Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 98697 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98697 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
“Do you? Because I’ve never been afraid of the big bad wolf. If you hurt my friend, I will hunt you down, and I never miss my prey. I put a dog down when I find one.”
“Aye, I know who ya are, and I know who yer husband is, but I’ve never been afraid of death. And if I have noise to make, I’m going to make it with my whole chest and dare a motherfucker to try to hush me.
“Apparently, DJ has told ya about what she thinks I did. She’s wrong, and you would be making me implode this whole alliance over a lie. Everything I do is for DJ.
“The girl isn’t mine. If I told ya who she belongs to, I’d have to kill ya. I think I might like ya and yer husband, so thank ya for being DJ’s friend and tell yer husband I owe him for Lynch. Good night.”
With that, I turn to leave. I have someplace to be. Enough is enough.
CHAPTER 37
The Truth Is
Deja
I step out of the shower and wrap myself in a towel. My head is still reeling with the fact that Callum and Blair followed me to America to watch over me. They were sent by Gran and Uncle Ewan because of this Phoebe woman.
I have so many unanswered questions. I mean, I know I work for a mob family; I put two and two together. Uri and Val move like the uncles and Cole.
I figured out a while ago who I was dating and living with. It’s not something I’ve said out loud, but I know. I think I’ve always known who the O’Briens are.
My questions come when it comes to why Val? And how does she and Uri connect to Hush and Black Death? I’m so deep in thought as I grab my lotion and walk into the bedroom that I almost don’t feel his presence.
I look up right as a thought clicks into place. Val and Uri are Hush and Black Death. I stumble to a stop, but my mouth isn’t hanging open because of the revelation.
I’m gobsmacked because Cole is sitting shirtless in the accent chair that normally sits in the corner of my room. His legs spread wide and his hands resting on the arms of the chair. His hair is a little messy, but sexy.
“Don’t look so surprised, love. I told ya I was coming for ya.”
“Get out, Cole,” I growl.
“Not before ya look at the file on the desk. Ya want the truth, I’m here to give it to ya.”
I purse my lips and walk over to the vanity where he placed a file. I pick up the file and open it. There’s a picture of a little girl inside.
Tears fill my eyes. She looks so much like Cole. I swipe my hand under my nose, not sure why he wants to keep hurting me like this.
Then I flip to the next picture and my cousin’s face smiles back at me. I flip from Raven back to the little girl and my brows knit. I’m suddenly confused as I take in the fact that the little girl looks like both Cole and Raven.
“Ach, Logan and I do favor each other, but I’m not the lass’s father. Oland had Raven murdered the same day he sent that army for ya.
“Yer call sent me to check on her. I found her dying and that little one hidden in a closet. Raven died in my arms.
“I’ve been protecting Shauna to make sure no one tries to finish the job. I wouldn’t tell ya about her because I know our enemies would use ya to try to find her—to destroy me and my brother. I needed to protect ye both. The less ya knew, the better,” Cole says into my ear.
“Why tell me now?”
“Blair and Callum. Ya have also made powerful friends willing to kill for ya and from what I hear, yer no slouch yerself.”
“Why were you guys with Aisling?”
He snorts. “We needed someone who could move about with Shauna and not be detected. Kate chose her. She’s not even my type, goofball.”
“Oh my God, Cole. I’m so sorry. I’ll pay for the car. I … I … I don’t know. I got so angry.”
Cole grabs the back of my neck and turns me to face him. In the next motion, he has his lips crushed to mine. He kisses me like a man desperate for air.
He’s taking all of mine as he deepens the kiss. It sinks in how wrong I had been and how much I miss him. I throw myself into the kiss and allow him to devour me.
He reaches for my bum and pulls me into him. Groaning into my mouth, he pulls my towel from around me and tosses it to the floor. Lifting on my toes, I try to get closer to him.