Page 36 of His Temptation

His jaw twitched, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he grabbed a robe from the closet—a robe he must have bought for her. “Fine. Now would be a good time for you to learn to obey me without question. Downstairs, you stay close to me.”

Siobhan wrapped the robe around her and followed him downstairs.

The main hall was filled with O’Neills. Not just Murphy, but many of those she had seen since coming here. Con would be in the abbey fortress, while the other heads of the illegal businesses were headed to the estate.

At the center of them all was Callum Kavanaugh, Daragh’s friend and the man who ran the O’Neill’s business here in Dublin. He was also Isolde’s husband and mate.

His gray eyes flicked to Siobhan the second they entered. “You’ve caused quite the mess, Siobhan, although Isolde is glad to know you’re alive and well.”

“I don’t know that that’s how I’d classify my current state,” said Siobhan.

Daragh’s arm came around her waist, his grip firm. “Careful, Siobhan.”

Siobhan stiffened, but Daragh’s grip tightened, his dominance crackling in the air. “Say what you came to say, Callum.”

Callum exhaled sharply and leaned against the table, his gaze sharp. “Sebastian isn’t just looking to take you out. He’s trying to dismantle us.” He nodded toward the newest made man, Finn O’Neill—one of Con’s cousins. “Tell him.”

Finn rubbed the back of his neck. “Sebastian has been making quiet moves in the city. He’s putting pressure on our alliances, feeding information to our enemies. If he gets his way, he won’t have to put a bullet in your head—he’ll bleed us dry first.”

Daragh’s fingers flexed against Siobhan’s hip, but his voice remained steady. “Then we cut his legs out from under him before he can do any actual damage.”

Finn let out a humorless chuckle. “You really think it’s that simple?”

Daragh’s gaze turned to ice. “It is that simple. He wants me dead. He wants Siobhan back. Neither of those things are happening.”

Finn sighed and rubbed a hand over his jaw. “I know what Con said, but if we stand with you, if we go to war for this woman, it might cost us everything.”

Siobhan felt the shift in the room. The doubt. The unspoken is she worth it? Before she could say a word, Daragh stepped forward, his voice quiet but lethal.

“I have never lost what is mine,” he said, his Irish lilt wrapping around every syllable like a vow. “I have never let anyone take anything from me. And I’m not starting now.”

Silence fell. Siobhan’s pulse thundered.

Surprisingly, Finn let out a long breath, then grinned. “Then we fight.”

Daragh turned to Callum. “Let’s start figuring out where to move our women, children and the elderly…”

“That last group won’t go quietly,” chuckled Callum.

“Maybe not, but they’ll go. Get our Dublin allies on the phone. Anyone who still owes me a favor. Anyone who wants to put Sebastian Wolfe in the ground.”

Callum nodded, already pulling out his phone.

Daragh’s gaze slid to Murphy. “Triple security. No one in or out without my approval. And Siobhan is not to be alone. If she isn’t with me, I want at least two men on her at all times.”

Murphy’s nod was sharp. “Aye.”

Daragh’s hold on Siobhan tightened, his lips brushing her ear as he whispered, “Stay close, kitten. Because when the dust settles, the only ones left standing will be us.”

Siobhan swallowed hard. War was coming.

CHAPTER 11

DARAGH

The estate was quiet, but Daragh knew better than to mistake silence for peace.

He stood at the window of his study, a glass of whiskey cradled in one hand, his other resting on the cool wood of the desk. Outside, the guards patrolled their designated routes, their movements precise, their vigilance unwavering. Security had been tripled, just as he had ordered. No one would get past them.

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