Page 76 of Ruthless Savage

“Find who?” He crosses his arms and narrows his eyes. “Do you know who did this?”

Shite, I don’t know how much I should tell him. They may never trust me again. Once a rat, always a rat, and rats are killed. But I can’t carry this any longer either. If they want to kill me, then maybe I deserve it.

“The Palmers. I used to run with their crew before your father recruited me.”

I press the heel of my palm between my brows and start at the beginning. When I’m through, he blows a breath and settles down.

“Jesus. Now I know why you never said anything before. But you have to talk to my father. We need to all be on the same page.”

“I will.” I nod, knowing that Patrick may not look at me the same way again, but it’s the price I have to pay. I’ve kept this in for long enough. “But before I do, I need to see Eriu and make sure she’s okay. Can you ask her to come in?”

“Yeah, sure.” He slaps his palm over my shoulder. “Glad you didn’t die. You’re one of the few I don’t hate.”

“That’s a compliment coming from you.” I chuckle, then groan from the pain in my ribs.

He walks out of the room, and a few minutes later, I see her, and all the air stills in my lungs. She stands in the doorway, shutting it behind her, eyes shimmering with anguish.

“Devlin,” she cries, bottom lip quivering.

“Come here, love.” I reach out a hand, and with a sniffle, she rushes onto the bed and into my arms.

As soon as I have her, I breathe a sigh. My eyes pinch shut and my palm clasps the back of her head, holding her to my beating heart, because she is my heart. I breathe in that familiar scent of roses in her hair, feeling at peace knowing she’s alright.

I tug tighter, ignoring the pain shooting down my torso.

“I thought you were dead.” Tears fill her eyes as she pitches back. “I thought I’d lost you.”

I clasp both sides of her face and stare into her eyes, feeling like my soul is slowly coming undone.

“I’m right here, baby. Even the devil couldn’t take me.”

Away from you, is what I want to say. But how fair would that be when I refuse to make her mine?

I press my mouth to the top of her head. “Don’t cry. I hate knowing you were worried. I’m sorry.”

She looks at me through those wet eyes that just about break me. “Who wrote that note, Devlin? Who’s trying to hurt us?”

Us….

But it’s her I’m worried about. I don’t care what happens to me.

I should tell her everything too. What happened to my brother. What I did. Maybe if I tell her, she’ll truly understand why I’ve kept her away, kept refusing her.

“When I was younger, I was part of a gang of thieves and killers.”

She sits up straighter, staring intently for me to continue while I wait for some kind of judgment. But it never comes.

Is it that easy? Could this woman’s love be unconditional?

But love isn’t that way. It’s never given freely. When we mess up, those we love stop loving us back.

Sometimes it takes a few feck-ups to get there, and other times, it takes one monumental act to change someone’s feelings—to make them see you like they never have before—and that’s when their love simply vanishes. I saw it happen with my parents. Their love wasn’t free. Hers won’t be either.

“We did a lot of shite. We stole expensive artwork and jewelry. Hurt people to do it, too many people, and we got away with it thanks to me.”

Her brows furrow, and my fear grows that this will be the end of us.

“They trusted me. Most of them did, anyway. Francis Palmer, the head of the gang, had two sons, and one of them, Roy, never liked me. He tried to get me kicked out, but Palmer treated me more like a son than his own kids, and I think that’s why his son wanted me gone.”

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