Saving Kenna

by D. L. Raver

  I drove to the loft, knowing another email from Kieran waited for me, telling me where to find Kenna.

  The light finally shone on the end of this nightmare. I didn’t care what it cost me; I wouldn’t stop until Kenna was back in my arms where she belonged.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Sloan

  MY FOOT TAPPED a nervous beat as I waited for the private jet I’d leased to land at the Belfast Airport in Ireland. From there, it was only sixty plus miles before I arrived at his manor house on Rathlin Island.

  I couldn’t fucking believe Kieran had either taken or convinced Kenna to go with him to Ireland. But my biggest worry was they had formed a relationship. I wanted to believe it wasn’t romantic, because if it was, Kieran would be acting very differently. If she was there willingly, Kenna could no longer be used as leverage against me.

  If I had to guess, Kieran had tried and failed to persuade Kenna away from me. The wanker’s use of hypnotism as a form of influence concerned me more. Those who knew Kieran were schooled in how to avoid it. If you didn’t let him make prolonged eye contact with you, then he couldn’t use his hocus pocus bullshit.

  “Fuck!” I slammed my head against the headrest of the seat and closed my eyes. I wanted to believe this was all coming to an end that would be in our best interest. We make the exchange, and Kenna and I would come home. But with Kieran you never knew. If I was guarded and elusive, he had me beat by miles. In fact, come to think about it, I’m pretty sure that’s where I learned it from.

  Kieran had mastered impassivity and turned it into a fine art. In all the years I’d known him, I can’t remember him really caring about any one thing in particular.

  I reached over to the seat next to me and picked up the leather pouch that contained the Emerald.

  “Until now. He cares about you, though I have no clue why.”

  Whatever. I really didn’t need, nor want, to know.

  The pouch dangled before my eyes as I held the strings. I wasn’t going to touch the damn thing ever again. The heat coming off of it kind of scared me. It was like it knew where it was going and who it was going to. This was the first time in all the years that I actually felt wary of the thing.

  Giving it to Kieran made sense as long as he let Kenna leave with me and promised safety to all of my family members—now, and in the future. If he met my terms, I’d happily turn it over. This was, without a doubt, the moment Paddy had warned of all those years ago.

  The seclusion of Rathlin Island made me nervous. If this was a trick, and if Kenna wasn’t there, or he had no intentions of giving her to me, I’d be fucked. Kieran McCarthy intimidated me as no other could.

  The wanker was one scary son of a bitch.

  “No,” I mumbled to the empty plane. I reached in the pocket of my leather jacket next to me and pulled out a box containing the bracelet I’d recovered from one of the rooms Marcus had used to hold Kenna.

  I opened the box and ran my index finger over the yellow gold bracelet and two matching rings. Before we left Ireland, I wanted Kenna wearing her bracelet and my ring, and if I had my way, I’d be wearing one as well; I wanted us married. We both needed reassurances we wouldn’t run ever again.

  We deserved to be happy. I didn’t care what form that happiness took, as long as we were together.

  The plane landed, and within an hour of landing, I had gone through customs and was in a Range Rover on my way to the GPS coordinates Kieran had provided. At least driving took my mind off of what might be happening, but it didn’t dull the need to kick the shit out of him for bringing Kenna to Ireland and a secluded island.

  I took several deep, cleansing breaths as I drove. Nerves normally didn’t bother me, but this time too much rode on the outcome. I honestly didn’t know what I’d do if Kenna decided she no longer loved me.

  If I came too late, if things didn’t go the way I needed them to go, what then? Stupidly, I hadn’t planned for life after this one meeting. I had money; I could do whatever the hell I wanted to do. All of it depended on Kenna and her decision.

  For the first time in my life, I might very well be at loose ends. Sure, I still belonged to the Ceilte and that lifelong commitment played an important part of my life. But beyond that, I could craft my future in any way I wanted.

  Kevin O’Shea would be put to rest once and for all. That idea alone made me slightly giddy.

  Unfortunately, before I did that, I needed to explain to Kenna about Kevin. I prayed my lie wasn’t our death nail. Hopefully, knowing the truth would help her to understand why I always walked away.

  Though it was late evening as I pulled up to Kieran’s manor house, the sun had yet to set. Late summer in Ireland meant long days.

  I smirked to myself as I took in Kieran’s home. It didn’t surprise me that bastard owned a manor house. He had an Old World style about him in many ways, and he was militant in everything he pursued from training to the missions he ran for the Ceilte to the way he lived his life.

  In many ways, I had learned to be just like him. The only difference was I allowed myself attachments he didn’t, and today I would learn if that would be a weakness or an advantage.

  I checked to make sure all my weapons were in place before walking to the arched front door under the home’s gabled roof. The elegant gothic style reminded me of the home that had been my grandmother Kildare’s in Belfast. This house had its own miniature park with delightful woodland and garden views. I could imagine Kenna probably enjoyed strolling the garden while looking for the perfect place to read.

  The fine walled garden was ablaze with flowers of all colors and varieties. The sweet floral scent of the many wildflowers growing in an adjacent field filled my nose, bringing with it images of Kenna. My palms began to sweat just thinking about her. Just behind this door awaited my future, and I was both excited and scared.

  I wiped my hands on my jeans and then knocked on the door using the combination dragon/gargoyle knocker.

  The dragon/gargoyle seemed to stare at me while I waited, making me rub the back of my neck. Energy, of some kind or another, surrounded the house.

  If I was going to identify it—and I really didn’t want to—I’d have to say it reminded me of the same sensations I sometimes felt coming from the Emerald.

  For a moment, I toyed with the idea of taking the Emerald from its leather pouch to see if it reacted to our location, but I quickly dismissed the idea. I didn’t need a demonstration of its power, energy, or whatever the hell you wanted to call it.

  God, I just want to be done with it, I thought, bitterness turning my lips down into a frown. If I had been wrong, and Kieran didn’t want the Emerald, I’d fucking pitch the thing into the Irish Sea and be done with it.

  The door opened and I jumped, torn from my thoughts.

  “Can I help you, dearie?” An older woman with a kind smile and greying hair pulled into a tight bun stood with her hand on her generous hips.

  “I’m Sloan Sullivan. I believe Kieran, uh, Mr. McCarthy is expecting me.” I slung my leather jacket over my shoulder and waited for her to either let me in or tell me to go away.

  “Ah, yes. Master McCarthy is expecting you. Come in, won’t you?” She stepped to the side and opened the door, smoothing her apron as she waited.

  “Thank you.” I walked into the entry way and watched as she shut the door behind her. For a minute, something about the environment almost seemed threatening, and I felt a heaviness on my chest. In the next moment, however, that sensation lifted, and a more welcoming one took its place, letting me breathe freely again.

  The smell of alder wafted through the entryway and I looked around for the source. I wasn’t surprised to find a holly and alder wood wreath hanging above the door. I could still hear my grandmother Kildare recite a few words in Gaelic as she hung a new wreath over the threshold of her home.

  “Protection, laddie,” she would say and pinch my cheek. “Always remember the wreath above your door keeps the evil spirits at ba
y.”

  “This way,” the house keeper said and walked down the hallway past the curved grand stairway.

  I followed after her in silence, listening carefully for any signs of other people in the home but found none. Though I couldn’t hear Kenna, I knew she was here. I could feel her and my body tingled with longing.

  The lady led me into a dimly lit sitting room that smelled of wood smoke and burning candles—possibly sandalwood?

  Tapestries, heavy hard woods, leather couches, tables, and armchairs were arranged into an intimate conversation area. Candle-filled sconces lined the walls, illuminating the grand gothic, post and beam ceiling.

  “Please, feel free to help yourself to a drink.” She pointed to a table off to the side that contained many decanters. “Or if you’d prefer, I can have tea service brought in.”

  “I’m fine, thank you.”

  “Very well then. I will just let Master McCarthy know you have arrived.”

  The older lady left the room, closing the door behind her. I almost stopped her and asked about Kenna, but I decided to wait.

  Patience. I needed to have patience. Problem was, in this particular instance, my patience was fleeting.

  I dropped my leather jacket on a chair and ran my hands through my hair. Even though a fire burned in the fireplace, I felt a slight chill that had me rubbing my arms. There was something about this house that put me on edge, and it wasn’t my excitement over seeing Kenna. It was the sense of expectation hanging in the air.

  I felt my lip snarl at the thought of more mystical, unexplainable bullshit.

  “Whatever,” I mumbled as I walked around the room. I pushed up the sleeves of my black Henley shirt as I studied the contents of the space. It had a comfortable feel to it, but I wouldn’t classify it as homey. In fact, if I had to guess, Kieran probably didn’t spend much time in this room at all. This space was for visitors and house guests.

  Knowing Kieran as I did, I could imagine he had apartments at the back of the house few were privileged to see. I prayed to God Kenna wasn’t on that list.

  Just thinking about it made a growl break from my lips.

  Kenna still belonged to me. Only me.

  The sound of her singing “Through Glass” by Stone Sour reached me before the door opened. Kenna walked into the room looking lovelier than I had ever seen her. My lips quirked into a smile. Only weeks ago, I worried I never hear her sing again.

  My mouth fell open as I watched her enter the room. She had gained back the weight she had lost during her time with Marcus, and her jeans and black sweater fit her perfectly, showing off a body my hands twitched to touch. Her strawberry blonde waves were loose and flowing.

  “Sloan?” Her hand flew to her mouth as she stood there blinking in my direction. I could tell she wasn’t sure if she should trust her eyes. “Kieran said you would come but I didn’t want to believe him.”

  “Aye, it’s me,” I said like a dumb ass.

  The haunted gaze previously in her eyes had disappeared. They were bright and peaceful and so very beautiful.

  We stared at each other for a long, excruciating moment, drinking each other in before we rushed to each other.

  In the middle of the room we collided. I pulled her roughly to me, and she wrapped her arms tightly around my neck.

  Our lips met in a hungry, intoxicating kiss. My head swam with emotions and feelings I hadn’t let myself feel in weeks.

  “I’m sorry, Sloan,” she said as she tried not to cry. “I shouldn’t have left you the way I did. I just—”

  I captured her apology with another kiss. Her explanations for why she had left didn’t matter. Kenna, like me, had her reasons, and at the time, they seemed right.

  Hindsight always showed us the errors of our ways. If she could accept my excuses then I could accept hers.

  “I don’t care,” I said against her lips and hugged her as close to me as I could get without crushing her. “All that matters is that we don’t make the same mistakes in the future.”

  I took a sweet handful of her silky waves and pulled her head back, forcing her to look me in the eyes. “I love you Kenna Campbell. I’ll never let you go again.”

  “I love you too, Sloan. More than you can possibly know.” Her mouth pressed into mine and our tongues met in another explosive kiss.

  My hands roamed over her body, noticing the sublime contours and curves of her newly toned form. I feasted on her mouth as my hands reclaimed the woman that belonged to me and only me.

  “Aw, so sweet! The lovers are reunited.” Kieran’s droll voice acted like a bucket of cold water, dousing the burning desire between us. I stopped kissing Kenna and pulled her tight to my side as my gaze narrowed in warning.

  Kieran laughed at my possessive show and held out his hands in supplication. “Calm yourself, Sullivan. No need for the caveman antics. I get it, she’s yours. I have no problem with that. As long as I get what I want, you’ll get the same.”

  I didn’t say anything because I hated this would be decided on his terms. And I hated his smug grin and the occult knowledge incomprehensible to most men that danced in his eyes.

  The man oozed confidence and charisma, and his good looks grated on my last nerve.

  I had want he wanted but I wanted to make his suffer the way I had.

  Sure, it was beyond stupid for me to act this way given the only thing I wanted was in my arms. Still, I hesitated.

  Kenna placed her soft hand on my cheek. “Kevin, it’s time. Give Kieran the Emerald.”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Sloan

  “WHAT DID YOU say?” I stepped back from Kenna, dumbstruck by her comment.

  She knows. The entire fucking time, she knew my truth.

  “Yeah, I know about Kevin O’Shea. Paddy wanted someone to know your truth. Somehow, he knew we were together even though we had tried to hide our feelings.” She lightly kissed my lips. “It’s time to let go of Kevin, once and for all. The only way to do that is to give Kieran the Emerald.”

  “Fuck,” I said softly and rubbed my face with my hands. “You’ve known about me for years and never said anything. We wasted so much time, Kenna. You should’ve told me.”

  “I wanted to.” She tipped her head to the side and gave me a sad smile. “But Paddy told me I’d know when the time was right. This is the time, and I think you know it too.”

  “Listen to the woman.” Kieran leaned against the doorjamb with his hands in his pockets.

  I sighed in resignation, then grabbed my leather jacket and reached in the pocket, pulling out the leather pouch. Holding it by the strings, I dangled it in front of me.

  Kieran’s eyes widen, and I swear they turned dark and cloudy. There was a power shift in the room that made Kenna and I both gasp for air.

  The tall imposing man was in front of me before I even had time to register him moving.

  “Wait.” I pulled the pouch back as Kieran reached for it.

  He snarled at me, and I took a step back, taking Kenna with me.

  “A few demands first. Kenna comes home with me free and clear once I hand over the Emerald.”

  “Free and clear,” he agreed and licked his lips as if I was holding a big juicy steak in front of him and he was a big starving bear.

  “Whatever hold you have on her, whatever connection you made with her, you severe it now. Also, you promise Kenna will never be used to bring me to heel again.”

  “Fine.” He leaned forward, and I leaned back, keeping the pouch just out of his reach. I knew I played with fire, but this was the only time I’d have Kieran over the proverbial barrel, and I planned to make the most of it.

  “And, I’d like to thank you for finding Franklin.” It galled me to thank him for anything but in this case he deserved it.

  “You’re welcome.” Kieran nodded his head.

  “You killed Joe Franklin?” Kenna’s voice sounded both surprised and relieved.

  “Aye, I did.”

  “Good,” she
said, and I felt the last vestiges of fear fall from her body with a small sigh.

  “Liam is dead, I presume?” Out of the corner of my eye, I watched Kenna’s response. When she didn’t ask who Liam was, I figured Paddy must have told her everything.

  “Aye.” Kieran studied the palm of his hand, rubbing his thumb over it as if none of this affected him in any manner, shape or form, but I knew he craved the Emerald more than he craved anything else.

  “Promise me that all members of the O’Shea blood line, present and future, their mates and mine, will be under your protection and free from your influence.”

  “Aye! Aye!” He snarled and reached out his hand, his fingers dancing expectantly.

  I handed over the leather pouch containing Cliodhna’s Emerald, and immense relieve shot through my body, causing me to stumble back. I hadn’t realized until this very moment the physical pressure carrying the stone had caused. Or maybe I had ignored the impossible all these years

  Kieran squeezed his eyes closed and clutched the pouch to his chest. “Finally,” he murmured under his breath, and then slipped it in his pocket.

  “I’m surprised and proud of you, Sloan,” Kieran said after a moment of whatever feelings he experienced ceased. He smiled the first genuine smile I had ever seen from him. “You didn’t ask to be absolved for your Ceilte duties.”

  “I made that lifetime commitment freely.” I shook my head. “What happened here has nothing to do with it.”

  “What’s the Ceilte?” Kenna stepped to my side, asking the first question since this exchanged had started. I looked at her, surprised that Paddy hadn’t told her about the organization.

  “That’s a complicated question to answer. Suffice it to say, we’re an organization that does the things no one either wants to, or is able, to do,” Kieran answered nonchalantly.

  Kenna glanced at me, then to Kieran before returning her scrutinizing gaze on me. “Like a top secret spy type of organization? Political intrigue and such? Ooh!”