Page 72 of Corrupted Union

I’d always thought binding myself to someone like that would equate to weakness, but that was the opposite of what I felt when I thought of her. With Rowan in my life giving me purpose, I could conquer the world. All she’d have to do was ask.

After a shower and food,which Keir insisted I eat, I was overcome with exhaustion unlike any I’d ever felt. I lay down to rest my eyes for a few minutes, only to wake the following morning in a panic.

“I can’t believe I slept so long,” I berated myself, hopping on one leg while trying to slip on a pair of jeans. I’d jumped out of bed the second I realized what had happened and ran straight to the closet. “I have to get to the hospital and check on my mom. How could I have left them there alone?”

Two large hands gently clasped either side of my face, forcing me to still.

“Your mother is fine. She made it through surgery and is resting. I would have woken you if you needed to be there.” He spoke in that preternatural calm he was so good at, almost hypnotizing me with the sound of his voice.

I nodded dazedly. “I need to see her, though.”

“And we will. Let’s get you some food, and we’ll go.”

I nodded again, but he didn’t release me. His gaze did a lazy sweep of my face that felt as real as any physical touch.

“You were so fucking brave yesterday.” His words were a warm blanket around my heart the same way his kiss heated my skin.

“I was terrified,” I whispered, recalling the deranged glint in Stetson’s eyes. “He wasn’t at all who I thought he was.”

“He’s gone now, so you don’t ever have to worry about him again.”

“Gone?” I stiffened. “Did I kill him?” I’d been so worried about Mom that I hadn’t even thought about what happened to Stetson. What would happen if I killed him? Would I be prosecuted? It was self-defense, but they might still charge me. And how would I feel knowing I’d ended his life?

A blur of emotions thickened in my chest until Keir shook his head.

“Stop, Rowan. You didn’t kill him. I promise.” He tried to lead me out of the closet. “Let’s get you some food so you can see your mom.”

I held my ground. “But he’s gone?” What did that even mean?

When Keir’s stare returned to mine, he allowed me to see beyond his mask to the merciless vengeance beneath—a blond-haired, blue-eyed archangel prepared to inflict God’s wrath.

I shivered from head to toe.

I did a quick evaluation before speaking to determine how I felt about what Keir had just implied and discovered that I was glad he would handle the matter. Stetson and his father would have manipulated the justice system every way possible. I would have spent years looking over my shoulder. And after seeing how warped his mind had become, I was confident no amount of therapy or punishment would fix him. Better to end his worthless existence before he hurt anyone else.

“Breakfast sounds good.”

A smirk teased at the corner of Keir’s lips.

Over the next half an hour, I learned about the insanity Keir had faced the day before—about how his cousin’s wife had betrayed them and the unexpected murder of her brother by the mysterious Russian. I felt like I was listening to a movie synopsis rather than a retelling of his day.

“That’s so wild. And I feel so bad for Oran. What’s going to happen to Caitlin?”

“As far as I know, that hasn’t been decided yet.”

“And what about the girl in the attic? Do we know if the police got her out of there?” I mentally cringed, afraid of his answer. It had been days since I’d last seen her, and if the Wellingtons knew I’d been up there, I wouldn’t have been surprised if they moved her.

“They got her out last night, taking Lawrence into custody at the same time.”

The mountain of worry I’d been carrying on my shoulders crumbled into dust. “Oh, thankGod.”

“She confirmed that she was brought over in a container on a ship, but there’s no way to prove it was Wellington’s ship or that he was involved in any way. For now, it looks like he’ll be charged as an accessory to Stetson’s crimes but nothing major since he wasn’t the primary perpetrator. It’s not ideal, but at least it’s something.”

Yeah, it’s definitely a good thing Keir took care of Stetson because that’s some bullshit. Maybe he shouldtake careof Lawrence, too.

“Ivy!” I blurted, then looked wide-eyed at Keir. “She hates to think of Mr. Wellington getting away.”

He took a sip of coffee and peered at me over the rim of his cup. “I’m not sure if these little conversations you two have are endearing or disconcerting.”

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