Page 72 of Twilight of Embers
His hand lifted to cup my cheek. “No tears, Mo Ghràidh. They slay me.”
“He hurt you because of me. Because you were trying to protect me.”
Maddox’s thumb stroked my face. “I’d take a blade for you a thousand times.”
My eyes burned as my head swam. “Why?”
“Because you matter.”
It was so simple, but it shredded everything inside of me. I tried to swallow down the emotions, to keep them at bay, but I couldn’t. I felt the hot tears track down my cheeks. “What’s happening?” I whispered.
Pain streaked across Maddox’s face. “We’ll explain. I promise. We just—we need to deal with a few things first.”
A low growl sounded from the front of the SUV, which made the whole vehicle shake.
My body began to tremble, and Cáel held me tighter. “It’s okay, Little One. We’ll keep you safe.”
But I wasn’t sure he was right. Something told me that walking into these guys’ lives had put me in more danger than ever.
36
HAYDEN
“I’ve got it,” Maddox said, taking the gauze pad from my hold and keeping pressure on it.
I moved to lean back against Cáel, and a wave of dizziness swept over me.
“Little One,” Cáel growled. “What’s wrong?”
“Oh, I don’t know, random attacks and multiple dead bodies.”
Cáel just grunted as the SUV turned onto the gravel road. Each jostle of the vehicle reminded me of the beating my body had taken. My head and face throbbed, and my neck ached. I wanted to find a bathtub and submerge myself in it for a year.
Cáel tucked me into him, and I inhaled his snowy, campfire scent. Everything about it calmed me. As though my body knew that if I was in his hold, I would always be completely safe.
Cillian slowed at the gate to their property, and several men dressed in black stepped out of the shadows.
My entire body locked.
“Shhhh,” Cáel whispered. “It’s just security.”
I relaxed a fraction. “Why do you need this kind of security?”
Cáel and Maddox shared a look, and dread swamped me. What the hell had I gotten myself caught up in?
The moment the guards registered who was behind the wheel, the gates began to open. Cillian didn’t say a word as he guided the SUV toward the house. In a matter of minutes, he was pulling to a stop.
Two figures were through the door in an instant.
I braced but relaxed when I saw it was Knox and Easton.
Cáel opened our door and stepped out, with me still in his arms.
“Hayden!” Knox yelled, striding toward us.
“Let me down,” I whispered. Cáel’s holding me would just make Knox more worried.
He grunted but obeyed.
