here. I called but it went to voice mail, and I didn’t want to leave a message when I was so upset.”
I pulled her into my arms. “I would never be angry enough to not be concerned for your safety. Ever. And I don’t care where I am, what I’m doing—you are my priority. If I had heard that voice mail, I would have come and gotten you or sent my men to watch over you until I could.” I tightened my grip. “I promise you that, Una. Always.”
She sighed, nestling close, her ear over my heart. It was racing, simply the thought of her in danger making me crazy. “You’re staying here,” I announced. “Until we figure this out, you’re staying here. With me.”