Page 166 of Bound Lies

“That’s nice of her, I guess.”

“Baby boy, on the other hand…” She sighs as she moves my hand to the other side of her belly. “…is Ronan’s little doppelganger."

“How can you tell?”

“Because he’s stubborn and doesn’t like to go to sleep when I tell him to.”

I laugh as he kicks my hand.

“See? He thinks he’s in charge, but really, I think his sister is going to be the boss.”

“It’s amazing.”

Ciara laughs. “You won’t be saying that when there’s a foot in your bladder all damn night. But I love the idea of the twins having a cousin close in age.”

My eyes sting once more, but this time from happiness as I picture Kieran and Ronan running around after the children in the enormous garden at the Sullivan estate as Ciara and I lounge by the pool.

It’s a future I never pictured for myself, and yet, it’s one I’m not ready to give up on.

I just have to hope that Kieran feels the same way.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

KIERAN

I take the long way back to the warehouse, weaving through side streets and turning back on myself twice as my eyes flick to the rearview mirror every couple of seconds.

At this point, I’m not sure if it’s from paranoia or instinct, but I suppose it doesn’t matter. Both have kept me alive for this long.

Every pair of headlights feels like a threat, making me tighten my grip on the steering wheel as the echoes of Riley’s screams fill my head.

Did I make the right call bringing her to Ronan and having him take her to the safehouse? What if they get intercepted on the way?

I almost turn the car around and head back to Ronan’s estate because the thought of losing Riley when I’ve barely even had the chance to know her is too much to bear.

She has no idea how much she gets under my skin, how much she’s tangled herself into places in me I didn’t even know were hollow until she filled them.

I shake my head. “Get your shit together, Sullivan.”

If I let myself unravel now, I’m useless.

By the time I pull up outside the warehouse, I’ve shoved Riley to the edges of my mind. Or at least, I’ve tried.

It’s eerily quiet as I make my way down the long corridor that leads to Finn’s cell, my footsteps echoing around me.

When I turn the corner and spot Doyle hovering outside the cell, looking like a man who’s trying not to shit his pants, I know something is very wrong.

I don’t even bother asking him what’s happened because I have a feeling I already know.

I storm past him and throw open the cell door.

The metallic stench of blood hits me before my eyes land on Finn, who is slumped in his chair. His head hangs forward at an unnatural angle as blood drips from the deep cut along his neck onto the floor.

Doyle appears at my side. “I swear, Kieran. I was only gone for five minutes. I had to take a piss. It was just five minutes.”

My fists clench at my sides as I stare at Finn. “And in those five minutes, someone got in here, killed him, and walked out without you realizing? Is that what you’re trying to tell me?”

My voice is like ice as I turn to stare Doyle down.