Page 12 of Ruthless Savage

My skin prickles with excitement. “Okay. I guess we’re going to a party.”

Can’t wait to see the look on his face after Karen is done with me.

CHAPTER 4

DEVLIN

I didn’t expect to get released from prison as fast as I did, but the lawyers figured out some loophole. Sometimes the law works in your favor.

When I first got out, I was too ashamed to face Patrick. He had to know I was out since he was paying my attorney bills, but he didn’t try to contact me either. So I stayed in my house—the other one I own, not the one I lived in on his estate. I didn’t think he’d want me there.

But after Iseult told me that Eriu was taken, I went out on my own to look for her. I was in a deep state of torture knowing someone could be hurting her.

I was worried that it was the gang I was a part of, but I quickly learned it wasn’t them.

It was someone else: Sergey Marinov, father of the current Pakhan of the Bratva.

The war between the Irish and Russians all began with that prick. After a disagreement between Patrick and Sergey over land, he took Eriu’s mother and killed her. Patrick, of course, took revenge and killed one of Marinov’s sons. An eye for an eye. That started an all-out war, and in the end, Konstantin, the oldest, and his three brothers called a truce.

Their father disappeared soon after that, but waited three years before he came after Iseult when she was seventeen. She fought like hell and escaped, but not before she took one of his eyes, and the bastard waited a long time before he took Eriu as payback.

Now he’s rotting in the ground. Thank feck nothing happened to her. I would’ve raised hell on that entire family.

After Eriu was rescued and I saw for myself that she was safe, I returned back to my home. Until one day, weeks later, I got a call from Patrick, asking if I wanted my job back.

I didn’t hesitate. I said yes. Of course I’d say yes. Why did I think I’d refuse if I ever got the chance to be close to her? To protect her? I’d never turn that down. I didn’t want some other man where I belonged.

I didn’t even care that I had to move to New York. I’ll be there for Eriu, and I won’t fail her this time. She is under my constant care and protection.

Patrick did forgive me for what transpired with Eriu the night she drugged me, but he also knew me well enough to appreciate that I was ashamed for failing at my job. But he told me he trusts me, and that meant more to me than he realized.

So I won’t fail him again. I watch her every move.

Before Eriu moved into her dorm, I had it bugged. Didn’t want to add cameras so I don’t invade her privacy that way. I also added a tracker to her car. Even her cellphone is tapped. I ran background checks on her friends too, who all came out clean.

I know every move Eriu makes before she makes it. Just like I know she’ll be going to a party tonight, where I’ll be watching everything she does.

She needs to be protected. Too many could use her as a pawn in the dangerous world she’s a part of. She doesn’t truly realize the danger she’s in just by existing. Her father has many enemies, and to add mine to the mix is even worse.

I continue to listen to her and Karen talking about the party, about how Eriu should seduce me. It’s too bad I’m a lot stronger than either of them gives me credit for.

The things I want, she’ll never know.

When I’m alone, when it’s safe to think about her, that’s when I let my true intentions roam free. Her as mine, the object of my every desire, my wife, the mother of my children. It’s what I want.

But we don’t all get things we want in life. I should know. I lost everything when I lost my brother.

I’m relieved I wasn’t married. They would’ve killed my wife. They would’ve killed our children too. They have no limits.

They could be anywhere. They could bloody well be in New York, waiting for the perfect time to take me out, and everyone I care about.

I won’t let that happen.

I won’t let Eriu die.

It’s why we can’t be together.

It’s too bad I can’t tell her that.

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