Page 50 of Killian (The Doherty Mafia)
I gripped the phone tightly until my knuckles felt like they would pierce the skin.
“I’ll marry her,” I said.
My father was too taken aback to reply immediately. I wasn’t expecting that either.
My world was spinning the fuck out of control.
“You want to marry this girl? Boy, she has done a number on you.” He wasn’t kidding around. He actually sounded sorry for me.
“I’ll marry her if that’s what it takes to keep her away from him. At least temporarily, to get him off her back. It’ll keep the families united just like you and Aldo want.”
My father clucked his tongue.
“It won’t work, son. He only agreed to Connor because he was next in line to me. Your position means nothing to him.”
I couldn’t believe this was happening.
“Just let it go, son. It’s over. I’m going to have her collected in the morning and you better have her ready to go. You have one night left with her and I suggest you make good use of it. Make it worth everything you fuckin’ did.” He ended the call abruptly.
I knew he was pissed off with me. I knew he was going to make me pay for going against family orders.
He understood why I did to Connor what I did. Secretly, he may even have been relieved that his unruly brother was dead. His second in command whom he could never rely on.
Nonetheless, I had exhibited signs of being out of my father’s control, and he didn’t appreciate that. He didn’t like to be overruled. He didn’t know if he could trust me anymore.
I wanted him to know that he could.
I had to do whatever it took to gain back my father’s trust. My family meant everything to me, right?
Twenty-Six
Reese
Killian looked worried when he left the room with the phone in his hand.
Was this related to the plan he had for my escape?
I just wished he’d talk to me and tell me what was really going on. How long did I have left with him?
I was alone in the kitchen for a long time while he spoke on the phone. I didn’t know what was going on but it felt like my fate was being decided.
However, the only thought running through my mind was how I needed to let go of my past too. Just like Killian did.
I told Killian he had to learn to love. That he couldn’t have done anything differently about the person he lost. That it wasn’t his fault and he had to make space for someone else in his life. It was time.
So what about my life?
Didn’t the same theory apply to me too?
I had to learn to love too, to allow someone else in my life. What happened to Charlie—what my stepfather did to him—was out of my control. Aldo was the monster, not me.
I couldn’t keep blaming myself forever. Then I’d never live.
I was almost breathless because of the thoughts whirling in my head. They overpowered me, freeing me at the same time.
Maybe I did have some hope of moving on.
Only if I had any future at all.
Now it felt like all my hope rested in Killian’s hands and I didn’t know what he was going to do.
He said he would keep me safe, but what did safe mean to him?
He thought keeping me imprisoned in his basement kept me safe too.
What would he do to free me?
I heard his footsteps in the hallway and I quickly dried the tears that had streamed down my cheeks.
When he appeared at the doorway, I instantly saw that he was distressed. It had to be bad news, right?
He was about to say something but I interrupted him. I didn’t want to hear it. Not yet. I just wanted a few more moments of being free with him.
“Why don’t we eat our dinner before it goes cold?” I suggested.
He didn’t answer and I quickly started arranging the table for our meal. He said nothing when I brought the chicken and potatoes over, then pulled out a chair and sat down.
It was only after I’d taken my second bite that he joined me at the table. My heart was pounding.
Whatever he had to tell me—I’d just postponed the bad news. I didn’t make it go away.
But I wanted to make the best use of the time I bought myself.
* * *
We were both silent through dinner.
I didn’t dare ask him what that phone call was about. I didn’t want to know and I hoped he would forget about it too. Although, I knew that wasn’t going to happen.
“Leave the dishes, come with me,” he said finally, when I got up to clear the table.
Just those few simple words took my breath away.
He stood there holding his hand out towards me. He wanted me to take it and follow him.
In that moment I would have done anything he asked me to do.
