Page 75 of Firefly (Redemption 2)

“But if you don’t back the fuck off me, my finger still might slip.”

Kieran continued to stare Mickey down as seconds passed at an achingly slow pace. The look so terrifying and at peace it was fascinating to see. Mesmerizing even.

In movements too quick to track, Kieran released Mickey and backed away, his knives already hidden before Mickey ever lowered his gun or his head.

Mickey’s actions were so sluggish compared to Kieran’s I almost wondered if Kieran had slit Mickey’s throat before freeing him.

But then Mickey sighed. “Nothing like thinking you might lose your life to get your adrenaline pumping. Keeps you young, I guess.” He winked at Kieran, then glanced at his watch as he headed for the hall. “One minute.”

By the time I was facing Kieran again, it was as if nothing had happened tonight.

No fighting, no showing me his greatest secret, no threatening Mickey . . .

He just stood there, watching me carefully with that ever-present expression that hinted at nothing, yet was somehow so incredibly intense. After nearly a minute, he turned to the dresser to change his shirt then began digging around in his sock drawer.

“You weren’t supposed to be in the house the night Aric died. We weren’t,” he said with his back still to me. “I’d made plans to take you somewhere since your parents were out of town. Your dad knew. Aric and Beck too.” Twisting around to face me again, he shut the drawers behind him but kept his head low.

The sight made my heart pound so forcefully I knew the assassin standing before me could hear every beat.

“Your dad called that morning while we were still in bed . . . remember? Told me to go on a job with Aric for him since he was gone. Once that was done, there was another call just for me. And then another. Every time I set foot on the property, he somehow knew and would send me back out. I knew he was trying to stop me from taking you.”

“Take me where?” I asked when he didn’t continue.

After planning to run away for so long, I knew it wouldn’t have been something he would’ve told Mickey. Knew he wouldn’t have continued to do Mickey’s work if he’d been planning to get us out of Holloway.

“The last time I’d gotten back, there was another call. Before I could answer it, I heard your screams and that gunshot.” Kieran finally met my confused stare, his eyes haunted as he closed the distance between us. “You would’ve never been in your room with them if Mickey wouldn’t have been trying so goddamn hard to stop this,” he whispered as he slipped a jewelry box into my hand.

My eyes burned with unshed tears. My heart that had been pounding so hard just moments ago now felt like it was in an iron-tight vise, slowly being crushed.

“Everything I do is for you, Lily,” he whispered against the top of my head before pressing his mouth there.

When I opened my eyes, he was gone.

I turned, making my way to the bed. Placing the box on the nightstand, I said, “I’m sorry, but I can’t marry you.”

The words were just a breath to the empty room, but the freedom that came with them felt so overwhelming it was as if I’d shouted them.

“I don’t belong to you anymore, Kieran. I haven’t for a long time. You left me to die in this place, and that’s something I will never be able to forgive.”

I stared at the jewelry box as I had so often since Kieran had placed it in my hand nearly twenty-four hours before.

The ring had been his mother’s.

I knew without ever having met her. I knew without opening the box or ever having seen it before. He’d told me about it so many times growing up. The one piece of her he had that he’d been saving for me.

She’d been incredible, according to Georgie. One of a kind. The kind of

woman you find and never let go of.

She’d looked the darkest parts within him head-on and loved him just the same.

I wondered if she’d lived past childbirth, if Kieran would’ve still grown up to become an assassin, or if she would’ve softened the cold man who’d emerged from a violent childhood.

Then again, knowing the kind of man Georgie had been, it might’ve been inevitable. Although I was sure she would’ve still loved Kieran just the same.

Just as I had always done.

Before . . .

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