Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 91266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
“It’s necessary.” Aiden finally picked up the file and set it in a drawer next to him. “You love my sister.”
Jude blinked at the change of topic. “I do.” It was something that had been simmering in the back of his mind for days now, though he’d hesitated to give it voice. It turned out to be easier than he could have imagined. “She’s everything.”
Aiden nodded. “She chose you.”
Even though he knew that she would, he relaxed a little bit. “So what do you think happens now?” Jude knew what he thought was going to happen. Even if Aiden broke his word, Jude would fight his way out of this house and back to Sloan. He’d find her and he’d take them somewhere safe. That was the only thing that mattered.
“I’ll tell you the same thing I told her—retrieve her from the Halloran house. Get out of Boston, and don’t look back. I can cover your tracks to a limited degree as long as you don’t do anything stupid to put yourself in the spotlight.” Something almost like warmth came into Aiden’s green eyes. “Go have a life, marry my sister, have a boatload of kids, put the family business behind you—behind both of you. You have a chance at happiness, and you’d be a fucking idiot to pass it up.”
It sounded almost too good to be true, but whatever else the O’Malley men were, they loved their siblings something fierce. Aiden was smart enough to take Sloan’s word as truth, and essentially offer his blessing as a result. He stood, wanting nothing more than to get back to Sloan. He wouldn’t be letting her out of his sight anytime in the next couple years. “Happy hunting, O’Malley.”
“It will be.”
He turned around and walked out of the office without looking back. He would keep his word, and that was all Jude needed to know. He was going to go get his woman and leave vengeance to Aiden O’Malley.
* * *
Darkness fell while Sloan paced the room Carrigan had given her. Her sister had tried to stay and keep her company, but she wasn’t capable of holding down a conversation, her nerves stringing tighter and tighter with each hour that passed. There was no word, but there wouldn’t be regardless of the outcome. It wasn’t as if Aiden or Teague would ring Carrigan to tell her their dirty little secrets.
And they certainly wouldn’t call Sloan.
She rubbed her arms, her skin feeling like it was too tight. Jude should have been back by now. There was no positive outcome that would cause him not to be here. She turned and looked at the window.
And shrieked.
“Let me in, sunshine.”
“Jude!”
“It’s okay.” She turned and caught the door as it flew open, her sister charging in with a gun drawn.
Carrigan stopped. “You’re okay?”
“I’m fine.”
Carrigan stopped and huffed out a laugh when she saw the window. “That man of yours certainly knows how to make an impression. Let the poor bastard in before one of James’s men shoots him.” She stopped in the doorway, her eyes softening. “I’m glad he’s okay.”
“Me too.” Sloan waited for the door to shut before she rushed to the window. “What were you thinking?” She shoved it open and backed up so he could climb through. “They have a front door.”
“I didn’t want to announce my presence.” He shot her a look. “I didn’t expect you to scream.”
“It’s a normal reaction when a person is startled.” She started to reach for him and hesitated. “Are you hurt?” He wasn’t wearing the same shirt she’d last seen him in, but he was moving well.
“I’m good.” Jude seemed to be waiting for something.
“Thank God.” She threw herself into his arms, needing to touch him, needing his skin on hers as physical proof to back up his words. She yanked off his shirt and ran her hands down his chest. There were several impressive bruises blossoming, and his gunshot wound had a new bandage on it, but he wasn’t hiding any massive injury. “You are okay.”
“You’re not going to ask about Colm?”
She froze, her gaze still on the center of his chest. “I trust you did whatever you thought was best.” She didn’t want any more deaths on his conscience, but…She loved Jude, and that meant making her peace with even the darkest parts of him. Callie was alive—Sloan would have heard if she wasn’t—and that was the most important thing.
“He’s alive.” He covered her hands with his own. “I almost pulled the trigger. I won’t lie and try to tell you otherwise—I was this close, but I didn’t do it. You are the most important thing in my life. That old bastard isn’t long for this world, and he’ll burn in hell for what he did to my family.” His grip tightened and he made a visible effort to relax. “I won’t risk you—either of you—by hunting him down and putting him out of his misery. And your oldest brother has given his word that he’ll cover our tracks.”