Page 12 of Firefly (Redemption 2)

“You think I’d ever forget, Lily?” A hint of the softness he only ever used with me laced through his words. “But I have a job to do.”

It’d been obvious what he’d chosen, but he’d never stated that he held the mob over me before. Hearing it now felt like a physical blow.

“A job you never wanted,” I reminded him, trying to hide the pain in my voice. “A job we never wanted. We were supposed to get away from t

his, I wasn’t supposed to lose you to the mob.”

Despite his guarded expression, I knew my last words had hurt him. Could see it in the way his hand twitched like he was about to reach for me or for one of his blades—anything that brought him comfort.

“Is that what you think’s happening?”

My shoulders sagged as I studied him . . . studied the distance between us. Before everything had happened, we couldn’t be in a room together without touching in some form—it didn’t matter that we’d already been together for years. Now, it was as if there was a force slowly pushing us farther apart, and neither of us would try to fight it.

Planting my elbow on the table, I dropped my head into my hand, staring down at the smudged symbol as I whispered, “It’s just what is, Kieran.”

“Because we never left. Because I took Aric’s place.” He didn’t word them as questions, so I didn’t respond.

Because you broke your promises. Because you’ve turned into someone else. Because you’re letting this life destroy what we could be.

I inhaled quickly when he suddenly appeared on the bench beside me, pulling my back flush against him. One arm wrapped around my waist, the other around my chest so he could press his hand firmly between my breasts.

Holding me the way he had all those years before.

Protective and gentle, powerful and loving.

Something deep inside me ached. Ached for what Kieran and I’d had.

“This,” he said in a gruff tone. “This is my job.”

Save Lily.

My chest rose and fell roughly as I waited for him to continue.

“All I want is for you to keep breathing. All I want is for you to let me keep you alive.”

Protect Lily.

“Leaving?” he asked as his lips brushed against my neck. “Christ, Lily, I would’ve taken you away years ago if I could’ve. But you’re the target they’ve been waiting for. If I go, they’ll know. They’ll follow. That’s why we’ve stayed.”

Hide Lily.

“I understand staying hidden, but you don’t know they’re waiting for me,” I argued gently. “You can’t know they would follow us.”

Kieran’s mouth paused just above my skin for a few moments before he said confidently, “They’re waiting. And I won’t hand you over to them.”

Cage Lily.

“You can’t kn—”

“They’re waiting, Lily. Trust me.” The hollow tone of his voice had a chill creeping into my bones, and for a few seconds, I forgot how to breathe as I wondered what information Beck or one of the other guys may have heard on the streets.

“What do you know?”

He hesitated before speaking. And when he did, the words were soft and tortured, and pulled a pained breath from me. “Things that don’t matter if I’m already losing you.”

“Kieran . . .” I glanced over my shoulder and was met with something I never thought I’d see from the man behind me.

My hardened, unemotional assassin. Green eyes full of defeat and fear. Every emotion lain bare.

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