Page 55 of Ruthless Savage

Makes me an arsehole, doesn’t it? But I can’t help what I feel. What I’ll always feel. She’s written into my DNA. Like a code imprinted into my marrow. It’s impossible to exist without her.

“Look,” he goes on. “I don’t like him either, but my father… You know how stubborn he is. He doesn’t listen to me or Iseult. But if you can give him another option, someone powerful enough to keep her safe, then he might agree.”

A deep guttural grunt rolls out of me. “I can’t let this happen.”

“What did he do?”

“He manhandled her, grabbed her wrist too hard on purpose. So I broke the bastard’s finger.”

“Good. Maybe it’ll teach him a lesson to keep his hands to himself.”

“Doubt it.”

“We could kill him,” Tynan says matter-of-factly. “But if Reynolds Senior finds out, it will get us into a war.”

“You’re serious.”

“It’s an option if you think she’s not safe with him.”

“She won’t be. But give me a little time. I’m hopeful I can find something on him that will make your father decide to break this arrangement in case him being aggressive isn’t enough.”

“Okay. I’ll talk to Iseult. I mean, you know her. She’d be ready to throw a dagger into his eye at a moment’s notice.”

I let out a laugh. She’s one skilled assassin on a bad day. On a good day… Well, any son of a bitch who crosses her or those she loves should watch their back.

“You know…” he says. “It’s too bad you never had those kinds of feelings for my sister.”

“What?” My voice fills with shock. “What the hell are you bloody insinuating?”

“I’m just saying. My father loves you like a son. He’d be open to it.”

Is he really saying this? He wouldn’t be if he knew my past. The gang that could get his sister killed.

I can’t be the one to ruin her life. I won’t do it.

“I’m way too old for her, and I’ve got no connections like the Reynoldses and their kind do. I’m nothing.”

“You underestimate yourself.” He exhales a short breath. “Don’t matter, anyway. It’s a pointless conversation since you don't feel like that about her, and what the hell do I know about relationships anyway? Never had one to begin with.”

“Why is that?” I keep my vision on her dorm, making sure Mason doesn’t decide to return.

“What are you, my fucking shrink?”

“No.” I snicker. “Just asking a question. Isn’t your father all about continuing the bloodline? He’s gotta be demanding it.”

“Fuck you, McHale,” he mutters.

“I knew it. He’s on your case to tie the knot and make a family, isn’t he? We all know he’s retiring soon and putting you in charge. You knew it was coming. We all did.”

Patrick is getting older, and he wants everything in place before he retires. As the oldest, it would be Tynan’s rightful place to lead the Quinn family.

“Yeah, yeah. How about you shut up and worry about your own fucking bloodline?”

“My bloodline would be best to die off with me.” I let out a sigh. “No reason to bring a woman into my shite and ruin her damn life.”

“Yeah… It’s a lot to ask of a woman to marry into the kind of family we belong to. Unless she’s getting something out of it, there’s no way in hell someone would willingly sign up for this.”

“Maybe if you’re lucky, one would actually love your crazy arse.”

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