Page 116 of Ruthless Savage

The smell of garlic and tomatoes permeates my nostrils. It’s either Patrick cooking or one of his staff. The man is a damn good cook.

As soon as I head toward the stairs, up to his study, Tynan walks down and greets me.

He slaps a palm against my back. “He’s waiting for you.”

“Does he know what I’m here to say?”

“That you wanna marry my sister? Nah.” Tynan smirks a fragment. “I thought the news would be best coming from you.”

“Do you think he’ll take it well?”

“I don’t know. My father is…well, you know how he is.” He shrugs. “You’re on your own.”

“Mm-hmm.”

I don’t know how Patrick will take the news. But I can’t pretend that I can live without her anymore.

Heading up the stairs, I knock on the door, ready to get this over with.

“Come in,” he says, reading through some papers on his desk.

The Quinns own a lot of property and businesses, most of them involving gambling. Patrick is constantly busy. But he’s tired lately, and I think that’s why he’s pushing Tynan to marry. He wants his sons and daughters to pass his legacy on to the future generations.

“So, tell me…” He swivels back in the chair, eyes centered on me. “What did you have to discuss that was so urgent?”

Gripping the back of my neck, I figure out a place to start. “I can’t let Eriu marry Mason.”

“Oh? Why not?” He leans back in his swivel chair, rolling back and forth, brows set in a tense stare.

“Because…”

Just bloody say it, already.

He waits for me to continue, but my mouth won’t move. No matter how many times I’ve rehearsed this shite in my head, it’s not enough.

“I’ve never seen you look this terrified.” Patrick laughs. “Just spit it out, son, or we’ll be sitting here all damn day.”

“Aye.” I choke on an inhale and just blurt it out. “I can’t let her marry him because I want to be the one to marry her. Sir.”

Feckin’ hell, I did it.

When his eyes widen and he freezes in the chair, I’m no longer sure if I should shut the hell up and leave or continue.

But I’ve gotta tell him how I feel. It’s the only way.

“I know our age difference is big, and I know I’ve disappointed you in the past, failed her in the past. Feck, I’ve failed more people than I can count. But I love her, sir. I love her with all my heart and soul, and I need that to be enough. I need you to tell me that’s enough. Because she’s enough for me, and I wanna take care of her for the rest of my life.”

At first, his mouth thins and thick brows tug, but then he breaks into a grin.

“Bloody finally!” He bangs a fist on the desk and shakes his head on a chuckle. “I’ve been waiting for you to man up and admit your feelings for my daughter since you got your arse out of prison.”

“What? You knew? How?”

“You all must think I’m some idiot, not realizing when a man has feelings for my daughters. I mean, okay, fine….” He throws a hand in the air. “I was blind for a bit with Iseult and Gio, but they hid it well. You, on the other hand?” He snickers. “Son, I saw it the moment you stormed into my home, looking all bent out of shape after she was saved from the kidnapping. I saw it the moment you laid eyes on her. The relief. The love. I see it all. But I would never let my daughter marry a man who couldn’t admit his own feelings. Because if you can’t do that, how can you love her? So I was waiting patiently. Wanting to see what you’d do if she were to marry the likes of Mason feckin’ Reynolds.”

I almost collapse. But instead, I take a seat across from him, my elbows on my knees, unable to speak.

“You played us into believing she was gonna marry him?”

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