Sins of the Father

by JJ King

  She should feel satisfaction, pride, relief… something, but all she felt was a barely held back wave of grief that she’d refused to feel all this time. It wanted to crest now, to peak and crash and drown her in darkness. Being so far away from Eve, from her mom and Wild River wasn’t making it any easier, she knew.

  Just the thought of Eve brought tears to her eyes and Katherine let them spill free, too exhausted mentally, physically, and emotionally to stop them. And who was she stopping them for? Daphne? She’d been through this entire thing, too, there would be no judgement from her.

  “Oh, Katherine,” Daphne put down the file she’d been reading and reached over the top of the desk to grasp her hands. She sighed, “You’re the bravest woman I’ve ever met.” Daphne squeezed her hands until Katherine looked up at her friend, “But if you don’t let yourself feel everything I know you’ve been packing down, you’re going to explode.”

  Katherine’s shoulders hunched forward and a sob escaped, heaving out of her body painfully. She curled around it, burying her face in her hands as everything bubbled to the surface. When arms curled around her she turned into them and wept, not even knowing who was holding her.

  She cried for her father, for her mother, for Eve whose life had been threatened from the moment of her conception. She cried for Teagan, having to step up and become so much like their father in his absence, and Anthony, who was keeping it together as best he could under the circumstances. She cried for Ronan who had been so lost but was now making his way back to her, to their family.

  Katherine’s thoughts swirled, bringing more and more to the surface. She thought about Daphne and Keme, and how she’d pulled them into all of this. She thought about Rose and the girls Raphael had experimented on, and the boys who he’d ruined in pursuit of legacy and prophecy.

  She sobbed for herself, for the easy life she’d left behind and the fact that she wouldn’t take it back, not a single second of it, because that would mean never having met Quinn or having Eve. It was all mixed up together, the pain and loss, the hope and joy, so she cried for all of it. When the tears slowed, Katherine lifted her head and managed a weak smile for Rose who stroked her hair and murmured, “It’s over,” over and over, like a mother soothing her child and Katherine knew everything would eventually be alright.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Rose’s heart swelled with pride as she looked at the women they’re freed from the depths of Benbulbin. All twenty-two of the remaining women and girls had been found in a barracks made specifically for them, along with seven other prisoners, women she’d never met before but who all had familiar features.

  They were incredibly brave, she thought, each and every one of them. Even though their lives had consisted of imprisonment and torture, it was the only life they’d known. Change, especially change this big, was terrifying. Rose swallowed the lump of emotion that lodge in her throat and made a silent promise to always be there for them, all of them. She vowed to step up and take care of her family, so they’d each have a chance at a real future.

  A loud rhythmic sound broke her scattered thoughts. Rose watched with the growing grin of a child as a large helicopter slowly landed just thirty or so feet from where she was standing with her hair whipping around her face.

  Liam stepped up next to her, his face echoing her grin. “I called in the reinforcements!” He yelled above the sound of the chopper’s blades. “Come on, let’s get the women inside.”

  Rose tucked aside her amazement that Liam could and had planned this entire attack and retrieval and that her life and his were now inextricably interconnected. She shook her head at the direction her life was taking, at the unexpected wonder of her future, and turned to the women standing together, a defense against the brisk breeze on the mountain top. Despite the cold air they were standing tall and proud, refusing to relent as always. Rose wished her mother had lived to see this day.

  She stayed until every woman was settled on one of the helicopters that arrived one after the other. As she watched the third one land Rose gave into the giddy laughter that had bubbled up in her chest. “How many helicopters does your family have?” She yelled at Liam who shrugged, laughed, and wrapped her in his arms.

  She stayed like that, secure in Liam’s embrace, until it was their turn for take-off. It would be her first time in a helicopter, and only her second time flying since she’d stowed away on a ship for the voyage to Canada. The thought of lifting off the earth again made her stomach fly into a frenzy.

  Liam let her sit next to the window so Rose forced herself to focus on the beauty of the passing landscape beneath them. The world she’d grow up in was so small compared to the world that existed outside the walls of Classiebawn. She stared down at the castle as they flew away from it, as it shrunk smaller and smaller as they left it far behind.

  Rose felt Liam’s hand slip into hers. She turned away from the last sight of the only home she’d ever known and looked into the face of the man who would be her home from now on. She smiled up at him and twined their fingers together, overcome by everything that had happened in the past month.

  She saw adoration and pride in his eye and hoped she’d live up to both. God knew she’d never considered the possibility of a mate for someone as unnatural as she, but here he was, her gift from the Old Ones. It was still hard sometimes to think herself deserving, but in the quiet times she reminded herself of the fierce denials she’d have for any of her family if they claimed to be too broken for love. None of them had deserved the life they’d been given.

  Twenty minutes passed before Liam tugged her hand and pointed out the window, mouthing the word “home” before a look of fondness overtook his features. Rose twisted to look out the window and felt her stomach drop. Below them was acres and acres of perfected tended lawn, a winding driveway lined with mature trees, a tennis field, a swimming pool, smaller houses along the perimeter, and a castle so grand and expansive, it put Classiebawn to shame.

  Insecurity rebounded like a bitch. Rose felt anxiety bloom in her chest, pressing down on her lungs so it felt hard to draw breath. She was nothing, a no one, worse than a no one, she was the daughter of a psychopath. She couldn’t be a part of this family. They’d know the moment they saw her, they’d see that she wasn’t worthy. They’d…

  “Calm the fuck down, Rose,” Liam yelled loud enough to be heard, “they’ll love you.”

  She blinked slowly at him, once, twice, three times, then as if by magic, the fear subsided and she was fine. He was her mate, chosen not just by her, but by the Old Ones themselves and fate, or whatever the hell decided these things. They would be fine.

  ♀♀♀

  Rose couldn’t stop grinning.

  It was late and she was exhausted, but the muscles in her cheeks wouldn’t stop contracting and the lightness she felt wouldn’t subside. She’d met Liam’s family, his entire family, which was made up of endless brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, and uncles. She’d even met his grandparents! It had been a whirlwind of a day with more food than she’d ever seen before in her life, and more kisses and hugs that she’d ever known possible to receive.

  They’d talked and talked, then eaten and talked some more. The family was aghast at the life she’d lived and intensely proud of the woman she’d become, the woman who’d been strong enough to escape, flee across an ocean, find help, and free her family. Aengus had even pulled her aside at one point and welcomed her into the family.

  It felt like a dream.

  Rose had escaped the chaos of the Dougherty family for a few hours to spend time with her real family, the women that had raised her and the girls that she’d grown alongside. There was a mixture of emotions in the group, ranging from ecstatic, to giddy, to nervous, to downright terrified. She’d been bombarded with questions and reactions that had instantly overwhelmed her. They were looking to her to be a leader, women five times her age and more, and she had no idea what to do with all that trust.

  She’d done what had neede
d to be done, nothing more. She wasn’t a leader, not like they needed. She’d been about to talk them down, to reason with them that she was as clueless about their future as they were, when Liam’s mother, Aileen, had walked into the room and given them hope.

  They were welcome to stay with the Dougherty family for as long as they wished. Aileen, had offered up an entire wing for their use, so that they could remain together, a family, while they learned how to be free again. She’d gone to each woman and held them in her arms, like a mother would do to a long-lost child. Emotions had flown high and now Rose was ready for bed.

  Rose made her way to the back of the house, past a series of intricately carved wooden doors, to the room that Aileen had shown her to earlier. She’d had no clothes to drop off, no belongings to store before going downstairs, so Rose had simply taken a shower in the huge bathroom, taking her time to relax and appreciate the extraordinarily normal moment, before coming back out to find a change of fresh clothing on her bed.

  She’d slipped the simple green maxi dress over her head and sighed as the soft fabric floated over her minimal curves. Giving into vanity, she’d stood before a long mirror and sized herself up. The dress showed none of her legs, had a rounded neckline, and three-quarter length sleeves. There was nothing fancy about it, yet it made her feel like the lady of the house, as elegant as she’d always dreamed of being.

  It hadn’t hurt that Liam’s eyes had lit up with surprise and admiration the second he’d seen her in it.

  The door swung open with barely a sound and Rose gasped, stopping dead in the doorway. The room that had awed her earlier was unrecognizable now, illuminated with a soft glow from the candles laid out around the room. Soft music played, welcoming her, and flowers scented the air. Not roses, she noticed, smiling; too cliché perhaps. Instead, Liam had filled the room with dozens of soft pink peonies in full bloom. Rose stepped into the room, feeling as if she were floating, and leaned down to inhale the delicate scent of one blossom.

  “I thought roses would be too obvious,” Liam’s husky voice interrupted.

  Rose turned to the bathroom door, where he stood watching her with a quiet smile on his luscious lips. Instantly, her skin began to tingle and nervous energy filled her core like tiny butterflies flitting around inside her stomach. She stared at him, unmoving, for a long moment, not understanding what she was feeling. Part of her wanted to rush to him, throw herself in his arms and never leave, while another part of her felt like a little girl, terrified of her first time, because it would be her first time.

  He was so much older than her, so much more experienced than her, and so delicious it took concerted effort not to lick him from head to toe. Rose swallowed and moved to the door, closing her eyes in anticipation as the lock clicked firmly shut under her fingers.

  Liam crossed the room silently and stood behind her, his huge body overshadowing hers. He didn’t touch her, not yet, but simply stood an inch behind her, his breath hot on her neck. She could feel him, on her, in her, and marveled at how that could be. He wasn’t even touching her yet.

  She leaned back into him, pressing into his chest and rocked her head to the side, inviting him to do more than look. Liam’s lips touched her neck and Rose sighed, melting into his arms. She purred, rotating her neck to give him access to the other side, while her hands reached up and around his neck.

  Sweet mercy, she moaned as he turned her around and captured her mouth with his. He tasted like heaven and hell, like the sweetest dessert and the most sinful decadence possible. Any control that she’d thought real, snapped, and Rose threw herself into the kiss, winding her hands into Liam’s hair in desperation, needing to pull him closer.

  His arms lifted her, pulling her up until she settled at his waist and wrapped her legs around his hips. He moaned loudly as she rubbed around the steel hard rod that pressed against her throbbing core, and the sound set off explosions of need in her already needy body.

  She ached for him. It felt amazing and horrible at the same time. Rose reveled in the sensations spreading through her body, riding them like a rollercoaster, but she wanted more, craved more.

  The junction between her thighs throbbed with heat as Liam ran his hands over her body, peeling the dress from her shoulders and down over her hips. It pooled on the floor at her feet and she didn’t care. If he’d ripped it from her body, she wouldn’t have cared.

  She wore nothing beneath the dress, a fact that apparently made Liam very very happy. He stepped back and just looked at her, his eyes going so dark that she thought it might be a shadow from the flickering candles, but no, it was for her. The awareness of what she could do awakened a feeling she’d never known, a feminine power she recognized as ancient and powerful.

  Rose’s eyelids lowered until she was looking up at him through her lashes and a knowing smile lifted her lips. She skimmed her hands over her breasts, never taking her gaze off his, and practically vibrated when his face went slack.

  She knew what she wanted now, she’d dreamed about it often enough. Rose walked to Liam, letting her hips sway gently, and brought her hands to his waist. “Let’s see what we can do about these clothes,” she murmured seductively.

  His skin was hot under the polo shirt he’d changed into when they’d arrived, hot and inviting. Rose pushed the shirt up and froze at the sight of his abs, her mind going temporarily blank. She gazed at the ripples of muscle under taut flesh and felt a desire to lick so intense it practically slapped her in the face. Rose ran the tips of her fingers over the ridges and leaned in to inhale his aroused scent. Gently, she pressed her lips to his abdomen, smiling against his skin when he hissed at her innocent touch. She’d give him something to hiss at, Rose thought with an evil grin.

  She pushed his shirt up until she couldn’t reach anymore and watched as he pulled it the rest of the way off. Delicious, she thought, eyeing his bare chest and nipples. She’d never given much thought to nipples before, but she wanted to bite his and oh God, did she ever want him to lick hers!

  Rose put one hand on his chest and pushed with enough strength to budge Liam toward the bed. A knowing look crossed his face and then he moved, walking backwards without any need for shoving, until the back of his legs hit the bed and he sat, finally at eye level.

  Without taking her gaze off him, Rose sunk to her knees between his legs and traced her fingertips over the contours of his beautiful chest. She skimmed his abs, moving her fingers over his skin, then stopped and lowered her lips to his chest.

  His skin tasted every bit as amazing as his mouth. Rose feasted, feeling like a greedy child in the body of an extremely turned on woman. Following her instincts, Rose closed her teeth around his nipple ever so gently and scraped them back.

  “Sweet Jesus, woman, you’re going to fucking kill me!” Liam groaned, plunging his hands into her hair.

  A wild feeling exploded inside Rose. She felt desperate now, the need having grown out of control. Her body echoed the racing beat of her heart, getting hotter with every pulse. She looked up at Liam with every ounce of lust and love she could muster and hoped he’d know what to do.

  Liam grasped her waist, lifting and turning in one smooth motion that had her on the bed and waiting in an instant while he shoved off his pants and underwear. For a moment he stood there with soft light casting shadows on his huge, glorious body, and all Rose could think was, it’s not going to fit.

  Then the thrumming ache between her legs increased and she didn’t care anymore. She needed him, wanted him, loved him. Rose cocked her head to the side and wet her lips.

  Liam crawled across the bed towards her, until his huge form was hovering above her. Rose looked up into his eyes and saw a reflection of everything she felt and more, and she thanked the Old Ones for this perfect moment.

  He kissed her, softly at first then, when she nipped his bottom lip, more aggressively. It didn’t matter that she had no experience with this beyond the hunter she’d conned on the way to Wild River, though certainly that
didn’t count.

  She was his now and would be his in every way soon, just as he would be hers. Rose arched her back to meet his seeking lips and gasped as his tongue flitted across her nipple.

  His hands skimmed her skin, making her nerves dance and light on fire, as his mouth sucked her sensitive nipples, going back and forth between them until she was dizzy with sensation. From deep inside a strange building grew, powered by each caress, each kiss, each movement.

  Liam moved like a snake, skimming his body down over her breasts, down over her abdomen, and then his hot tongue was on her clitoris and Rose felt her muscles draw together as she raced towards an invisible cliff.

  Her hips moved on their own, squirming as Liam grabbed hold and dug his fingers into her ass, his mouth kissing her full on now. Rose gasped and cried out, moving closer and closer to that cliff.

  Then she was flying, soaring through the night sky with millions of brilliant stars shining behind the lids of her eyes as tears coursed over her cheeks. It lasted seconds or years, she couldn’t tell, but then it calmed, her body relaxed, and she was fluid.