Page 143 of Mangled Memory
His moans stop and he mumbles one word before falling back into deep rhythmical breathing. “Ayla.”
I’m here, Honey. I’m here.
I don’t move from his side. I want to check on Fitz. I want to check on my brothers. But I need to be here, wrapped in the cocoon of my husband’s arms, safe at his side, giving him what he’s given me.
I weep for my family. I cry over so much that’s been lost. But when the sun rises, I dry my eyes and start listing every single thing that’s good in my life. I have no clue how far I get in the list, because fatigue overwhelms me, and I drift off to sleep.
It’s the scent of coffee that wakes me. Coffee and voices in the kitchen. I’m usually the first to rise, not to mention we rarely have guests.
It all comes flooding back. Cian is here.
I leap out of bed and grab a tee and sleep pants from thecloset before I double back for a bra. No need in letting it all hang out.
Grabbing the coffee from my nightstand, I take a deep swig, loving the warm vanilla latte, and head for the kitchen.
It’s not just Cian, Liam is here too. Ren is off to the side, quietly standing sentinel. “Hey, Ren.” I wave but head for my brother.
I give Liam my first hug, shoving his coffee mug out of the way, and holding him much longer than usual. “Morning, Li.”
“Ayla-girl,” he whispers into my hair.
Cian is next. Our eyes hold. Well, mine and his one good eye, since the other is hugely distended and purply black, as is the whole left side of his face. “Morning, Ci. I’m glad you’re here.” I mean it in both senses of the word. He says nothing, but I don’t expect anything either.
Yesterday forever changed my relationship with my brothers. Liam saved me. Cian was willing to die for me. It’s hard not to have that leave a permanent mark on my soul.
I head for my husband, whose arms are open wide to me, and burrow into him. “Morning, Honey.”
“Morning, Princess.” He turns me in his arms so we’re side by side. “We need to talk,” he says to the room, apropos of nothing.
If I could lose all my morning mojo with four words, it would be those.
Christian
The Murphy siblings pile around the island, and I hand Cian a fresh glass of ice water. He lifts his chin to me in thanks.
Liam is on his own. He’d probably be offended if I serve him anyway.
“Liam and Ren have been digging into my business holdingsand Seamus’s, into me personally, and Ayla as well. We found some clues that paint a picture I don’t like. We need more minds teasing this out. I normally play shit closer to the vest, but this isn’t about strategy, and I have no reason to think I’d be vulnerable with the two of you.” I look between Ayla’s two brothers. “Yesterday was… appalling and eye-opening.”
“Terrifying,” Liam adds.
Cian nods.
“And I don’t want a repeat.” I turn to my security chief in the sitting room. “Ren, can you come be a part?” It’s an olive branch. I’m not there yet, but I’ll try. “Please tell them everything you’ve discovered.”
He takes a seat at the island and meticulously divulges everything he’s learned in the last several weeks.
“Liam, the floor is yours.”
Ayla’s brother provides background on everything he knows, then says, “To add, four of the six men from yesterday survived and were arrested. The one holding Cian, may he rest in hell, and one who was hit by a “stray bullet” who was taken away in a body bag did not.” His air quotes don’t go unnoticed. “According to the coroner’s office, one was roughly two hundred and fifteen pounds and the other was one ninety-five. Buck ninety-five guy had a crescent moon scar near his eye. No way to know, but guessing those are your thugs from the night you were shot.”
“One stray bullet, you said. Was the other intentional?”
“Abso-fucking-lutely,” Liam says matter-of-factly. “I took that shot.”
Cian’s head whips to Liam as all eyes land on him. Cian’s good eye wells, but no tear spills. He dips his head to his brother and is met with the same in return.
Ayla sniffles, and I tighten my hold on her.
