Page 51 of Romancing the Reaper

“Stop! Don’t hurt him! Stop!” I cry out.

Kieran doesn’t even try to defend himself. He tries to stop Alberto, but Alberto is more lethal than anyone gives him credit for.

“Enough!” Cristiano’s voice cuts through the chaos, commanding attention.

Alberto shoves Kieran to the ground forcefully one final time before slowly pulling away from him, his eyes burning with anger. I’ve never seen him in such a state.

“Enough indeed, as amusing as all of this is…” Patrick pulls a knife from his belt and slowly closes the distance between him and Cristiano. “I’ve invited you here to offer up my nephew's pathetic life in reparations for what he’s done to your family. For peace.”

I watch in horror as Patrick presses the knife into my brother’s hand. On the ground by my feet, Kieran is struggling to get back up, still wanting to put himself between me and anybody that looks at me the wrong way. He’s chosen this hill and I’m scared that he intends to die on it.

“Once he’s out of the way, we will be free to force an alliance between our two powerful families.” Patrick continues.

“Alliance?” Cristiano asks, staring at me.

“Yes, of my son Liam, and your lovely sister Ada.”

What?! Absolutely not!

“No!” I scream, pulling at my bonds anew. “Don’t you dare!”

This is not an instance in which I’m going to allow my brother to speak for me. I’m not some pig to be auctioned off at the market. My skin crawls at the very idea of anybody but Kieran touching me ever again.

Cristiano can’t seriously be considering this, can he? And yet, he is quiet for a moment. A moment that is way too long. There’s no fucking way. He wouldn’t dare… would he?

Rage and heartbreak threaten to make me lash at my brother for daring to speak for me. He doesn’t get to take my choices away.

Only Liam beats me to it. He comes jogging into the warehouse at the exact right moment, face swollen and clearly out of breath.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Kieran tense. It’s like I canfeelhim calculating the best course of action and how he’s going to get out of this with me. I know that he’s not going to allow me to be married off to the highest bidder, no matter who he has to kill to make it happen.

“That offer is bullshit.” He pants. “I won’t marry her.” He turns to look at me, that damned smirk coming back into place. He winks his good eye at me for good measure. “Sorry, Ada dear.”

Kieran’s whole body relaxes, but he doesn’t lower his guard.

Patrick’s face twists in fury as he rounds on his son. “Clearly you’ve hit your head,son.” He snaps his fingers. “Take him away.”

Patrick’s men don’t move.

The silence that follows is deafening.

The smirk on Liam’s face grows into an outright grin. “Your men don’t obey you anymore, Father.” His tone is positively dripping in satisfaction. The power shift in the room is palpable. Every man on the upper floors shifts their aim to Patrick instead of Cristiano. Patrick’s rage turns to desperation as he realizes that his control has been ripped from him. “Leading with fear will only get you so far. It was easier than I expected to get them all on my side. Seems that they are rather tired of your ruthless leadership. I have to say that I agree.”

Liam holds his hand up in front of his father’s face, and snaps. A gesture that I’m sure his father used against him in a demeaning fashion countless times in his life. Liam’s men come forward to take Patrick away.

“You will pay for this!” Patrick barks. “I will tear you apart,son, mark my words. This is not over, and you will regret this!” screaming and kicking with furious shouts that echo through the whole warehouse as he’s forced out. I have no idea what Liam plans to do with him, and I have no intention of asking either.

“Kieran… my hands…” I say softly, and Kieran stands down. His shoulders slump from the defensive posture dropping as he bends with painful gentleness to loosen my hands. He pauses, just for a second, before setting me free. The implications aren’t lost on me. The ropes fall to the floor and Liam moves toward my brother.

“We have a chance here to make things right. I want an alliance, too. Not through marriage, but I’m willing to share my trade routes,” Liam offers calmly, his tone gentle.

Cristiano studies Liam for a long moment, the tension in the space thickening again. Finally, he nods. “I’ll consider it.”

A flicker, an ember of hope sparks in my chest. Cristiano lowers his gun, and the atmosphere in the warehouse shifts from confrontational into what feels like a very fragile sort of peace. Liam usurped his father’s position, and now, there’s a chance for a new beginning there.

My eyes slide to Kieran’s, who meets my gaze with a wary expression… relief and… determination?

“Ada–” he begins to speak, then hesitates. He has never hesitated before, not with me.

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