Page 53 of Nolan (The Doherty Mafia)
“Your father?” Killian was surprised. Apparently, Nolan hadn’t had the time to fill everyone in on what had gone on here.
“It’s a long story, I’ll explain later. All you need to know now is that Amelia is my stepsister.” Reese beamed with pride and joy.
After all the years of hell that he’d put her through, I understood why Reese was so happy with the news of Aldo’s death, while I was still coming to terms with it.
Killian looked suspicious but he was more interested in being alone with his wife after the night of excitement and danger they’d had.
“Let’s go home,” he declared, grabbing Reese’s hand and leading her out of the apartment.
Before she left, Reese reminded me to text her in the morning because we’d talked about grabbing lunch together.
Then they were gone and I was alone with Nolan again. This time, I didn’t have my wrists and ankles tied up. Technically, I could’ve walked any time I wanted.
But it wasn’t what I wanted. What I wanted I wasn’t sure Nolan was willing to give.
“I’m glad to see you back safe,” I murmured.
We’d stood silently together in the room, awkwardly avoiding each other’s eyes and I decided to break the silence. If there had to be a test of will, Nolan would win it every time.
“It was pretty clean cut,” he replied.
I sensed he underplayed it. From the way his shoulders drooped and the fire in his eyes, it didn’t seem like it had been a routine night with no incidents.
“I know I have no right to ask but I’d really appreciate it if you’d tell me what happened exactly. How did he die? Who killed him?”
At first I thought Nolan would just walk away. That he wouldn’t want to discuss what happened tonight. He had every right to kick me out of his home. I didn’t deserve to be there or ask questions, but then he changed his mind.
Nolan pushed his hands into his pockets and took a deep breath.
“We stormed the house but once again, Aldo was able to sneak out through the side before any of us could get to him. Like a fuckin’ dog with his tail between his legs”
“So he was going to get away?”
“I was standing guard outside and intercepted him.”
Nolan’s eyes bore into me, watching my every move. A chill ran down my spine as I realized it was him. Nolan was the one who killed Aldo. He murdered my father.
Feeling dizzy, I took a step back. He took two steps towards me.
Nolan was tall and wide-shouldered, with his big hulking muscular body overshadowing mine.
“You…you intercepted him? You mean, you caught him and killed him?” My lips trembled as I spoke. I couldn’t make sense of what I felt. Relieved? Proud? Sickened?
The man I’d gotten to know in the past few weeks, the man I thought of as my only connection to my family, who had turned out to be my biological father…was now dead. Killed by the man I had fallen in love with.
My hand rose up to cover my mouth while Nolan drew closer to me. So close that his hot breath fell on my face, blowing some of my curls off to the side.
“No. I could have killed him. I should’ve taken the shot when I had the chance, but I hesitated. Tristan shot him instead.”
My knees buckled and I nearly fell to the floor, but Nolan’s strong arms reached for me and he scooped me up, holding me upright.
“I should’ve killed him, Amelia. It was the moment I’d been waiting for my whole life, to redeem myself to my family. But I couldn’t do it, because of you. Because I’m in love with you and I couldn’t bring myself to kill your father,” he growled angrily.
I sank into him, wrapping my arms around him while I buried my face in his chest. Tears flowed down my cheeks again. It looked like it’d be my record day for crying.
They were tears of joy and relief this time. He had no idea how happy I was to hear the words he’d said to me. That he was in love with me? That he couldn’t kill Aldo because he knew I was his daughter?
Everything that transpired tonight had been because of me and for me.
I held Nolan as tight as I could and refused to let him go even as he tried to peel me off him. Finally, he managed to hold me at a distance from him, gripping me by my shoulders. I had no choice but to face him now.
I felt ugly and snotty with tears marking my whole face. But when Nolan looked at me I felt beautiful. Like all the other things didn’t matter—other than we were together.
His eyes had softened, he searched my face wildly.
“Amelia, we need to establish some things first—I fuckin’ hate to see you cry. I’ll do anything to make those tears go away. I’ll bring Aldo back to life if that is what you want.”
