Page 81 of Killian

I nod. “Thank you.”

“Always. You’re my baby sister. I know what happened with Karrisa shook your confidence with me, but I would never hurt you unless you became a danger to yourself and the ones we both love. I know you would never harm your family so it’s a moot point, but still. I’m so sorry you had to go through this. I’ll be here for you however you want me to be.”

I nod, sniffling. “I thought I was stronger than this. Why do I feel so broken?”

He gives me a sad smile. “You’re strong as fuck, Greer. What you did in there? What you have been doing? You’re stronger than most women I know. Fuck, you may be stronger than Sofia, and that’s saying a lot. She went through fucking hell to reign by my side. You’re allowed to feel pain. To be emotional when you need to be. That’s not weakness. That is strength. Allowing yourself to feel so deeply is a strength not many possess out of fear. Never think you are weak. You are far from it.”

I nod. “I wish I felt the way you see me.”

“Maybe one day you will. Until then, you have us, your family, to remind you.”

I clear my throat. “So if I wanted to stay in New York?”

“I would welcome you with loving arms. I never kept you away from here because I didn’t want you here. I wanted you to be safe. I can see now, that was my mistake. I overlooked that you are no longer a little girl. You’ve blossomed into an amazing woman. One I would be happy to have here with us, fighting for our family.”

I give him a watery smile, my emotions feeling even more out of control than before.

He smiles back before he freezes, his body becoming tense.

“Where?”

I know he’s not talking to me, so I wait. Then I wait some more. After a moment, he breathes out.

“We got him. Let’s go teach this fucker what happens when you mess with a Catalini.”

The crate lidgroans as it’s lifted. The bright light making me flinch.

“Welcome back to the land of the living,” Gio singsongs, making Bash and Lo laugh.

“Get him off of me,” I snap.

When Lo checked my pulse after Greer shot at me the second time, he stuck me with a tranquilizer as well. It was easier to make me seem dead when I wasn’t groaning in pain from my cracked rib.

“So grouchy, I see why she shot you,” Lo quips.

“Enough, gentlemen,” Bash says as they roll a passed out Conor off of me.

Bash reaches in, giving me a hand and helps me out of the crate.

“Where is she?” I ask as I strip off my hoodie.

“She should be back any moment,” Bash says as he walks across the room to the bar. “Whiskey?”

“God yes,” I say as I tear off the bulletproof vest that's covered in fake blood.

“Here,” Lo says, tossing a clean shirt at me.

“Thanks.”

“Greer said you prefer this brand,” Bash says as he passes the whiskey glass my way.

Taking a drink, the warmth hits my tongue, making me shut my eyes in satisfaction.

“Did we catch him?”

“He’s in the cage now.” Bash nods.

“Then it’s time to get started,” I say, slamming the rest of my whiskey. “We should probably put him somewhere. He’s going to wake up swinging,” I say, nodding toward Conor.

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