“Now, we are at war.” I said with a soft smile and I slowly moved my hand to cup her cheek.
“What happens to my sister? To my parents? I haven’t talked to them in months. How do I protect them?” She looked at me with her big dark eyes full of concern.
“Cillian!” I barked, not moving my hand or out of her arms.
“Yes, cousin?” Cillian said as he rushed into the room.
“Get with Jonny and have a guard detail be put on both Augustine Jones and her parents. It is a 24-hour guard shift with absolutely no access to anyone new and if there is any deviation in schedule, routine, or familiars, I need to be notified immediately. There is no room for error on this, do you understand?” My voice was strong and sure, I knew what needed to happen now and I wasn’t going to have my girl be scared anymore.
I look back at Talia and see her awe. Her big, brown eyes were open and trusting, something that I know she hasn’t felt in so long, her pretty pink lips are parted slightly, and I can see her tongue dart out to moisten her lower lip. My attention zeroes in on that motion.
I cannot get hard right now.
“Yes, understood.” Cillian said. When I looked at him, I saw a fondness, an understanding of some kind, in his eyes when he looked at Talia.
“Make it happen by 8 pm tonight.” I could tell my jealousy was seeping through my tone, but I did my best to keep it in check. What had happened between the two of them in the 20 minutes I was in here dealing with the asshole? Granted, Talia did have that way about her that caused most people to like her instantly. Even as demure and scared as she was now, she still shone brightly.
“Will do.” He said. The fucker still hadn’t left.
“Dismissed.” I said roughly.
“If I may?” Cillian said. Cillian is one of the guards, a good soldier, and my second cousin. He’d grown up in this life just like I had so usually when he had a question or idea, he shared it freely. I always heard him out because, unfortunately, the fucker had good ideas and was skilled at what he did.
“Yes?”
“Talia needs a detail on her as well. Someone outside her apartment here and with her whenever she leaves.”
I knew he was just trying to help. He knew about how I felt and he knew about the dangers she would truly be in now. But what I couldn’t stand was the thought that he didn’t think I knew how to properly protect her.
“Excuse me?” I seethed, turning my back on Talia and putting myself between them.
“Kieron,” I heard Talia say but my attention was focused on Cillian.
“You think I don’t know how to protect her? Like those things weren’t the first things I was going to do once I left this room?”
“Kieron, no disrespect meant.” Cillian said, his hands up in front of him to calm me down. “I simply was wondering if you wanted me to get that started as well. I know how much she means to you.”
That made me feel better.
Slightly.
“Kieron, I was just talking to Cillian while you were with Luca. To take my mind off of what was going to happen and I mentioned that I was scared what he would do if he ever got me alone. That’s why Cillian was offering. Granted, he should have phrased it better.” She said with a pointed look to Cillian, then looked back at me with soft eyes. “I know you’re going to protect me. I knew it back then and I know it now.”
“I was just a cheeky fucker back then, but you knew?”
“I did. No one had ever made an impression like you and I never stopped thinking about you even when it would have saved me a lot of heartache.” She confessed and I wanted nothing more than to kiss her, but the memory from the elevator was still fresh in my mind. So instead, I brought her hand up to my lips and kissed the back of her hand softly.
“I never stopped thinking of you either.”
“Lord, don’t we all know it.” Cillian said from the side.
“Fucking leave, Cillian! Get the protection detail on Mr. and Mrs. Jones, Augustine Jones and Talia started.” I ordered, throwing up my middle finger behind Talia’s back to him.
“I’m going, I’m going.” Cillian walked out the door with his hands up and laughing.
“Have I thanked you today?” Talia said, looking up at me as she stepped closer into my body and rested her head on my chest. I was positive she could hear just how fast my heart was beating for her.
“Yes, you have. Only about a hundred times. You don’t have to thank me, baby. I’m making up for all the times I should’ve been there.” I confessed.
