Page 165 of Merciless Desires

“I’m having cramps, Darragh. Bad.”

“Let’s get you into the bathroom. Let me examine you.”

“Just hold me, please.”

He sits on the rug next to me and pulls me into his arms. I shake against his hard muscles.

“Come on. I need to see if you’re bleeding.” Without waiting, he lifts me into his arms and carries me into the bathroom. He sits me on the small stool from under the counter and reaches to take off my underwear. “Open your legs for me.” He kisses my forehead while gingerly fingering me. “Does that hurt?”

“No.”

“Good.” Darragh exhales. “There’s no blood. We’re getting an ultrasound as soon as it’s light out. You’re due for another one, anyway.”

I nod, shaking. “Did you and Cormac share women?”

He stares at me, then looks away. “In college, a few times. We used to…trick our girlfriends.”

I don’t know what to make of that. Other than, they were young. Darragh isn’t that man anymore. He’s claimed me so viscerally. He wants only me. “Did you send your wife away?”

He scoffs. “Absolutely not. Do you think I want my daughter living without a mother?”

I shake my head, believing him. Cormac is a world-class liar.

“Ana, listen to me carefully. I have to check on Sophie and then call Riordan.” He kisses my forehead.

Nodding, I hold myself. “Katya… I want to talk to my sister.”

“They haven’t told her yet where you are. I’m sorry.” Darragh strokes my face, growling. “Did he kiss you?”

Like that’s more of an affront than trying to kill me.

“No.”

“Good.” He lowers his mouth to my lips. “You’re mine. I will avenge what he tried to do.”

I worried what Cormac did to me would start a war with my family. Now it appears I might have started a war within the O’Rourke family.

I’m lost in thought when Darragh comes back to the bathroom, the sound of his gun on the bathroom vanity jolting me back to awareness. “Is Sophie okay?”

“Perfect. Sleeping.” He scrolls on his phone. “I checked her windows and locked her bedroom door.”

“Where did you get that gun?”

“I bought it. Legally. I have my daughter to protect.” He taps the screen and brings the phone to his ear. “Yeah, I know what time it is. Riordan, we have a problem. Cormac broke out of rehab. He came here to my house. In the middle of the night. He tried to kill Anastasia.” He stares at me, anger brimming in his eyes. “He’s fucking out of it. Uh huh. Uh huh. Look, I have to protect Sophie and Anastasia. She’s going to give birth soon. Take care of this. I know I kept you out of the loop and covered for him. No more.” Darragh puts his head down. “No more. I will kill him the next time he gets near the women I love.”

CHAPTER 17

Ana

“Hi! Are you Sophie’s new nanny?” A woman approaches me from under an umbrella waiting for the afternoon bus drop off.

She stares at my stomach, as many people do. Since Cormac tried to kill me a few nights ago, I’m experiencing some cramping from his roughness. I feel so big and disgusting. I don’t want anyone near me. Not even Darragh. But he understands and hasn’t pushed for sex.

Thankfully, that ultrasound showed the baby is perfectly fine.

“Yes. I am.” I twirl the umbrella, fearful of strangers, not knowing who the hell knows who in this life anymore.

Add social media to the equation, and it’s two degrees of separation these days.

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