Page 26 of His Possession

As Rory’s lips claimed hers again, Maeve knew there was no turning back. She was bound to him now, her world forever entwined with his.

CHAPTER 10

RORY

The tension in the room was palpable, the thick, simmering energy that could ignite at the wrong word. Rory leaned back in his chair, his expression cold as he scanned the faces around the conference table. These men, the so-called old guard, had built their power through tradition and blood. Their influence was undeniable, but their reluctance to adapt to the changing tides was becoming a liability.

“This isn’t a negotiation,” Rory said, his voice calm but laced with steel. “The Kellehers are escalating, and we need to respond.”

Cormac, ever the voice of reason, nodded from Rory’s left. “The docks, the warehouses, this latest attack—they’re not just testing boundaries. They’re challenging us.”

Across the table, Seamus O’Malley, one of the oldest and most vocal members of the syndicate’s council, leaned forward, his gnarled hands gripping the edge of the polished wood. “And who’s to blame for that?” he barked. “You bring outsiders into our world, make them part of your operation, and expect no consequences? This art dealer?—”

“Sabella’s gallery is an excellent place to launder our money. As for Maeve, you don’t get to say her name,” Rory cut in, his tone so sharp it silenced the room. His panther stirred beneath his skin, the beast ready to strike at the disrespect in Seamus’s voice.

Seamus’s eyes narrowed, but he held his tongue as Rory leaned forward, his hands clasped on the table. “Maeve isn’t the problem. The Kellehers are. Every second we waste on this bullshit is a second closer to them, taking more from us. If you can’t see that, step aside.”

The room fell silent; the council exchanging uneasy glances. Rory’s dominance filled the space, his control absolute, but the undercurrent of resistance was still there. He could feel it, a subtle shift in the air that prickled at the edges of his instincts.

Before anyone could respond, the door burst open, and Malachy stormed in, his expression grim. “We’ve got a problem,” he said, his voice tight. “It’s Sabella.”

Rory stood instantly, his chair scraping against the floor. “What happened?”

“Tadhg Kelleher,” Malachy said, his voice heavy with anger. “He’s taken her. Dragged her out of the gallery in broad daylight.”

The council room devolved into pandemonium; voices rose in a clamor of demands, orders, and heated debate over the consequences. None of it mattered to Rory. His focus was singular, his panther roaring to life at the news.

“Where is she now?” Rory demanded, his voice cutting through the noise.

“We’ve got a location,” Malachy said. “One of our men tailed them to a warehouse near the river. Tadhg’s demanding a meeting—he wants Maeve.”

Rory’s hands clenched into fists, his vision narrowing as rage coursed through him. Tadhg was playing a dangerous game, andhe’d just made the ultimate mistake: threatening someone in Rory’s world.

“He can’t have her. If he’d like, I’ll be happy to give him a war,” Rory growled. “Get the men ready. We’re ending this.”

Before Malachy could respond, another voice cut through the room. “I’m coming with you.”

Rory turned to see Maeve standing in the doorway, her chin held high and her blue eyes blazing. Unwavering, she stood defiant, a figure of untamed strength. Yet, in the maelstrom of destruction, her very resilience ignited his wrath. The smell of smoke and blood filled the air.

“No,” Rory said firmly. “You’re staying here.”

Maeve stepped closer, her gaze unwavering. “This is about me, Rory. If Tadhg wants me there, I’m going.”

“You don’t get to make that call,” Rory said, his voice low and sharp. “This isn’t a negotiation.”

“And this isn’t just your fight,” Maeve shot back. “Sabella is my friend. I won’t sit here and wait while you risk everything to save her.”

Rory’s panther roared, torn between admiration for her courage and the overwhelming need to protect her. He took a step toward her, his towering frame casting a shadow over hers. “You don’t understand what you’re asking, Maeve. Tadhg won’t just hand her over. He’ll use this as an opportunity to take you. I won’t let that happen.”

Maeve didn’t flinch, her voice steady as she said, “I’m not afraid of him.”

Rory’s jaw tightened, his frustration mounting. “You should be.”

Their gazes locked. The anger between them felt like a live wire. Rory wanted to shake her, to make her see the danger she was walking into. But he also couldn’t deny the fire in her, the strength that drew him to her in the first place.

“If I don’t go, Sabella dies,” Maeve said, her voice soft but firm. “You know that, Rory. This isn’t just about me. It’s about doing what’s right.”

The truth of her words struck him like a blow, and Rory exhaled slowly, his anger giving way to something deeper. She was right, damn it. And as much as he hated the idea of putting her in harm’s way, he knew she wouldn’t back down.

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