Page 15 of The Hermit

My words are filled with warning as they rumble from my chest. “Just because I’m marrying your sister doesn’t mean I’ll take it easy on you.” I let a few seconds pass so my words can register with her. “Don’t ever disrespect me.”

I watch as her gray eyes grow stormy while they narrow on me. “You’renotmarrying my sister.”

I lean a little down, my tone darker as I say, “Over your dead body, right?”

A flash of fear tightens her features even more, and I’m surprised when she sticks to her guns and replies, “Yes. You’ll have to kill me to get to Ciara.”

I’m starting to think she has no regard for her own life. If only she had fought half as hard for herself last night, she might have fewer bruises.

“The marriage will be in name only,” I say, hoping it will calm her temper. The last thing I’m in the mood for is to fight with this woman for the next week or so.

Grace lifts her chin, and my eyes lower to the fresh scab forming on her bottom lip as she mutters, “I don’t care.” Then aweird expression settles on her face before she says, “All it will take is one day with a man like you to break my sister, and I won’t allow it. She will never be your wife for you to do with as you please.”

The weird expression on her face registers, dragging a memory from my past to the surface.

Evinka runs barefoot across the ice-covered ground as if hell itself is chasing her, a terrified expression on her face.

Taking in her torn sweater and missing pants, my heart explodes into a worried tempo. I hardly have time to open my arms before she plows into my chest, her body convulsing with silent sobs.

I shove the memory back into the pits of hell where my soul was formed and say, “I don’t plan on touching your sister. I’m absolutely fine with artificial insemination.”

Grace’s eyes widen with surprise as she gasps, “What?”

“The marriage will be in name only,” I repeat myself for the last time. “I have no interest in your weak sister.”

My last sentence makes the anger return to Grace’s eyes. “If you expect us to respect you, you will watch what you say about Ciara. She’s the sweetest and most caring person you’ll ever meet and doesn’t deserve to be bad-mouthed in any way.”

I should’ve lost my temper already. Any other person and my gun would be drawn and ready to bury a bullet in their head.

But for some reason, I’m calm as fuck as I stand before this woman.

Not only am I calm, but once again, I can’t resist pushing her buttons by leaning down until our faces are a mere inch apart. “But not you? Just Ciara?” The corner of my mouth lifts a little. “Will you let me do whatever I want to you as long as I spare your precious sister?”

Again, fear returns to her eyes, and this time, they even look a little wounded.

Her breaths warm the space between us, and I become aware of her chest rising and falling rapidly.

For the longest moment, Grace just stares into my eyes, and it takes way too fucking long for me to notice the glazed-over expression in her gray irises.

A frown forms on my forehead, and pulling a little back, my eyes dart over her face. Outwardly, she looks like she’s stuck in a daydream, but her eyes keep darkening with trauma until they seem to tremble.

When I lift my hand and manage to place it on her shoulder without her reacting, I’m dead sure she’s having a silent panic attack, just like the ones Evinka used to have when we were much younger.

Before I can think my actions through, I move my hand up and cup her cheek with my palm while standing rooted to the spot.

I should leave her be and get Devlin to deal with his daughter, but instead, I lean closer to her again and match my breathing to her fast puffs. Just like I used to do with Evinka, I gradually slow my breathing, and I’m pleased when Grace’s body follows suit as her breaths slow down until they’re regular again.

She blinks a couple of times before her eyes widen on me. We stare at each other for way too long before she finally yanks her cheek away from my palm. Without another word, she swings around and hightails it down the hallway.

I let out a deep sigh and shake my head as I watch her blond hair sway against her back.

That cottage better be ready because I need my solitude to recharge my social battery that’s passed red and nearing black.

Chapter 5

GRACE

When I walk into Ciara’s bedroom, it’s to find her pacing up and down, looking terrified.

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