hit him in the shoulder. “And I’m going to enjoy watching.”
That was enough of that shit. He caught the second boot and dropped it just as she grabbed the second heavy lamp on the opposite side of the dresser. “Don’t you fucking dare.”
“Or what?” She brandished it, moving a step closer. “You’re going to hurt me? Please. I know how this works, James. It’s going to happen anyway.”
He hated that she said his name with such venom, but he wasn’t about to become her whipping boy—deserved or not. “Drop it.”
“I don’t think I will.” She swung it at his head.
He caught her wrist and wrenched the lamp out of her hand. “Christ, just stop.”
“Just lie back and take it, and it’ll be over soon? Not fucking likely.” She fought harder, trying to break away, but he wasn’t about to let her get access to more shit to throw at him. James dragged her to the bed and tossed her onto it. He cuffed her hands to the headboard before she had a chance to hit him again.
It was only then that he registered exactly how terrified she was. He froze, taking in the little shudders working their way through her body and her too-wide green eyes. “Carrigan—”
“Just do it, okay? Just…get it over with.”
He jerked back. “I’m not doing shit.”
Her eyes were full of accusations and her anger practically crackled against his skin. “You have me here and helpless. You don’t have to play that role anymore.”
“I’m not playing a role.” Even if he felt like it more often than not in the last few days. “No one is touching you.” He’d fucking kill them if they did.
“Whatever you say.”
It bugged him that she didn’t believe him, like a piece of sandpaper beneath his skin, scratching away every time he breathed. “You’re safe here.”
She laughed in his face. “And you’re obviously delusional. I’m not safe.” There was something in her words, something that made him wonder if she was talking about this specific situation or in general.
There was nothing he could say to change her mind. Hell, he didn’t blame her for expecting the worst. He knew the reputation his father had for prisoners, especially when he wanted to prove a point. It didn’t matter their gender, either.
But he still found himself wanting to reassure her. “Carrigan.” He waited for her to meet his gaze. “You’re safe here. I swear it.”
She turned her face away. “You know better than to make promises you can’t keep, Halloran.”
* * *
Callie kept telling herself that it was time to come clean. Saying “I do” to Teague without his knowing about Brendan was selfishness of the highest order. There was no way he’d marry her if he knew the truth.
But she couldn’t make herself say the damning words.
She wanted everything she’d said before. She wanted Teague. He’d been with her every step of the way through this nightmare, even if he didn’t know the full story, and he’d proven time and time again that there was no better man in the world out there for her. She couldn’t let that go. She cared about him too much.
She wasn’t particularly proud of that realization.
She knew how she’d feel if the fault of Ronan’s death had been laid at the feet of anyone else. There was no forgiveness. Not for that. She might not have been out for blood, but she would have effectively cut the responsible party off from everything they cared about. She would have done her best to break them. She couldn’t expect Teague to react any differently, no matter how much her very heart cried out that she could trust him. She’d been responsible for his brother’s death. It didn’t matter if it was indirectly or not.
He opened the door for her, his dark eyes filled with things unsaid. “Are you ready?”
No. She opened her mouth, ready to spit the damning words at his feet, but then he kissed her. Teague’s lips moved against hers as if she was his last bastion of hope in a world gone mad. She clung to him, trying to keep from losing herself. It was a lost cause. Her control always was when it came to this man. She would do truly unforgivable things to keep him at her side. She was proving that right now.
Selfish. Stubborn idiot. Coward.
Teague rested his forehead against hers. “This is the only bright spot in the clusterfuck we’re currently neck deep in.”