Page 186 of Destined Lovers

I huff and roll my eyes. “The bitch waitress at the pub, I definitely remember her.”

Killian cracks a rare grin. “Aye, that’s my sister. She was helping while at work, like I said, we had eyes and ears everywhere keeping you safe.”

I cringe, shite. “Sorry, I didn’t realize.”

“No worries, she really is a bitch, yet a lovable one.” He rubs my hand.

I look between Killian and Bennett, who still hasn’t said a word. “So let me get this straight. My parents get murdered by your da, I get assigned Bennett as my guard, and the two of you are working together to protect me and others from the Irish Mob?” They both nod in agreement at my question. “And you’ve been doing this all along? Even now, while I live in London?” They nod again.

I lean back. How is this my life?

“Okay. Thanks, I guess? It still doesn’t explain why you kidnapped me now. Days before the case.”

“We didn’t kidnap you, Nora,” Bennett mumbles, finally opening his mouth.

I narrow my eyes. “He speaks?”

Killian interrupts us. “Let’s say we gently extracted you from a dangerous situation. Drop the kidnap.”

“If I’m in danger, why wouldn’t you tell me, my guards, or Declan, for feck’s sake? Who is probably worried sick to death, trying to find me?” I snap, annoyed they’ve put us through this. Haven’t we been through enough?

He shakes his head sadly. “It wouldn’t have worked. You see, as you laid low for years, my Da wasn’t worried about you. He figured that after the many times the case was pushed back, you would eventually give up. However, when Declan came back into your life, he started to feel the pressure. He knew who Declan was… how rich he was, and the connections he would have to help you. So he, more often than not, had you followed, tracking your every move. He wanted to intimidate you and be one step ahead at all times. I thought we had time to make a plan, but with the last-minute court date change, Da panicked. He would do anything to stay out of prison, especially in America.”

I hold Killian’s eyes and ask,even though I know the answer. “What did he do?”

“He placed a hit on you.” A pained look crosses his face. “I’m sorry, Nora.”

I gulp down my fear and turn to Bennett, whose eyes have a slight sheen. Although he’s not my guard anymore, he would have felt responsible if anything had happened. That’s why he’s been quiet.

“So, why am I here?” I look around. The room is old and not taken care of. The lights have a slight flicker, and the windows are all boarded up. Someone would think we were in the middle of a scary movie, not a mob mess. “And where is here?”

“After we extracted you, I told my da I took care of you. He has no idea you’re still alive. It wouldn’t have been believable if I had told anyone besides Bennett what was happening. I needed the raw emotions of Declan and the panic from your guards. Otherwise, the guys my da had watching you would have never bought it. They are trained for this. They know what it looks like to kidnap someone. Trust me. So we’ll stay here, a safe house I keep that no one but Bennett knows about, and fly to the states in time for the case. You’re just a witness, so the trial still goes on. However, without you, there is a good chance—”

“I know,” I cut him off. He doesn’t have to tell me that, without me, his da gets acquitted.

“Trust me. I want him convicted as much as you do,” Killian says with reverence.

I lean back and take a deep breath; this is exhausting.

Wait… I sit up, excited. “I can call Declan now and tell him I’m okay,” I look between the two lads, and Bennett’s face turns apologetic.

“Unfortunately, you can’t. My da’s guys will still be watching Declan like a hawk, making sure he doesn’t do anything crazy, and I won’t chance any of our phones being bugged. We need to get Declan overseas without him knowing what’s going on. Before we leave, I’m going to make a call to the head of his security—”

“Ethan Scott,” I tell him.

“Aye. I will fill him in on everything and have him leave with Declan immediately on a plane I book under an alias. He can tell Declan everything once they are in the air. It won’t seem suspicious that Declan is still going to the court case, considering, from what Bennett tells me, he was also close with your parents and would want to be there in your absence. And with Ethan and the other guards, he will be safe.”

I nod because I know there is no fighting him on this.

Everything he says makes sense, and I have to trust him if he’s taking this much effort to keep me safe, though I feel a little lost without my Declan. Like a part of me is missing.

“Thank you,” I whisper. Who knows what would have happened if he didn’t step in.

Killian takes my hand again and quickly squeezes it. “No, thank you for having the nerve to stick up to my da, the head of the Irish Mob. There are not many people like you, Nora.”

There was no way in hell I was letting Conor Byrne off the hook. My parents deserve justice, and I owe it to my da to take him down. Finish what he started.

“Kill, what happens when all is said and done? Your da will realize you didn’t kill me.”

---