Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 126485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 632(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 632(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Her green eyes brimmed with unshed tears. I almost reached out for her, but I knew she would just have shove me away. I shouldn’t even consider consoling her. When Corbin called, I had been caught off guard, and seeing her this close up did things to my body and heart I despised. I knew nothing good would come from having Aislinn back in New York.
“I don’t need nor want protection from the truth! I can handle it. It’s better than the uncertainty.”
“But there’s still uncertainty, Aislinn. Now you’ll be stuck, just like your sister, because you’ll have hope even though it’s futile. You’ll put your own life on hold to help your sister, even if she’s beyond saving.”
“You don’t know me. But even if you’re right, and I spend the next few weeks or months at my sister’s hospital bed, then that’s my decision, not yours. You shouldn’t have taken this decision from me.”
“Maybe.”
“Don’t sound as if you actually care,” she hissed. “You hate me for betraying you. Shouldn’t you be gloating over my pain?”
I smiled tightly. “Oh, I should, and trust me, I’m pissed that I don’t feel that way, but you somehow got under my fucking skin, and I can’t scratch you out. Maybe you forgot that I went to Dublin to save you. If I wanted your pain, then I wouldn’t have done it.”
She stared at me in a mix of hope and dread. She took a step back, not from fear. “I can’t deal with this now. I’m exhausted, I’m sad, I’m desperate, I’m so scared. I can’t deal with you now, with your games, with the back and forth. I don’t want to. I need to care for Imogen. I need to figure out what to do now. I—” She fell silent, tears shining brightly in her eyes.
“What about Finn? And your mother? Don’t they need you? You should return to Dublin. I’ll make sure Imogen is protected and taken care of.”
“They’ll understand. I won’t leave. I can’t. I don’t care if you want me out of your city. I don’t care if you threaten me or beat me or do whatever it is you want to do to me, I’ll stay until Imogen can be transported.”
There were many things I wanted to do to Aislinn, but she’d enjoy them. And fuck, I didn’t want her to leave. I wanted Aislinn in New York. I wanted her in my apartment, in my bed. I didn’t trust her, but I was willing to give this doomed marriage another try. Trust could be built, on both sides. She’d refused the Irish police when Eddy had approached her. This was a first step. I was willing to take one small step after the other. My father said marriage was work.
I was such an idiot when it came to Aislinn.
“She’s not stable enough to fly over the pond, Aislinn. Be reasonable. It could be years before she dies. She has top-notch medical care here. Moving her would only pose an unnecessary risk. And she wanted to be in New York, so maybe you should just let her be.”
“She wanted to be in New York to become a famous model. She didn’t want to be beaten half to death, fighting for her life. Don’t pretend you know what she wants, and don’t pretend you care.” She swallowed hard and met my gaze. “Will you allow me to stay?”
My heart sped up but I hid my elation. “Yes, but only under one condition.”
She tensed.
“I want you to stay in my apartment. You’re still my wife, as such you should stay with me.”
She let out a rushed breath. “You chased me away as a traitor. Won’t people be confused that you’re allowing me back?”
“Only very few people know about your little deal with the police. For everyone else, I just grew tired of your antics.”
She tilted her head as if she was trying to understand my reasoning. I worried she might be able to. “All right. If that’s what it takes, I’ll stay with you.” She quickly looked away before I could read the emotion in her eyes. “I need to call my mother. She needs to know.”
“She and Finn can fly over. I’ll pay for the flight and their hotel, or they can stay with us. We’re family.”
She shook her head, her teeth sinking into her lower lip. “I doubt Mum sees you as family. She fought so hard to keep our family away from the Devaneys. My marriage to you didn’t have her singing hallelujah, trust me.”
I smiled harshly. “She doesn’t have to like me. I’m not everybody’s darling. But we’re family, and nothing will change that, sweet Aislinn.”
She regarded me curiously. “I didn’t think I’d ever hear you call me that name again.”
Neither did I, but Aislinn had me wrapped around her little finger. “Tell me if I’ll need to book flight tickets once you’ve talked to your mother. I’m sure Finn would like to return to New York.”