Page 101 of No Promises, No Lies

It’s nonsense to run and I don’t know why I do it, but something inside me snaps. I’ve got the taste of freedom on my tongue and I’m desperate to not give it up. My fear of being used again propels me forward. The memory that he is faster than me prevents me from even looking back.

A deafening crack rings out. It’s loud enough to be a gunshot and for a second—I think it is. Flinching hard, I nearly fall, spotting a web of cracks spidering out all around me. A second loud crack, and the ice below me shifts and groans. I stumble,but remain upright, spinning slowly back around to find Aidan stopped about fifty feet away, unmistakable fear in his eyes. The words hidden in his shouts finally register with me.

“Stop.”

“Rory, no!”

“Thin ice!”

“Not safe!”

“Don’t move!”

60

THIN ICE

RORY

“Careful,” Aidan warns. There’s a raw edge to his voice, and he seems torn between staying where he is and skating to me.

He’s shouting instructions, but fear has a hold of me and it’s buzzing in my ear as I stare down at the splintered surface beneath me. Dark water streams out through the cracks below, spilling across the icy surface. A strong current churns underneath. If I fall in—I’mgone.

Aidan shouts again,drawing my attention and bringing him back into focus.“Rory, you have to trust me.”

“I DON’T trust you!” I snap back, my body shaking uncontrollably. “That’s the problem.” Fear and panic bypass my filters, the truthspilling out.

“You were running.”

It’s not a question, but I answer it anyway.“I can’t stay—It’s only a matter of time before you or your family use me too.” I’m frozen in place, unsure which way to go… While it’s true no matter which way I choose, I could fall through. If I go further out where it’s likely to be more unstable, it’s a risk… but then again, going back the way I came seems dangerous too… Considering the agitated Irish enforcer waiting for me…

Danger either way… I look anxiously back over my shoulder, weighing my options.

“I promised to protect you, Rory.” The raw emotion in his voice pulls at my heartstrings and I turn to face Aidan with wide eyes. “If you wanted to leave… all you had to do was ask.” There’s a sad expression on his face and he looks like he might take a step toward me for a second before deciding against it. His gaze hardens. “Where?” he asks.

I stare back at him, mouth open, but my voice fails me.

He tries again. “Where do you want to go? Where will you finally feel safe?” He adjusts the hat on his head and a lock of his hair falls partially out of the front. “Wherever it is, I’ll take you there.” His eyes find mine. “I promised I’d protect you, and I will. I keep my promises, Rory.” He exhales sharply, frustration evident in his gaze.

My mind races as I study his eyes—his face. Even from this distance, I can see the hurt he’s too panicked to hide flashing in his green eyes that shine bright against the endless white surrounding us. “What do you want from me, Aidan?” I ask the question almost too quietly for him to hear me.

“I’m the second son of the Irish, heir to a legacy of blood. An enforcer both on and off the ice. I’m no stranger to violence. I’ve killed before and I’ll kill again.”

I see emotions in his eyes—fear, vulnerability perhaps—that I’ve never seen before. It’s unsettling, but I can’t look away…

“I stole you…Tied you up… Threatened you…”All true. I wrap my arms tighter around myself. The feeling of a phantom gun tracing along my jaw sends a chill through my body. “I let you go—physically,” he nods, his eyes never leaving mine. Both of us stuck out here in the middle of this icy lake, neither of us able to go forward nor backward until we have this out.“But I couldn’t get you out of my mind. I tried distancing myself—I tried to stay away, but no matter what I did, I couldn’t. Andwhen that bastard hurt you…” Pure rage replaces fear and his fists tighten at his sides. “He died too fast—deserved far worse than what I gave him. I would burn that city to the ground if it would keep you safe. I’dneverhurt you, not when I—” he stops, his eyes going to the sky while running a hand down his face. “Since the moment I first saw you. Those steel-blue eyes of yours wide with fear… Oh, I hated you,” an echo of a smile graces his lips.,“but Iwanted you,nonetheless.”

“You’re lying,” I bite out, but the words come out weak—uncertain.

“Am I?” Aidan asks, tilting his head as he studies me, his expression unreadable. “You’ve felt it too, haven’t you? This… whateverthisis between us. Look me in the eye and tell me you haven’t.”

The urge to run is so strong and I would—if it didn’t mean falling to an icy grave. So instead, I bite my lip, fighting the truth. His gaze is intense, like a magnet, the relentless force that even now draws me toward him. I’ve felt it since the moment we first crossed paths. Even when he threatened my life, held his gun to my head—I felt it. And hated myself for it. A connection that defies logic and defies loyalty. I open my mouth…

The ice cracks again. This time I feel the shift and I let out a little scream, falling to my knees.

“Spread your weight out,” Aidan urges, still obviously torn between remaining where he is and racing for me. But he’s nearly twice my weight and if he does, he’ll doom us both.

Shakily, I lower myself to the ice’s surface and reluctantly push out my arms and legs.

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