Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 103878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 519(@200wpm)___ 416(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 519(@200wpm)___ 416(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
“You're an idiot,” she says, then silences me with a kiss. It's soft and sweet and tastes like forgiveness. When she pulls back, she's smiling through her tears. “I love you too. I don't care what anybody else calls it. I know I made the choice to be here.”
I blow out a shaky breath and kiss her forehead, still cradling her face. “Christ, I don't deserve you.” I force myself to step back. “We have to go. Now. Seamus is waiting.”
“Aye,” she says, moving toward the bedroom. Then she pauses, glancing back at me with uncertainty in her dark eyes. “Ashland… what if your family doesn't like me?”
I can't help the rough laugh that escapes. “Are you fucking kidding me? Of course they will. It's like asking what if they don't like sunshine.”
She gives me a half smile, ducks her head with a blush, and disappears into the bedroom.
I pull out my phone, checking the time. If we leave now, we can make it to the family house in forty minutes. Thirty-five if I push it.
A text comes through from Seamus.
Seamus
Where the fuck are you?
On my way
Then, before he can murder me on sight, I decide it's probably best to prepare him. So I add:
And you can kill me later, but I'm not leaving her where Crowning can find her.
Three dots appear, disappear, then appear again.
Seamus
This better not be a mistake, Ash.
I pull on a fresh shirt, strap on my shoulder holster, and check my weapons. Everything's in place. I grab the bag I keep ready by the door, always prepared for a quick exit.
Bianca emerges from the bedroom wearing jeans and a sweater, her hair pulled back in a ponytail. She looks young and nervous, and so fucking beautiful it steals my breath.
“I'm ready,” she says.
I hold out my hand. She takes it, her small fingers threading through mine.
“Whatever happens in there,” I tell her. “Whatever they say about your father—we'll talk about it after. Me and you.”
Her brow furrows. “My father? What do you know about my father?”
“I'll explain later. I don't have time right now.”
She frowns, pulling her hand back slightly. “Did you know my father?”
“Aye.”
She doesn't say anything else, but I can see the questions building behind her eyes. I'm bringing her into my home, my world, my family. She deserves to know the truth, but not like this. Not rushed, not before she has to face the McCarthys.
“Who's going to be there?” she asks quietly as I lead her toward the door. “Do you have brothers? Sisters?”
I clear my throat. “I have one brother, Lorcan. There was another, but he's… deceased.”
“Oh, Ashland. I'm so sorry.” Her face crumples with genuine pain. “What happened?”
“He betrayed the family,” I say impassively. “And he paid the ultimate price.”
Her brow furrows, but she doesn’t ask any more questions. Not yet.
We reach the car, and I open her door, waiting until she's settled before closing it and rounding to the driver's side. I reach over and take her hand as I pull away from the cabin. She squeezes back, holding tight.
I can't shield her from any of this anymore.
“The people we're about to meet—” I pause, choosing my words carefully. I glance at her, then back to the road. “You should know who I am, Bianca. What I'm capable of. Do you understand me?”
She's quiet for a long moment. Then, softly, “I’m beginning to. But I want you to tell me exactly what we're going into.” I see that fierceness that makes her my girl.
She's survived losing her father. She's survived her mother’s narcissistic control and another man’s control. Bianca will never be controlled again.
She needs to own this. She needs to be in charge of the decisions she makes. And I feel that to my very core.
“Would you like to know what we're going into?” I ask her, reaching my hand to brush her knee. She moves a little closer to me and makes a sound in her throat like a stifled moan, and I'm instantly fucking hard. Christ, it takes all my self-control not to pull this car over, drag her onto my lap, and rail her right on the side of the road. Now that I've had her, it's all I can think about.
I clear my throat. “My name is Ashland McCarthy, Bianca.”
I let that settle for a moment, and I feel her recoil from my touch.
“No,” she whispers. “Ashland—” But she doesn't say anything else. By now, I've gained a little bit of her trust, more than I've ever had, and I hope it's enough. Christ, it has to be enough.
I clear my throat. “My father is Nolan McCarthy. My two brothers are Donovan and Lorcan McCarthy.”
I look at the dash. We're flying through the empty streets, driving faster than is safe, but we have to get to Seamus. We have to make sure she's safe.