Lachlan (Dangerous Doms #5) - Jane Henry Page 0,77
hair, and I inhale so deeply, my chest rises and I feel alive again. For the first time ever, I finally feel I’m home. For the first time, I feel as if I belong.
“Keenan said he has a surprise for us,” Lachlan says. “Wonder what it is.”
“No idea. But it’s awfully nice of him, isn’t it?”
“Oh aye.”
“Come inside and let’s have a look.”
When we enter the front door, I’m enveloped in a bear hug from Megan. “My God, woman, what happened to you?”
I fill her in as quickly as I can. Sebastian’s waiting for us by the foot of the steps.
“Conduct your interrogation later, Megan,” Carson says from the foot of the stairs. “Sebastian’s been ordered to take them to their suite.”
I look to Lachlan. “Our what?”
“Keenan works quickly,” he says with a smile. “He’s got us ready to go here.”
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,” I mutter.
Lachlan gets a call from Keenan and answers it. He speaks in short, clipped sentences, and I have no idea what they discuss, but I don’t much care either. I don’t question or ask what they discuss. I don’t fear it. For some reason, for the very first time, it feels alright to let him handle whatever they need to. I can let it go.
Lachlan leads us to a full floor on the west wing. The carpet’s thick beneath my feet, and large vases of blooming wildflowers sit on a table in the hallway. Lachlan opens a door and with a smile, gestures me in.
I blink in surprise when I enter. Years ago, when we were first rescued by the McCarthys, we stayed in a suite just like this. There’s a large kitchenette and a dining area, a living room with comfortable-looking furniture, oak bookshelves lined with books, and a fireplace rimmed in red brick. To the right are two doorways, but all I can see is that they lead to a bedroom.
“Where are we?”
“Home,” he says with pride.
I blink. “Really?”
“Aye.”
A knock comes at the door, and Lachlan lets Sebastian in. I do what Sebastian says and let him examine me. Lachlan watches, not missing a single thing. Sebastian announces I have multiple lacerations and a mild concussion, but I’m otherwise unscathed. Lachlan, on the other hand, has a dislocated shoulder.
“It’s because you stuck your arm out so I wouldn’t smash my head on impact,” I say, shaking my head. “Lachlan, you hurt yourself.”
“Would bloody well do it fucking again,” he says through gritted teeth, as Sebastian resets his shoulder. Finally, after what seems like hours, Sebastian takes his leave. I sit on the sofa, completely spent, and look out the window. The sun’s now sitting low on the horizon. From here, I have a perfect view of the sea.
“Oh, Lachlan,” I murmur. “There’s a balcony.” I rise to go out, but he takes my hand and shakes his head. “Naw, lass, not tonight. We need to get cleaned up, we need food, and we need sleep. We’ll explore everything your little heart desires in the morning.”
I open my mouth to protest, but find I don’t actually want to. I sigh and nod.
“Aye,” I agree. “Let’s do just that.”
“Come here,” he says, bending to lift me, and right then, I don’t know why I let myself push him away, push us away from each other.
“Is everyone else okay?”
“Everyone’s fine,” he says, “Except whoever the blokes were who attacked us.”
I drop my head to his shoulder. I don’t question it. I don’t fight it. There were people tonight who attacked us, and they’ll be subject to whatever form of retribution the McCarthy Clan deems. Keenan will order whatever happens. Lachlan will obey his orders. They’re here to protect me, and they abide by a code of conduct that’s ironclad. I won’t question it.
I won’t go into things blind, but I won’t go in fighting, either. Lachlan carries me into a bedroom that I know will be ours. There’s a massive, king-sized bed in the center of the room, but I don’t look at any details. All I know is that this is a home for us—for both of us. Tomorrow I’ll wake up in his bed, with him by my side, and we’ll go down to the dining room for breakfast in the Clan family home. He’ll be happier with me here because we’re so safe and protected. I don’t know what the future brings, but right now I have all that I could ever need or want.