by E. C. Land
Nodding, I don’t respond.
I continue to stay silent, waiting for news.
Time passes and the doors to the back don’t open, but the ones to the entrance do. My seanathair and Doran O’Farrell come into the waiting room with my mamma barging past them to get to me.
“Kenyon,” she says, her voice filled with panic as she takes me in. Her expression one of worry and fear as she takes in the blood dried on my hands. “Are you okay?”
“It’s not mine, Mamma,” I croak. I clear my throat and stand from my seat to meet my seanathair’s and Doran’s gazes. Mamma wraps her arm around my waist and holds me tight. “It’s Enya’s.”
Doran stiffens as my mamma gasps.
“What happened?” he demands.
Shaking my head, I tell them what I know and explain to him how she has a twin sister who conspired in all that happened tonight. Funny how so much can happen in such a short amount of time.
“So I have one daughter who attempted to hurt her sister,” he sneers. A sharp deathly fleeting look comes over his face.
“We’ve placed her into a holding cell until we figure out what to do with her,” Dean announces, stepping forward to greet Doran and my seanathair.
“I’d have her killed if she didn’t have my blood,” Doran snaps.
“Enya wouldn’t want that. No matter how much she’s been through. She is far too compassionate and would ask to get her twin help,” I grumble.
“And for her, as she sounds to be a daughter I’d be proud of, I’ll make the decision after I meet her, but I’ll be the judge of what happens with her sister. I may have been deprived of her life for years on end, believing their mother lost them before they were born. Now I will not be any longer. Neither will their brothers, Cillian and Críostóir,” Doran declares.
“Then you should know now, though you are just now entering her life, that I intend to be with her,” I state firmly.
“Guess it’s good that we never changed the contract,” Seanathair says, lightening the mood.
The doors to the back open, and everyone goes silent as Connors comes our way.
“How is she?” I mutter, stepping forward.
“We need to speak alone,” Connors murmurs compassionately.
“You speak to all of us,” Doran declares impatiently.
“O’Farrell, I suggest you calm down when speaking to Doctor Connors as she’s married to my cousins,” Dean states warningly.
“Dean, it’s okay. But I’m sorry, Mr. O’Farrell . . .” She looks to Dean for confirmation. When he nods, Connors continues, “This is one thing I won’t do. For one, I don’t know who you are, and two Enya would be mortified if more than Kenyon hears what I have to say.”
My chest tightens at the woman’s words.
Is it worse than I originally thought?
I guide the doctor to a secluded spot where she breaks it down for me without anyone around. Evidently, she’d woken up not long after they rushed her back, and they had to immediately sedate her. She was going to be out of it until they could be sure the drug is out of her system as much as possible. But her body was covered in tiny cuts, some of them so deep that they needed stitches, others they were able to use medical glue to seal them.
They were moving her to a private room where I could go to her soon as they got her straight. But she tells me they were able to remove the tape without ripping at her skin and removed the items that were violating her.
The last thing she told me was that right now, Enya was going to need me more than ever. I had to be patient and take things slow with her; however, she warned me not to pull away from my woman.
That’s something no one had to worry about.
When she finishes, she tells me which room they were taking Enya to. I go back over to the group and let them know I’m heading to her room as I make a vow that no matter what happens in the future, nothing, and I mean nothing, will keep me from her. Enya is entangled in my heart so much that I feel her pain right along with her.
Shit, I’m never letting her out of my sight again. Not after this.
Chapter 19
Enya
For the past month, I swear it’s been like going through hell. Between waking up in the hospital, my body detoxing from that drug that was forced on me, to the fact I’ve had nightmares every night. Kenyon has been the best about everything. He’s soothed my nightmares and talked to me about everything that happened the night I went through hell.
I finally stopped crying for Ensley and how she was able to hurt me in such a way when all I wanted to do is protect her. I realized she didn’t have a heart. Washing my hands of her, I allowed my father to place her in a place she’ll never be able to hurt anyone else. I still can’t believe my father, a man who knew nothing about me, got on a plane and came to the States the moment he found out. He only left a few days ago after my two brothers came to meet me as well.
Talk about scary.
Cillian and Críostóir are two men I wouldn’t want to meet in a dark alley. They’re both brutes who don’t mind people knowing it. They’re also gorgeous, and women literally fall at their feet. I saw it happen with Zoe, who became a bumbling idiot when she’d met them.
If they weren’t going back to Ireland, I’d so try to set her up with one of them. Unfortunately, Zoe seems caught up in her own mess. Somehow, she’s gotten herself into it with a man she won’t talk to Lillian or me about.
Sighing, I walk into the bathroom of Kenyon’s and my room. He’d officially moved me in completely after what happened. “I don’t want you anywhere but with me, and that means you are living under my roof,” he said when we pulled up to the house after I’d been discharged from the hospital.
It took nearly a week for them to allow me to leave the hospital because of the drug in my system. Dr. Connors told me that it would take time for the effects to go away if they do at all. She’d told me of another woman she’s friends with who’d been given the same drug and she’s still feeling some of the side effects of it.
Stopping in front of the mirror, I take a deep breath and finally look at my reflection for the first time in a month. I knew my body was marred with multiple wounds from the whip, a lot of them superficial, others deeper. But those aren’t the reasons for me not wanting to see myself in the mirror.
No. I’ve felt hideous. That I’m tainted for Kenyon’s touch. His love and everything that comes with it. I haven’t told him any of this. I didn’t want him to think less of me. I don’t remember much of when he found me, but I do remember the state I’d been in.
Tears prick at my eyes as I stare at my body. My nipples are no longer hurting from the clamps or the harsh touches of my stepfather. The duct tape didn’t leave marks thanks to whatever they used at the hospital to get it off me, but I can still feel the vibrations of the toys he used. I know it’s not real, but my body doesn’t. Just thinking of those toys touching me sends shivers through my body, and I ache.
This is one of the side effects Connors told me about. Any thought of sex makes me crave it and I need it. Only Kenyon has yet to do anything but hold me in the middle of the night or kiss my forehead and hold my hand.
A tear slips down my cheek and I jump at the feeling of arms wrapping around me. I lift my gaze to find Kenyon meeting my own.
“I was waiting to see how long it would take for you to finally look at yourself in the mirror,” he murmurs ever so gently, his hands flattening on my stomach.
I become very aware of his naked state.
“Kenyon,” I whisper, pleadingly for him to do something, anything.
“Are you sure you’re ready for me to touch you?” he asks, turning me in his arms and lifting me to sit me on the counter.
“I’ve been dying for your touch, Kenyon. I’m scared, though, that you see me differently. That I’m no longer good for you,” I utter, more tears spilling down my cheeks.
“Mo aingeal álainn, you are the only person I want. I just wanted to wait
for you to finally let the tears fall. You’ve tried to be so strong, thinking you didn’t need to talk about what happened that day. I’ve been waiting for you to come to me.” A sob escapes me and I press my forehead into his chest, finally doing as I’ve needed to do and release the pain of what I endured. He’s right. I haven’t spoken about how I felt that day or what I went through.
When talking about it, I’d brush off the parts that involved me and talk about Ensley. Hatred for her seeps in, and I wish I could ask her why she did it. Then again, I don’t want to hear her voice. If I go the rest of my life without seeing or hearing from her again, I’ll be happy.
Kenyon scoops me off the counter and carries me into the room. “I’ve asked Lillian to take Ryland out for the afternoon,” he murmurs, laying me in the middle of the bed. Curling around me, he holds me until the tears finally stop, and my body becomes aflame with need for him.
Lifting my head, I meet his eyes and lean in to press my lips to his. The kiss starts out slow and sweet. Kenyon pulls back and looks deep into my eyes.
“Tell me if you want me to stop, mo anamchara,” he rasps huskily and goes about peppering my skin with heated kisses trailing down my jaw to my neck. He stops at my breasts to give each one attention, nipping and swirling his tongue around the nipple. He doesn’t do anything that might cause me pain. Not that anything he did would.
He’s Kenyon. The man I love.
Kenyon doesn’t know I heard him in the hospital when he thought I was asleep when he told me about how much he loved me. He told me about the contract for him to marry my father’s daughter and how he thought he’d gotten out of it. But that since I’m that woman, without either of us knowing at first, he wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.
At first I didn’t know what he meant by all of this, considering I’d been out of it. Once I realized what it was all about, I did and it brings a smile to my lips.
Thinking of my perfect man from all the books I’ve read in my life, it would be Kenyon. The perfect man is just that he’s not perfect at all. Instead, he’s the man who’ll stop at nothing to get you back when you’re taken. The same man who holds you in the midst of a nightmare and lets you keep stuff bottled up until you’re finally ready to let it go.
Kenyon’s mouth trails further down until he settles between my legs and swipes his tongue through my slit.
Shivers of a wonderful bliss sweep through me and I’m panting breathlessly by the time he’s done lapping up my juices when he makes me come. I should be embarrassed by coming so quickly, but I’m not. The pleasure is too much. He continues devouring me with his mouth.
“Kenyon,” I moan, needing more of him.
He must hear the pleading in my voice because one second he’s sucking on my clit, the next he’s climbing over me and his cock is sinking deep into the depths of my core.
I cry out in ecstasy while clawing at Kenyon’s shoulders. I beg him to take me harder. To fuck me with his cock, and he does just that. Throwing me from one orgasm straight into another. Screaming his name as I dig my nails into his flesh.
Kenyon follows me over the edge into the abyss with a shouting of my name as he stills seated fully inside my pussy. His cock twitches as he comes.
“Fuckin’ beautiful seeing you like this, mo aingeal álainn. I can’t wait to see you do that again. Shit, I think I’ll keep you right here all afternoon and savor what I’ve missed for so long. I love you, mo anamchara. You’re my world right alongside Ryland,” he rasps gravelly.
Smiling at him, my heart beats rapidly with pure happiness at his declaration.
“I love you too, Kenyon. You and Ry are my world as well, and I’ve been so scared you’ll want to push me away after what happened,” I whisper honestly, finally telling him my deepest fear.
“Enya, you are all I want besides my son. If I didn’t have you, I’d be missing a part of my heart. I’d be half the man I am without you and I don’t ever want that to happen. You’re entangled in my soul,” he declares before capturing my mouth for another kiss.
With him still seated deep inside me, I tilt my hips to rock them in a grinding motion as he deepens the kiss.
Time for more.
It’ll always be time for more. I love this man even though I didn’t get to say it to him. He’s right about his soul entangled with mine because I can feel it to the depths of my being.
And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Chapter 20
Kenyon
Climbing out of my car, I stand straight. I’ve spent the past two days secluded at home with Enya, reconnecting in a way I’ll always remember after the hell she went through a month ago.
When she’d woken up from being sedated, I’d seen her lock something deep inside her. Sure she talked about what happened, but never about what happened to her. We talked about how Ensley played the both of us. I apologized for thinking Ensley had been her when she’d come to talk to me at Sinner’s Cove. I hated myself for it, but Enya being who she is forgave me.
For the past month, when I’ve had to go help deal with something, I kept someone on the house to keep an eye out to make sure nothing happens.
We haven’t found that fuckwad of a stepfather who hurt my woman but we will. Preacher hasn’t given up any information, and according to Finley and her right-hand man, Cedric, he’s been fuckin’ with them more now.
Dean offered to assist them, but Finley waved him off claiming she didn’t need any more help, that she had all the help she needed. Guess we’ll see how that goes for her and the rest of her people.
I clear my head of thoughts of the past when I step into Sinner’s Cove. We’re supposed to be having a meeting after Beau found some information for us and we need to handle it. Where Marc is the man Dean uses for tracking someone down, Beau is who he uses for finding all sorts of information on his computer.
I, for one, hope it’s the whereabouts of Enya’s stepfather.
In the main room of the club, the stages are stranded since we don’t open for three hours. Kit-Kat is sitting at one of the round tables with her legs crossed. Superiority pours off of her, and I wonder how she’s still single. Then again, it’s not my business.
Taking the seat between her and Marc, I lean back and glance between the two of them. “What’s going on?” I ask, seeing the way Marc holds himself stiffly.
“Nothing,” he grumbles.
“Oh, he’s just mad because I called him out on something and he’s sour about it,” Kit-Kat giggles.
“What?” Furrowing my brows, I look between the two of them again. “Do I even want to know?”
“Just leave it be. It’s nothing and it ain’t gonna be anything,” Marc growls in frustration.
“We’ll see,” Kit-Kat says, smiling widely. “I’m taking bets as to which one of you will fall next,” she calls out loudly, waving her hand.
“I say it’s gonna be Marc,” Dean states when he joins us.
“Not gonna happen,” Marc mutters.
“I don’t know, I’m thinking it might be Chance or Iasan,” Mitch chuckles.
“What? Me?” Iasan seems surprised. “Why not Ian or Beau? I ain’t ready to settle down like you assholes.” He smirks, and it’s then I notice Ian’s missing from the meeting.
“Where’s Ian?” I ask, changing the subject.
“He went out of town. Called me this morning to let me know. Evidently, his mom called to tell him some bad news and he had to get home,” Mitch mutters.
“And you believed him?” Marc growls.
What the fuck?
It’s then I understand.
“Ian’s the traitor, isn’t he?” I ask.
“We don’t know for sure, but we think so,” Dean confirms.
“Fuck. He was supposed to be watching Enya the night she came to the club.” Fists clenched; I slam my hand on the table in front of me. I want the fucker back here so I can kill him with my bare hands.
“That’s when I started to suspect him,
” Mitch states.
Shit.
“So, what? We let him just get away?” I sneer.
“No, I’m going after his ass,” Marc declares, his voice ruthless.
Nodding, I do my best to calm down.
We finish going through the meeting, finding out about things that are happening, and that while Marc is looking for Ian, Beau is gonna step up in his place. I’ll have to deal with more shit.
Before we can wrap up the meeting, Mitch’s phone rings. He answers it since Alison is pregnant and has to be able to reach him.
“You okay?” he asks. “Shit, okay, I’m on the way.” Disconnecting, he looks around the room wildly. “It’s too early, but Alison is going into labor,” he announces and heads for the door.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
I hope Alison and the babies are okay and that nothing happens to them.
Leaving the club, I swing by the house and pick up Enya on the way to the hospital. I know she’d want to be there to show her support for Alison and Mitch. The two of them had become close over the past few weeks.
We’ve been sitting here for a couple of hours now when Enya looks at me with a frown.
“What’s wrong?” I ask cautiously. I knew she didn’t like hospitals because of her mom and the time she had been here.
“I . . . um . . . I just remembered something sitting here,” she stutters nervously, licking her lips.
Furrowing my brows, I pull her closer. “What did you remember?”
“Um, I don’t know why it came to me now, but . . . ugh . . . the night when you found me, my, um, stepfather . . . he got a call. I recognized the voice, but I didn’t know who it belonged to,” she whispers, darting her gaze around the room as if she were looking for someone.
“Do you remember who?” If it’s who I think it is, she’ll be confirming what we all suspect.
“I don’t want to accuse someone just in case I’m wrong, but Kenyon, I swear the guy on the phone sounded just like Ian,” she whispers apprehensively.
