Page 187 of Destined Lovers

The soft grin he’s been giving me turns almost evil. “Don’t you worry about that. I have plans.” He rubs his hands together and lifts his eyebrows at Bennett, my dear friend who looks scared shitless in the corner.

I reach out my hand for him to come to me, and he does with little hesitation.

“I’ll give you two a moment,” Killian mutters.

When Bennett reaches the end of the bed, he looks down at my stomach again.I know he knows.

“Nora,” he whispers. “Are you pregnant?”

I must hesitate too long. “I need to know if I’m protecting one or two people, Nora.”

That’s Bennett, always looking out for me.

“Declan doesn’t know yet, Ben. Don’t say anything, please. I’ve only just found out.” I choke. I love Bennett, yet I hate that he knows. Declan should have been the first to know.

“Please, Ben, let me call him,” I beg as tears form in my eyes. I held back my emotions the best I could in front of Killian, but now all I can think of is my love, all alone, thinking I was kidnapped or killed. “I have to call him. Please let me call Declan.”

He rubs his temples and shakes his head. “I’m so sorry. I need to think about keeping you safe, Nora. I’d rather you hate me than be put in danger.”

I huff, annoyed. I know he’s doing the best he can. It doesn’t mean I have to like it. I need my lifeline. I need my love and want to ensure Maeve and Agnes are okay.

I lay down on the bed and turn over, facing away from Bennett. “I’m tired.”

“Nora,” Bennett warns.

“Who is protecting everyone else, like Agnes? She’s not been well, Ben. You know that.”

“Feck, Nora. Please don’t put that on me… it’s not fair. I’m trying my best here. If I let you call, then we put everyone in danger.”

I wrap the blanket tightly around me. I really am tired, even though I just woke up.

“Nora, don’t do this,” Bennett whispers, hurt lacing through his words.

“I’m not mad. I just need time to process everything.” I snuggle into the pillow. It’s my only comfort for now.

He doesn’t answer, the only sound I hear are his footsteps walking toward the exit. “Love you, Nora. I’ve only ever wanted to keep you safe.”

I turn my head over my shoulder. “Love you too, Benny,” I smirk. He hates that name. It’s my way of showing him all is okay. “Hey, I just realized you’re calling me Nora.”

He smiles back. “Aye, nice, isn’t it?”

I nod. It is. It really is.

One step closer to getting my life back.

Three Days Later

“Where is Nora?” I hear my mam call out to my da.

“In here, Mam,” I yell and open the door to my secret painting room.

“Hi honey, stay in here, okay? Don’t come out, no matter what,” she whispers calmly, but I can hear the panic in her voice.

“What’s going on?” I ask as a loud bang echoes from the kitchen. “What was that? Where is Da?” I ask, suddenly panicked myself.

She grabs my face, kisses me with all her might, then pushes me back into my secret room under the staircase. “I love you so much, Hanora. Always remember that, okay?” She reaches up and takes off her necklace, her most prized possession that my granny gave her when she was dying and places it around my neck. She then picks up my thumb, uses it to press the pendant into my chest, right over my heart, and then places her thumb on top of mine.

“Imprinted on your heart forever, my love.” She chokes, and her tears fall down her face—something I’ve very rarely seen in my life. My mam is the strongest woman I know.

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