Page 34 of Ruthless Savage

“I’d rather stand.”

“Alright. What can I do for you, son?”

“She can’t marry that bastard.” My palms clasp the edge of his desk.

He chuckles. “Right to the point. One of the things I always liked about you.” He releases a sigh, looking too intently at me. “You’re so protective of her. Always have been. It’s why I knew you’d be perfect to keep her safe from the time she was a little girl, but she needs more than a bodyguard, Devlin. She needs a husband.” He looks me dead in the eyes. “Someone who can continue our bloodline. Someone who will love her and respect her and be there for her. Mason can do those things.”

Sure, he feckin’ can.

I should be the man to do all those things. No one else.

But I squash those thoughts and focus on the problem at hand: getting rid of Mason.

“Oh, come on!” My voice rises, and he snaps a glare. “I mean, with all due respect, he doesn’t have a good reputation. Never has.”

“Well, neither did Gio, and look how well that union turned out. He’s a good husband to my Iseult. So you should trust my judgment.”

I don’t at the bloody moment.

“I spoke to Mason about the women, and he assured me all that will stop.”

“And the gamblin’?”

“I can’t tell a man what to do with his money. That’s his business. I care about him sleeping around, and that will end once they’re married, or he will pay the price.”

A fist clenches at my side. I can’t let this marriage happen.

Because you wanna be the one to marry her, you bastard.

Feck!

She deserves more than Mason. More than me. Someone like Eriu deserves the world, and I’m gonna make sure she gets it.

“Eriu received a threat today. It was a note left in my mailbox.” Patrick takes a deep breath, a furrow between his brows.

“She what?”

He nods. “It was a personal threat, and whoever wrote it said they’re gonna come for her. I want eyes on her twenty-four seven. You understand?”

I nod.

“I need her married, Devlin. I need her as protected as possible, and you know the Reynoldses are connected to the highest people in government. Senators, even the fecking president. I need her to marry someone like that. It’s the only thing I care about, her protection. When I’m gone, I want to know my baby girl is safe. She’s never been like the rest of us. She can’t protect herself like we can.”

I can keep her safe…

Couldn’t even keep your brother safe. What makes you think you’re capable of keeping a wife safe?

My own thoughts sabotage every chance I could have with her.

“Can I see the note?”

Fear settles deep in my gut. Maybe it’s the gang I was associated with, but why would they send a letter to Patrick and not me? If they found me and found my connection to the Quinns, they would threaten her by sending me the note.

This makes no sense. It has to be someone else. But who?

He reaches into a drawer and hands me the paper, the words typed out.

She’ll pay for what you’ve done. I’m coming for her. And there’s nothing you can do about it.

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