Page 79 of Ciaran

Her face lights up with relief. Without even looking at Tanner, she takes off up the stairs.

“All good,” Draven says.

“Watch him,” I say to Luke and Draven.

I go after Mia. Two suitcases lie open on the bed. I cup her face and bend to kiss her. She melts against me as our mouths touch. What starts out as a gentle kiss meant to reassure each other turns into a hot and heavy coming together of lips and tongues and desperate need. The worry and fear of the last few days ebbs away, replaced with elation. She’s safe and back in my arms, where she belongs.

“I tried so hard,” she says as we break apart. “I tried to find the footage, but I could only find that one stick.”

“You did good, baby.” I peck her on the lips. “So fucking good.”

“I don’t understand how you’re here. How did you…?” She trails off.

I tuck a lock of her hair behind her ear and gently tug on her lobe. “Tanner has been dealing steroids to the kids he coaches, as well as fuck only knows who else, telling them they need the drugs to stand a chance of making it.”

Her jaw drops. “Drugs? Oh, my God.” Eyes flaring, she asks, “How did you find out?”

“Turns out I have a detective friend on the force here in Chicago. Luke. He’s the one downstairs with Draven. I asked him to help, to see if there was any dirt on Tanner. Draven discovered he was staying at a five-star hotel each time he visited Manhattan. We suspected there was something shady going on, and drugs seemed the obvious explanation. Luke asked his sources to poke around. The rumors came back that steroids were involved, so we made a phone call, then used a cover story to mount a sting operation. Once faced with the prospect of prison, Tanner caved immediately.”

Her bottom lip trembles. “And the video of you? Did you get all the copies?”

“We believe so,” I say. “Even if he’s still got a copy hidden somewhere, it doesn’t matter. He won’t risk getting arrested, and the stuff we have on him is watertight.” Mia doesn’t need to know our evidence is worthless. She’ll only worry.

A sob breaks from her throat, and she buries her face in my neck as my arms come around her once more. A few seconds later, she draws back, studying me with narrowed eyes. “What happened to your nose? Did Tanner do that?”

I snort. “As if. No, Draven did it.”

“Draven? Why?”

“Because he’s an asshole. When he least expects it, I’ll break his fucking nose, too.”

She chuckles, then her smile falls, and her hand cups my cheek. “Thank you. For not giving up on me.”

I wipe away her tears with my thumbs. “Let’s pack your things and go home.”

I don’t have to ask her twice. In about three minutes, we’ve tossed all her belongings into a couple of suitcases. I pick them up and walk downstairs. Draven and Luke are waiting in the hallway, a wall blocking Tanner from getting anywhere near Millie. She stiffens the moment her eyes land on him, so I hand over her suitcases to Draven and squeeze her fingers in reassurance.

“Go with Draven and Luke.”

“Ciaran…”

I jut my chin. “Go on now. Get in the car. I won’t be long.”

Counting to ten, I wait for Mia to get in the car, then I smash my fist into Tanner’s face. He cries out and staggers backward, holding his nose. Blood oozes through his fingers, and I hit him a second then third time for good measure. He lands on his ass and slides across the wooden floor.

I grab him by his shirt and haul him to his feet. Gripping him by the throat, I ram him against the wall.

“If you ever come near her again, I swear I will end you. I will hunt you down like a dog and put a bullet in your dick. Do you feel me?” When Tanner doesn’t answer, I tighten my hold, pressing on his windpipe. “Do. You. Fucking. Feel. Me?”

With his eyes bulging out of their sockets, he nods.

I let him go, and he sinks to the floor, coughing and spluttering.

I drop to my haunches and seize his chin, gripping it tightly. “Don’t test me, motherfucker. Everyone thinks I’m the nice guy, but when it comes to protecting those I love, I’m far from nice. So here’s a not-so-friendly warning. If you still have a copy of that video somewhere, and it ever sees the light of day, I guarantee, you will wish you were dead.”

I thrust his head backward and it hits the tile with a hollow thud. Satisfied, I straighten, giving him one final sneer before I calmly walk out, leaving him lying on the floor.

I’ve barely closed the car door when Mia crawls onto my lap and burrows into my neck.

---