Page 66 of While You Sleep

Dad had fucked up, and when Cillian found out what he’d done, he’d have no choice but to make him pay.

I made myself move, stomach churning.

Danny watched me come down the stairs, and as soon as he saw me, he frowned. “Okay?”

Celeste stared at me, and the fear I saw on her face was as real as my father’s.

I forced a smile. “Yeah, I just…I don’t like seeing Tommy unwell. We should get back.”

My mind raced the whole way home, my stomach in jagged knots. I headed to the bedroom as soon as we got there. Thankfully, Cillian was out. He’d know something was wrong if he saw me now. I needed time to think. What would he do if I told him? Would he tell me the truth?

My father wasn’t a good man, but I didn’t want him dead. I sure as hell didn’t want Cillian to be the one to kill him, or Celeste. She was Tommy’s mom, it didn’t matter how much she hated me. If Cillian did that, if he murdered them, how could I stay here with him? I couldn’t.

I paced until my feet ached and then sat on the bed. What the hell was I going to do?

What my father planned, going back on his deal with Cillian, taking me back, on top of what he’d done, would only make everything worse. It would start a war. If I told Cillian what my father did, what he had planned, then he’d definitely kill him. Cillian wouldn’t be able to let that slide. He couldn’t let that go, not in his position, and whether I told him or not, he would find out because my father had already set this thing in motion. He’d organized an annulment for fuck’s sake. If I didn’t do something now, if I didn’t try and stop this, my father would die. He’d signed his own death warrant when he decided to betray Cillian.

But if I was there, if I was at my father’s house, it might keep them safe?

What the hell was I going to do?

I curled up on the bed, the same scenarios running through my head over and over again, but no matter how hard I tried, there was no fighting the tiredness I felt.

I woke to Cillian helping me out of my clothes.

“You fell asleep still dressed,” he said, searching my face.

My gaze sliced to the clock by the bed. 10:57. “I was tired.”

He sat me up, lifted my shirt over my head, and tossed it aside, then unhooked my bra next and slid it down my arms. One of his hands cupped my bare breast, squeezing lightly before dropping to the button of my jeans. He undid them and slid them off. I watched him, trying to read the expression on his face, but couldn’t. He was focused, every bit of it on me.

His gaze flicked up to mine. “How was your visit with Tommy today?”

Guilt slammed through me. “Yeah, okay.”

“He feeling better?”

I nodded.

“You eaten?”

I nodded again, lying. I couldn’t stomach even a mouthful of food, and if he knew I hadn’t had dinner, he’d make me eat.

“Get in bed, pet. I’ll grab a shower, then I want to show you something.”

He strode off and I watched him go. I thought I might actually be sick. Cillian would never hurt my brother, I knew that without a doubt, but losing both his parents would hurt him.

My father was a manipulator, though, and as real as his fear looked today, I wasn’t going to just believe him, I knew better. Dad said things were about to change, and the more I thought about it, the more concerned I became. He’d do or say anything to bend me to his will. I needed proof, of what he said, and until then, talking to Cillian was out of the question. There was too much at stake.

I set an alarm for 1:30, put it on vibrate, and slid it under my pillow. I had no idea what I was going to do, but I did know I needed to try and stop this. I needed to talk to him. I needed to try to defuse this situation before it went any further and it was too late. And if my father was telling the truth and he’d been making deals in Cillian’s territory, I had to try and convince him to come to Cillian to pay him his dues; then he might actually walk away from this whole thing.

I flicked off the bedside lamp. If Cillian looked into my eyes now, he’d know I was hiding something.

The bathroom door opened. I got a flash of Cillian’s naked body, all smooth inked skin, his hair damp and swept back, before he shut the door behind him, then strode to the bed. The mattress dipped as he got in and instantly pulled me into him.

“You had a big day?” he asked.

“Hmm,” I said and prayed he didn’t feel how fast my heart was racing.

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