Page 104 of Savage Promises

I don’t know how to help her. Feeling defeated, I slog down the stairs. Just as I reach the door, it crashes open. I jump back, and Dad staggers in, reeking of whiskey.

“Where the hell have you been?” I demand, stepping into his path. “Neve is upstairs crying and you went out drinking?”

He sneers. “Don’t lecture me, mighty Mrs. Quinlan. You’re nothing but a sold-off piece of flesh. This family isn’t yours to speak for anymore.”

I flinch, but before I can respond, a familiar voice cuts over Dad’s shoulder.

“Talk to my wife like that again and it’ll be the last thing you ever do, old man.”

I turn to see Shane standing in the doorway, his eyes cold and deadly.

My father pales, stumbling back a step. “You’re even less welcome here, you thief. Stealing a daughter I did not promise you.”

Shane steps inside, towering over him. “Go take care of the daughter you do have left before someone else does. And apologize for what you said to my wife. Don’t make me come back here. I won’t be alone.”

Knowing what that means and seeing all the cars across the street, my father mumbles drunkenly and half-heartedly, “I’msorry. There, you happy?”

“Not to me!”Shane blisters.

Footsteps sound on the stairs. I look up and see Neve watching us. Watching Shane defend me, twisting the knife of what she gave up.

“I’m sorry, Lennox.” Dad gives in and then climbs the steps, burping. “You! Get out of my sight,” he barks at Neve, who turns and stomps back to her bedroom.

Shane faces me, not a muscle in his face moving. “Come on,” he says with an outstretched hand, like I’m in the middle of a bridge figuring out which side I belong on.

It’s quite simple. I belong with my husband.

I take his hand and he guides me across the street to his car. “The party broke up. The kids were all getting tired and cranky.”

“Oh.” I squeeze his hand. “I didn’t say goodnight to your mother.”

“It’s okay.” He opens the door. “I told her you were checking on your sister. She’s still bitter at what Neve did, but Ma respects how you continue to care for her.”

“Really?” I glance at the manor, smiling. “I had a great time tonight. Your whole family is wonderful. I love all the kids. The chaos.”

Shane stills at my comment but settles me into the passenger seat. His back is ramrod straight when he comes around to the driver’s side. We zip home to Manhattan in silence, soft music playing.

Tucked away in the brownstone, Shane sits me down on the living room sofa, his warm hands cradling mine.

“Lennox,” he says quietly, “do you want us to have kids soon?”

The question catches me off guard, but as I look into his eyes, I see something I didn’t expect. Fear. Doubt.

That wars with Darcy’s comment. The tale of Uncle Shane in a tiara sipping pretend tea. Maybe he does want kids. Just not with me.

“Um. I hadn’t thought about it. I’m not sure,” I say,giving him an out. “Do... Do you?”

“I’m not sure either,” he says low and fractured. “Seeing what my family went through when my sister died...damaged me. Maybe because I was young and I didn’t understand what happened. Everyone was fucking miserable, crying all the time. My parents had five other kids. Imagine if we lost ouronlychild?”

His confession is so unexpected.

“No. I can’t imagine.” What happened to his family is rare. I can’t dismiss it, though. “We’ve only been married a few months. No need to make a life-altering decision so soon.”

“Right.” He touches my hair and looks like he’s about to say more, but his phone rings. He steps away and answers it. “Okay. I’ll be right there.”

I sigh and slump against the sofa’s back cushion. He’s leaving me again. I don’t even ask who it is or where he’s going. This is part of the deal married to a powerful man.

“I have to go,” he says and disappears into his office.

---