Page 112 of No Promises, No Lies

“Fine,” Cole doesn’t even sound surprised, “Then I want your brother. Your hockey star little brother killed my beloved cousin. Blood pays for blood. That is, if you don’t want your little sister paying that price. It would be a shame,” he clicks his tongue in disapproval, “such pretty green eyes…”

“No,” I whisper, fear ripping through my chest and squeezing it so tight I can’t breathe. Liam looks ready to lunge through the phone to strangle DeLuca himself.

Aidan steps forward, taking the phone out of Koen’s hands, “If any harm comes to my sister, there won’t be a corner of this world where you can hide.”

“No need for threats Ace, I’m a man of my word. I won’t hurt your sister.”

“When?” is Aidan’s only response, his dark eyes finding mine.

“One hour, at the pier.”

“Done.” He hangs up the phone, handing it back to Koen.

Liam rises, “You know it’s a trap, right?” He looks between the brothers, “You can’t seriously be considering this.” They’re not just going to beat Aidan, they’re going tokillhim.

Aidan shrugs, a far off expression on his face. “They have Reagan, Liam. If they want me, they can have me. So long as Reagan and Rory are safe.”

Tears well up in my eyes and threaten to spill down my cheek. I wrap my arms tightly around myself as if they can hold me together. “They’ll kill you.” I take a few steps toward him.

Aidan’s eyes soften. “Give us a minute, guys.” He takes my hand in his and tugs me down the hallway toward his bedroom. I can hear Liam continuing his argument with Koen as we go.

As soon as the door shuts, I lose my self control and tears coat my cheeks. Aidan says nothing, just swallows me in a hug, clutching me tightly to him. “The Irish will protect you. That won’t change, even if… you will be safe.” He swallows hard and I peek up at him.

“They’re going to kill you.” There wasn’t a doubt in my mind about that. Cole might want to just teach Aidan a lesson, but my father won’t.

“Probably.” The corner of his lip ticks up, finding amusement even now.

I shake my head, my tears drying up and anger finding their place. “Take me with you.”

Aidan’s face hardens, and he pulls away, “No.”

“You heard Cole. They wantme. Give me back and all of this goes away. Reagan will be safe and you’ll stay alive.”

“But you won’t!” Aidan shouts, and I reel back. “Do you think the Italians will let that little insult slide? Your father?” I wince, and he nods arrogantly. “No. This is the best plan. And you’ll finally be free of them. Once things calm down, Koen will set you up somewhere safe, and you can move on.”

He catches me shaking my head, and I shake it harder as he continues through his tirade. “No… No.”

“Why, Rory? You don’t even like me.”

“Not true.”

“Sure it is. It was only just last week you tried running away, wishing somebody would come and save you from me.”

“I don’t need saving from you!”

“And why’s that?”

“Because I love you!”

Aidan stares back at me, his eyes widening before they narrow into a glare. “Take it back,” he growls.

I glare right back, defiantly lifting my chin. “No.”

He stalks closer, eyes dark. Reaching out, he grips my chin as he walks me backwards until there’s nowhere left to go, my back pressed against the wall. “I said,Take. It. Back.”

“I can’t.” Shivering in his grip, my nerves are shot with him so close. “That would be lying.”

A flash of emerald is all I see before his lips slam into mine, full of passion, fire, and—goodbye. I don’t realize I’m crying again until I taste the salt of my own tears on my tongue.

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