say, “Um. You could put me down now.”
“I could. I just don’t want to.”
I ponder that for a moment, but decide I’ve got other, more important bones to pick. “Is it safe for me to go home?”
He turns his head and gazes at me through heated, half-lidded eyes. “Can’t stand the thought of being away from me, hmm?”
I resist the urge to smack him on the shoulder. “Please tell me what’s happening. Those men who attacked us—”
“Are all dead,” he interrupts, his gaze going dark. “And I know now who sent them and why. And that person will soon be dead, too.”
His intense gaze clings to mine, making me shiver. A million questions fly through my mind, but I can only manage one. I whisper, “Who sent them?”
When he answers, his voice is chillingly soft. “An enemy of your father’s.”
He knows who I am. My heart stops dead in my chest.
I can’t catch my breath or look away from the deep, dark power of Killian’s gaze. We stare at each other in silence as the elevator descends smoothly, taking us down to who knows where.
I try to keep my voice steady when I speak. “Put me down.”
“Not yet.”
He’s still staring at me with that strange intensity, his eyes locked onto mine. Panic begins to claw its way up my throat.
“You promised you’d never hurt me.”
He inclines his head. I breathe a little easier, because for some insane reason, I believe him. Pretty much, anyway. But this still doesn’t make any sense.
“But you…now you know who my father is?”
His tone is faintly dry. “Aye. And we’re not exactly what you’d call besties.”
Hello, understatement of the century. The only thing my father hates more than overcooked pasta is the Irish mob. They’ve been at war as long as I can remember, and from way before I was even born.
“But you’re not going to use me to your advantage? Get money, concessions, terms?”
“You say that like it’s an impossibility.”
I scoff. “If my father had your daughter, you better believe he’d get something out of it. Something big.”
The minute it leaves my mouth, I regret it. It sounded like a dare. But Killian simply gazes at me with that strange, dark intensity, his gaze never leaving mine.
He murmurs, “I am getting something out of it, lass.”
My mouth goes dry. Oh, shit. Here it comes. Soon I’ll be missing my big toe. I whisper, “What?”
“This.”
He doesn’t elaborate, and now I’m confused. “This…what?”
His big arms give me a gentle squeeze. “This moment. This memory. This time I’ve had with you.”
I stare at him in disbelief with my mouth hanging open.
He’s serious. He’s actually serious.
I blurt, “What kind of gangster are you?”
He turns his head, breaking our gazes and leaving me feeling like I’ve been sprung from jail.
“Don’t tell anyone,” he says with a sigh. “Can’t have word getting around that I’m a romantic. As soon as the sharks get a whiff of blood in the water, it all goes to hell.”
The elevator doors slide open to reveal the building’s parking garage. Six men in dark suits await in front of an idling SUV. Killian strides out of the elevator toward the car. One of his suited goons opens the back door for us.
But Killian doesn’t get in with me.
He sets me gently on my feet next to the open door, straightens, then looks at me.
His tone and expression somber, he says, “It’s been a pleasure, Miss Moretti.”
I stare at him, feeling like I’m in an alternate universe and everything is backward. “I don’t understand what’s happening right now.”
“What’s happening is that Declan is going to take you home.”
I look around in confusion. “But…”
“Here’s my number. If you need anything, call me. No matter the time.”
He holds out a small white card. I take it, blinking like an owl. The only thing on the card is a telephone number. No name, no address, no explanation as to why I’m feeling so deflated.
Seeing my expression, Killian’s gaze turns smoldering. He moves closer and leans down to murmur into my ear.
“Whenever you’re ready for that kiss, little thief, I’ll be waiting.”
He turns and strides away without a backward glance. The elevator doors slide shut behind him, and he’s gone.
11
Jules
When Declan drops me off in front of my apartment, I wait for the SUV to drive out of sight before heading back down the street to flag a taxi. The sun is rising by the time I make it to the hotel. I check in, head to the room, and