Page 4 of Safe and Sound

After I followed his voice, every molecule in my body shuddered to a stop at the sight of a body strung up in the center of the barn. A rope dangling from the ceiling bound Shannon’s arms over her head. Tears stained her beautiful face while her body jerked and shook.

Bolting forward, I started to race towards her when one of the bodyguards grabbed me by the waist. I struggled against him. “Get your feckin’ hands off me,” I growled.

When Da nodded at the bodyguard, he released me. Racing over to her, I cupped Shannon’s face. “I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry. I’m here now. I’ll make it right.”

Unable to speak, Shannon merely nodded. Whirling around, I demanded, “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Dealing with your fucking messes like always!” he growled.

“If this is about me, then why the fuck isshetied up?” I countered.

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

“Get her down!”

Da tsked at me. “You never listen, do you?” At my glare, he sighed. “Every fucking time I try, Darragh, you only disappoint me. You’ll never have the head for the business that Callum does or the brutality that Quinn does.”

A mirthless laugh tumbled from his lips. “Hell, even that waste of a cock, Kellan, is a whizz with numbers.” Shaking his head, he said, “But you’re a fucking waste of my essence.”

Gritting my teeth, I replied, “Nice pep talk, but it still doesn’t explain what is going on.”

“When your head master tells me how daft you are, I get you a tutor out of the kindness of his heart.”

With a roll of my eyes, I countered, “I’m not daft. I have dyslexia.”

“Not that bullshite again.”

“Just because you won’t acknowledge it doesn’t mean it isn’t true.” Gesturing at Shannon, I said, “Quit stalling and cut her down.”

“I’m not done with her.”

“Only a coward hurts a woman.”

Shaking his head in disgust, he said, “I should’ve known the only way to keep you from thinking with your cock would be to get you a male tutor. You fuck anything that walks.”

With a snort, I replied, “You’re a fine feckin’ one to talk.”

Father’s fist cracked against my jaw, causing my neck to snap back. “Always you with the cheek.”

“Truth hurts,” I grunted as I fought the screaming pain in my head.

“Let’s talk about the truth, eh? Starting with how Neil O’Dell came to visit me today.”

At the mention of her father, Shannon’s sobs grew louder. It took everything within me not to go to wrap my arms around her. Anything to give her a semblance of comfort.

“Obviously he was very upset that you had taken advantage of hisvirginaldaughter.”

Despite knowing I wasn’t Shannon’s first, I replied, “Aye, it’s true.”

Da’s eyes narrowed menacingly at me. “He also claimed you had knocked her up.”

I sucked in a harsh breath before my gaze ricocheted over to Shannon’s. She shook her head sadly. “I’m not. I don’t know why he would say such a thing.”

Jabbing a finger at her, he snarled, “Don’t play innocent with me. You know you were in cahoots with your da.”

“I swear on the saints I wasn’t!” she protested.

“Shut yer mouth, whore!” Da blared.

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