Page 45 of Destructive Truths

“You know,” Gabriel smirks. “I wondered who the fuck had the balls to fuck something that belonged to me without my permission.” He stalks forward until he’s only an arm’s length away. “Turns out you were right under my nose this entire time.”

Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

He knows.

Lorcan’s grip on his gun tightens, finger hovering over the trigger, ready to fire.

“Tell me this, Reilly… Did Èanna get into your bed willingly, or did you get the same fight I did?”

Lorcan lurches forward, ramming the barrel of his Glock down my father’s throat. “Keep my wife’s name outta your fuckin’ mouth.”

Gabriel’s eyes widen, brows rising as his measly existence flashes before his eyes.

Wrapping my hand around Lorcan’s bicep, I pull him back. “Don’t. A quick death is the least of what that cunt deserves.”

Lorcan’s eyes find mine, and I know he can see what’s reflecting from them.

Don’t kill him.

Don’t take that away from me.

When he dies, it will be me who steals the light from his eyes, just like he stole the light from my soul.

His hand shakes as the war rages inside him. He doesn’t want to let him live. Thankfully, he pulls back, but not before he wraps his fist around Gabriel’s shirt and forces him into the bookshelf. “You should count yourself lucky, King. The kid just granted you a lifeline.” Then using the butt of his gun, Lorcan clocks him in the side of the skull with an unmerciful crack.

Taking a step back, Lorcan raises his gun again. “Take this as a warning. Open your fucking mouth, and next time, Rí won’t stop me.” He pulls the trigger, lodging a bullet into my father’s shoulder, causing him to wail out with pain as he slumps to the floor.

Lorcan drops to his hunkers, bringing himself down to my father’s eye level. “Your days are numbered, King, and I’m keepin’ count.”

TWENTY-SEVEN

LIAM

Arms folded across my chest, I lean against the large stone pillar outside Ryan manor with my eyes trained on the deep-purple BMW i8 that’s raising dust as it races up the driveway before sliding to a stop at the base of the entry steps.

Within seconds, the butterfly doors elevate, and my sister and Saoirse come into view.From the passenger seat, Beibhinn’s eyes land on mine. “I hope your birthday present game is strong, brother. Because Rohan really knows how to buy a girl a gift.” Beibhinn laughs as she pushes out of the passenger seat. “This car is sick.”

My smirk drops. Son of a bitch. He bought her a fucking car.

I should’ve known that prick had something up his sleeve. He was far too smug last night. Mainly when he delivered his message with a devious Prove it.Rohan doesn’t know the meaning of the word share, but being a twin, sharing comes second nature to me, and I’m man enough to admit the only way I can have Saoirse is if I’m willing to halve her heart with him.

He’s there, embedded beneath her skin, right next to me. I see the conflict in her eyes when we’re both in the same room or when she thinks she has to choose between us, and a little piece of her heart breaks.

There’s only one way this ends, and the sooner I come to terms with that, the easier it will be to accept that she loves us both in different ways and for various reasons.

Pushing from the pillar, I descend the steps and round the car, ignoring the curious glare Beibhinn points my way. Finally, Saoirse exits the car and stands at full height—and I almost lose my breath at how fucking stunning she looks.

Gone are the worn yoga pants and hoodies I’m used to, and instead an angel wrapped in edible sin stands before me.Starting at her feet, I let my eyes trail over knee-high black boots before rewarding me with a tease of her silky thighs. My gaze travels further, approving of the leather wrapped around the tops of her legs, hugging her hips and waist like a second skin. My mouth waters, and my greedy perusal continues by stealing a peek at her toned stomach beneath the mesh top that barely covers a silvery bikini-style bra beneath.

Stepping closer, I notice numerous delicate chains crisscrossing her waist—begging me to peel off every item of clothing so I can fuck her wearing nothing but them alone. I know it’s her birthday, but fuck me, I’m seconds away from unwrapping her as though she’s my fuckin’ present.

Finally, her eyes capture mine, and I’m a goner, falling arse over fist. Wide smoky eyes blaze with a ferociousness that wasn’t there the last time I saw her. It’s as though her confidence has skyrocketed overnight. They’re wilder than wind, and I know, here and now, she’s finally accepting the life she is born to lead. Saoirse Ryan has found her fire, and I’m hypnotised by the flames.

My tongue swipes at my lip, and I close the distance between us, stopping centimetres from her. Then, placing my knuckles beneath her chin, I tilt her chin and fall into her amber eyes. “Happy birthday, Free Bird.”

We stay like that, lost in time, our eyes locked on each other as the world passes us by. There is a name for the feeling spreading through me—three words, only eight letters, that I’m terrified to say. I swallow them back before they can slip past my lips. Instead, I lean in, claiming her mouth with mine, expressing my unspoken words with every stroke of my tongue. My arm wraps around her waist, drawing her closer as I lean in. Our height difference makes me fall forward as she leans back, but I catch her thigh, holding her steady as I lose myself in her.

“Well, as cute as this is,” Beibhinn interrupts, reminding me of her presence, “I think I’ll head back to the gate-lodge for the night. Leave you two lovebirds to it.” Her eyebrow rises as she winks at Saoirse. “I’ve already seen enough of my brother’s naked arse to last a lifetime, and I don’t think my eyeballs could handle walking in on you two for a second time.”

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