Page 121 of Brutal Obsession

Fire comes to Shane’s face. “By whom?”

My father shouts over him. “Liar!”

I shake my head. “I have nothing more to say.”

I’m as tense as I would be facing down a firing squad, but none of them stop me as I spin on my heel and march for the door.

Cian’s still standing in front of it. His eyes find mine instantly.

I try to get him to read my mind.Let’s get out of here.

Whether he understands the wish I don’t say aloud, I have no idea. All I know is that Cian steps aside, holding the door for me as I go.

I stride straight over the threshold. I don’t breathe a single puff of air until I’m in the hall and the door is shut tight behind me. Then I exhale and my shoulders slump as the tension eeks out of them.

I rub my face as I turn to Cian. “Well, that was?—”

He’s not behind me.

Cian, he…he stayed in the office. He isn’t coming after me.

Aching disappointment nearly bowls me over, but really, am I even surprised?

Cian went in there with me and stood by to ensure nothing bad happened. He fulfilled the promise he made to me before we returned to New York. He promised to protect me, and I’ll never forget it.

I don’t expect him to give up his entire world for me. Or his job. I don’t expect him to go against my father, his boss, or any of the Kings’ administration.

The fact that Cian was willing to go in there and confront them with me, even though it could cost him his position, his privileges, even his life…it means everything to me. More than I could ever, ever say.

All I want now is to tell himthank you.

So, though I’m terrified and exhausted, and my incision is starting to burn from strain, I wait there, leaning just outside the door, and pray he’ll be the next one to come out.

And, several minutes later, he is.

Wild gratitude claims my body as I marvel at him.

I didn’t know I could admire anyone this much.

Especially not a man.

It’s only for a second, but gazing at him allows me to forget where we are. No one’s supposed to know something’s going on between us. It would only complicate things. But still, I can’t help the way my arms reach for him. The way I wrap myself around him, hugging him tightly to me despite the sharp pain it sends through my swollen torso.

Maybe I do it because I’m not brave enough to face him when I speak.

“Thank you for going in there with me.” Warm tears roll down my cheeks and right off the edge of my jaw, tumbling onto the crisp black fabric of his shirt. “I was really, really scared.”

Cian squeezes me back, thank God. I would’ve felt like an idiot if he didn’t budge an inch.

Even though I want to hold him forever, I release him a few moments later.

What I really want to do is go somewhere where we can be alone and take a nap with him for a few weeks, but I know that’s not possible. He won’t even look me in the eye.

The tsunami of emotion that crashes over me washes away the temporary high of standing up to my father.

“Anytime.” The defeated slump of his shoulders breaks my heart.

I don’t want to leave him or things between us like this, but what can I do? My heart is a runaway train, racing in my chest.

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