Page 32 of While You Sleep

“Considering Callum doesn’t give a fuck about his daughter, I’d say that’s a fair assessment.” I sat back. “What did you tell him?”

Con smirked. “That it was her honeymoon and she was a little tied up.”

Callum was already angry, unsure after I took control of the family and then his daughter. He’d be worried what that meant for him. Sending his man here, using Sophia as an excuse, told me just how worried he was. Con being a smart-ass would have only pissed him off more, and the angrier we made him, the more likely he was to make a mistake. “Has he been to see Alto?”

“Not yet.”

I didn’t know for sure if he would; he’d have to locate his balls first. Brennan had no idea I’d already made a deal. He’d want me out of the way so he could run both families himself, and the only hope he had to get me out of the way was to make a deal with the Italians. He’d be in for a surprise if he went that route.

Dec shook his head. “The guy’s fucking delusional if he does. None of our men would follow him, even if by some miracle he did manage to take you out.”

They wouldn’t, but Brennan was arrogant enough to think otherwise.

There was a tap at the door and Janet poked her head in. “I’m heading off, Mr. O’Rourke. Sally’s here for the night shift.”

“Thank you, Janet.”

The older woman smiled and ducked back out.

“How is he?” Dec asked.

“Alive.” Seamus had collapsed when I killed Adam. He was already frail, but seeing his son’s brains all over the floor had almost taken him out. “You want to see him?” Now he was here with around-the-clock nurses caring for him.

Declan’s face hardened. “No. You should’ve just put a bullet in that fucker’s skull as well.”

It would’ve been easy enough. I’d thought about it many times. But some human part of me, buried deep but still gasping for life, had hesitated. It was a surprise, but that weak part of me wanted him to see what I was capable of, that I was more than just the killer he’d turned me into. It wanted to show him I could lead this family into bigger and better things.

It was late, and my mind kept wandering to Sophia, because she was always there. I stood. “Make sure you keep eyes on Gaia. Brennan’s desperate, and he could be capable of almost anything.”

Declan stood as well, a grim expression on his face. “My new fiancée isn’t making it easy.”

Alto’s daughter was a handful, but if anyone could handle her, it was Declan. “The sooner you’re married the better.”

Dec didn’t look as convinced, but he’d get used to the idea. When she was under his roof, he’d have more control over her and things would settle down.

I thought about my new wife’s escape yesterday, then again, what the fuck did I know? I had no control over my own wife. I’d been here in my office when she’d bolted. I’d watched her on a security camera as she’d taken off in one of my cars. Then I’d seen Walter. Con had tailed her to make sure she was safe, and I’d gone after our trespasser. I’d wanted to question him, but the fucker had taken off on foot, jumping over fences and running through backyards to get away.

Sophia had proven more than once that she wasn’t the meek wee mouse I’d first believed her to be, and I found I liked it.

Declan and Conor left, and I made my way around the house, making sure the place was secured. I’d be working from home for a few more days until I was sure there were no immediate threats to Sophia and that she’d stay put while I was gone.

It was late when I walked into my bedroom and found her asleep on the chair in front of the fireplace again. She had a blanket tucked around her and a pillow propped under her head.

No, pet, that’s not how this works.

In the car yesterday, when we got back to the house, I’d wanted to taste her so badly. We’d sat there in silence, and the way she’d looked at me, the fear in her eyes, the reluctant hunger, I’d suddenly been desperate to taste it, taste what was mine. I hadn’t been able to stop myself, as if I was fucking possessed, but she’d turned away, shutting me down.

I got it, but I wasn’t letting her walk all over me either.

My gaze traveled over her. I’d watched her sleep so many times, confused by how much I wanted her. Wanting her, but only allowing myself to hold her when she had an attack in her sleep. I rubbed at my chest, feeling restless. Fuck, she’d tasted so damn good.

My stubborn beauty. She had to know the risk of sleeping in a chair like this. But disorder aside, my wife did not sleep on a chair, she slept with me, and if I let her stay here again, not only would I be awake all night worried she’d hurt herself, she’d think I was okay with it—and I wasn’t for some reason, not at all.

I could pick her up and put her in my bed, but I wanted her to come to bed on her own. I adjusted the thermostat for the room—I liked it cool, anyway—then walked to the bathroom and stripped.

The room smelled like her body lotion, vanilla and cinnamon, she’d been in here not long ago, and she’d used it.

The first time I’d smelled it, she’d been asleep in her bed at her apartment, her skin rosy after her shower, her cheeks pink. I’d looked down at her and found it hard to breathe. That scent on her skin, fuck, it made me hard. Everything about her had made me hard. I’d gone home and found the place that sold it online and ordered it. Seamus would say I was a sick fuck, and he’d be right.

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