Brutal Savage: A Single Dad Forced Marriage Irish Mafia Romance (Savage Kings Book 2)

Brutal Savage: Chapter 14



Derek, the one who created my new identity, never calls my burner unless it’s an emergency, so when I find that cell vibrating in my bag, my pulse spikes. Especially because I don’t recognize the number. But he’s the only one who has it.

Why would he have a new number?

Maybe it’s not him…

Did he give me up to Jerry? Oh, no! They could’ve tortured him to talk. If they realize he’s a rat, they’ll feed him to the dogs. Literally.

I sling my work bag over my shoulder and head toward my car as I answer it, not saying a word just in case it isn’t him.

“Evelyn?” he whispers.

“Derek? Are you okay?”

“Oh, thank fuck!” he exhales harshly. “I thought something happened to you.”

“Why would something happen to me? Did you say something to them?” Alarm rings in my voice.

“Of course not! I’d die before I gave you up. You know that.”

I sag against the door of my car. “I don’t expect you to die for me. But thank you.”

“Look, I called because I had to get a new number. Two days ago, someone called the one I gave you. You’re the only one who has it. I don’t know what that means, Elara, but it’s not good.”

“Wait, what? Someone called you?”

“Yeah, and they didn’t say anything, but…”

My stomach clenches. “But what?”

“I said your name. I called you Evelyn.”

“Oh, no… Do you think it’s Jerry or his father?”

“I don’t think so. They would’ve killed me by now. I waited to call you just in case, but they haven’t bugged my phones or my place. I don’t think it was them. Has anyone had access to my number? Where do you keep it?”

“I—”

Then it hits me.

Tynan.

No…

Yet it makes sense. He was in my house. He broke in. He must’ve found it and called. Now he knows my name.

“I think I know who it was.”

“Anyone I need to worry about?”

“No. I’ll take care of it. I’ll come up with something. Don’t worry.”

“Okay, but, Evelyn, watch your back. You can’t trust anyone.”

“I know that. You too.”

“Bye.” He drops the call and I stuff the phone in the zip pouch of my bag.

I start working for Tynan tonight. I’ll have to confront him, and I’d better figure out what I’m gonna say about Derek.

Maybe I can give him a taste of the truth without giving much away. That has to work or I’m gonna end up dead, and I’m not sure if it’ll be Jerry or Tynan who kills me.

After work, I make it home for a quick shower and a change of clothes before heading to Tynan’s.

My stomach is in knots just thinking about what I’m going to say to him. He needs to believe it so he can let go of whatever suspicions he has.

Slipping into a pair of skin-tight jeans and a simple black tank top, I figure out what to do with my hair. Should I wear it down? In a ponytail? I have no idea.

Ugh! Why am I worrying about how I look anyway? I’m trying not to make him want me.

Ha! Who are you lying to? You want him to eat his heart out just so you can tell him to get lost.

I groan. Why am I like this?

Fuck it, hair down it is. Curling the ends a little, I run my fingers through them, then add some mascara and blush.

I look at my arm, the wound appearing much better. Retrieving a large Band-Aid from the bathroom, I stick it on the best way I can.

When I stroll out, I find Rogue, my new bodyguard, standing against the passenger side of his car.

“Ma’am.” He nods in greeting.

“Hey. Do you want something to eat or drink? I feel bad having you out here every day.”

“Not necessary, but thank you.”

“Okay, well, if you change your mind…”

When I start toward my car, he interrupts me.

“Mr. Quinn instructed that I drive you to his estate.”

“I can drive myself.” I open the door just as he places a hand on it to stop me.

“He insisted. Should we call him?”

I drag in a long, annoyed inhale. “Fine. Let’s go.”

He heads back toward his SUV and opens it for me, helping me up before getting into his side.

Thirty minutes later, and we’re pulling up into a massive gated estate, acres of land beyond, more than I can even see. There are some homes in the distance and a few towering mansions that come into view as we drive past.

These people are loaded. Rich is an understatement. I wonder how it feels to live like this, never worrying about money.

We pass another mansion—pale brick walls with black shutters, a terrace on the first floor—and this time, Rogue slides into the driveway. I can just imagine what the inside looks like.

Rogue exits first, and before I can open my door, he’s doing it for me, helping me out and following me to the front.

Two guards stand on each side of the heavy double doors, and fear prickles across the back of my neck. They stare intensely, greeting me with curt nods before they’re letting me through.

When I step into the foyer, a large crystal chandelier sparkles from the high cathedral ceiling. The pale gray and white marble flooring glistens below my feet. The place is immaculate.

From somewhere in the house, I register a dog barking and immediately smile.

Must be Bubbles.

“They’re this way.” Rogue leads me to the right, past a kitchen where a woman with her gray hair in a tight bun looks up from the tomatoes she’s cutting.

As soon as she sees me, she grins, wiping her hands on her pink floral apron. “Hi! I’m Ruby. You must be Elara! Tynan’s told me so much about you.”

“He has?”

That doesn’t sound like him. Then again, I don’t know much about him, do I?

She wraps her arms around me, then pulls back. “Oh, yes. He says you’re an amazing teacher and Brody adores you.” Her expression grows sad at the child’s name. “We’d do anything to have him talk again.” Those brown eyes of hers glisten with pain, but she clears her throat and returns to her cooking. “Will you stay for dinner?”

“I—”

“Yes, she will.”

My pulse wakes with a rapid beat when I hear his raspy voice behind me.

Turning toward him, I find those smoldering eyes zeroing in on me, his mouth set in a tight line.

“I really don’t want to impose.”

I can’t help but wonder what he’s thinking. Does he want me to stay so he can interrogate me? Torture information out of me? It’s what people in the Mafia do, isn’t it?

“It wouldn’t be an imposition.” He saunters closer, and my heart picks up speed. “I don’t see a reason you couldn’t join us for dinner.”

His mouth drops nearer, until it’s angled against my ear.

A pant rises out of me as he says, “If you want me to pay you for staying, just say the word, Ms. Hill. As you can see, money isn’t an issue for me.”

“Um…”

His lips skim right below my lobe, and I stifle a gasp from the sensation it brings in me, completely forgetting that Ruby is very much still here.

“I can still smell you on my fingers.”

Oh my God.

My face flushes. An inhale traps in my lungs.

Desire winds tighter and tighter through me.

He chuckles all deep and low, straightening himself as he lifts the sleeves of his dress shirt, and those forearms do sinful things to me. They always do.

Ruby stares between us, fighting a smile, and that only makes my face grow hot with embarrassment.

I knew this was a bad idea. I can’t even stand beside him without getting turned on.

Scratching my throat, I throw on a nervous smile. “Not necessary, Mr. Quinn. I’ll accept your offer for dinner. Thank you, Ruby.”

“Of course, dear.”

Something passes between Tynan and Ruby, and his jaw clenches.

What was that about?

“Come on,” he says. “I’m sure Brody is very excited to see you.”

At the thought of him, I forget how nervous I am and follow Tynan to the den. And as soon as Brody turns to me, he runs straight into my arms.

“Hey, sweetheart.” I hold him close, shutting my eyes, my heart instantly breaking every time I think about his life. “So…” I perch back and clasp his face between my hands, staring down at him. “Are you done with homework?”

He nods.

“Good boy. Maybe we can go for a walk with Bubbles.”

Seems like there’s plenty of land to cover here. I glance at Tynan, who nods his approval.

“Great. Hi, Bubbles!”

And at her name, the dog rushes over and licks my hands, jumping up like she wants to lick my face too.

“Okay, okay.” I laugh, picking her up, letting her do her worst.

She lets out a happy little sound, excited as ever.

“I like you too.” I pet her, glancing at a brooding Tynan.

“Better watch out for her. She’s trouble,” he tosses out with a lopsided smirk that lands right in my gut.

“Are you talking about me or the dog?” I place Bubbles back down.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” That smirk deepens, and so does my attraction for him.

But it’s all wrong. Everything about this is.

My teeth sink around the corner of my bottom lip, and at that, his eyes turn hooded, the muscle in his jaw twitching.

Dirty thoughts fill my mind.

Us together.

In his bed.

On the floor.

In the kitchen.

Those arms, those veins thick and throbbing as he tosses me around and plays with me like his personal fuck toy even while I refuse him. But resistance only emboldens a man like that, and I like it.

“You okay, Ms. Hill?” He steps closer until he’s before me, his smirk widening. “You’re blushing.”

He runs his knuckles down my cheek, and the dog growls like it’s warning him to stay away.

That’d be nice, because this is too much. The way he smells—all manly and expensive—and the way he forces himself into my space.

My pulse gallops in my throat. “I am not blushing.”

His gruff laughter drapes around me, warm and enticing, calling to me like a familiar song.

Yet it’s just an illusion. This man is nothing but a distraction, a drug I need to keep away from, no matter how much the devil calls to me.

I brush past him toward Brody, who’s slipping on his sneakers. Yet I still feel Tynan’s eyes on me from behind, my flesh prickling with awareness.

Glancing over my shoulder, I find him with his arms curled over his chest.

The memory of his fingers inside me floods my mind, and I desperately crave a repeat performance.

Nope. We are not going there.

Need to get out of here before I act on my feelings.

Brody runs out, probably to get the dog’s leash, while I’m left alone with the man who has started to haunt my dreams.

It was him I dreamed about last night. It felt so real, it was like I felt him inside me, heard him say dirty things as he fucked me, heard him say that he loved me.

Insane what the mind can do when we’re sleeping. But just look at him. All hard edges and calloused hands. How could I not want him? And Lord, would those hands feel good running up my body.

His mouth tilts like he can see inside my mind.

Am I that obvious? Am I blushing again?

“Come on, Brody!” I tell him, while Bubbles lets out a little yelp like she wants to get out of here just as much as I do.

Brody comes running in, attaching the leash on the pup and gripping it tightly, while I hold out a hand for his. He takes it without any hesitation, and that fills my heart with joy.

Tynan’s brows knit as he stares down at our clasped hands, and his face softens. And though he’s a hard man, I’ve seen glimpses of the softer side already, making me feel things I don’t want to.

Brody leads me toward the back, opening the double glass doors and heading toward the lush garden.

Three benches sit on one side, overlooking a round pool with a swan statute in the middle, shooting out water. To the left is a huge rectangular pool, and a hot tub close behind. There is also a gazebo with chairs and beds that look comfortable enough to sleep in. We head past the pool and through the open land—green grass for what feels like miles.

What a beautiful place to run every morning.

I don’t know why that thought just hit me. Not like I’ll be waking up here every day to do that. Still, the place is scenic, and I can just imagine what the rest of the land looks like.

“It must be nice living here.” I glance over at Brody. “Though I’m sure you miss your home too.”

His face slants, and he stares down at his feet while the dog sniffs and wags her tail.

“I’m sorry, Brody.” I squeeze his hand. “I can just imagine how hard this is for you. But if you ever want to talk to me—and it doesn’t have to be with words, it can be a letter, anything really—I’m here to listen. I want you to know that I care very much about you, just like your cousin does.”

He nods and doesn’t look my way. I don’t want to bring up anything painful, but I think it’s good for him to embrace the pain and learn to heal from it instead of being afraid to face it. He just needs to feel safe enough to open up. To scream and cry and do all the things that he has to for as long as he needs.

“You know, I lost my parents too. I wasn’t as young as you, but I really loved them. I was very close to my mom. She was my best friend.”

He glances up, and his chin trembles, eyes filling with tears, and mine do too. I can feel his anguish like it’s palpable.

“She was a good mom, just like yours was. Your mom loved you very much. I know that for certain. Your father too. I know wherever they are, they’re watching you and they are so, so proud of you.”

Tears drip from his eyes. Kneeling before him, I grab his face, letting my own tears fall freely.

“It’s okay to cry, sweetheart.” I wipe his tears with my thumb. “It’s okay to miss them and wish they were here with you.”

With a sniffle, he throws his arms around me and holds me tight as he sobs. And I clutch him, wanting to take his pain away and make it mine.

From a distance, I see him—watching us, like a shadow.

He stares intensely, and fear prickles up my spine. There’s a part of me that’s still afraid of him, even while my attraction for him grows.

He starts toward us just as Brody wipes his eyes with the back of his hand.

“You feel better?” I give him all of my attention.

He nods.

“Good. How about we get some ice cream after dinner? I’m sure there’s some in the freezer.”

His eyes pop with excitement.

“We can eat until we’re too full to breathe. How does that sound?”

He hits me with a huge, toothy grin and a thumbs-up.

We start making our way toward Tynan, and when he’s in front of us, he pats Brody’s head.

“How about you go run with Bubbles a bit while Ms. Hill and I have a talk?”

Here we go.

Nervousness falls over me, and I shiver, knowing he’s going to want to talk about Derek.

I’m ready for it. I have to be. I need him to stop chasing my demons before they take me with them.

Brody gives us both a curious glance before he marches away with the pup.

“Look, I⁠—”

But he doesn’t let me finish, cutting the distance between us until his front presses to mine. “Who’s Evelyn?” He tilts my chin up with the back of his hand. “And don’t you think about lying to me. You’re around my kid. I need to know what you’re involved in.”

His eyes narrow, his expression harsh.

My lashes flutter to a brief close while my chest grows heavy. “Okay, I’ll tell you. But promise me to let it go after that. I can’t have you messing up my life more than it already is.”

Though I hate thinking about my past, I gather the courage to tell him just enough so he’ll stop asking questions.

“Start talking.”

I blow out a breath and look up at the sky before my attention falls to him. “Look, you were right. There is an ex. I left him, and⁠—”

“Why?” His demeanor instantly shifts to something darker. “What did he do?”

My brows pinch, and I fight the tears when they come, the scar on my abdomen burning at the thought of Jerry.

I shake it off. “He hurt me, okay? Until I couldn’t take it anymore.”

His Adam’s apple bobs, and though his face hardens, his eyes grow tender. And it’s then his thumb skirts up my cheek and wipes the remnants of my pain.

“Elara…” His tortured breath kills me a little.

“I don’t want him to know where I am, so I changed my name. My real name is Evelyn Connors.”

His jaw clenches.

I hope I didn’t just make a mistake by telling him that, but I had to do something. He won’t find much on me anyway.

“The number you called, he’s a friend who still lives back home and keeps me in the loop if my ex goes sniffing. He’s the one who set me up with a new identity. Same for my grandparents.”

“Is your ex connected?”

“Please, Tynan.” I grip his hard bicep and it jerks. “I’m begging you to please let this go. Let me live in peace. I want to stay here. I want to be happy. Let me be happy.”

My vision blurs, and he inhales a long, deep breath.

“Was he your fiancé?”

I nod, shame filling my face.

“How long were you together?”

“Not long.”

“How’d you meet?”

Why does he look so upset about it?

I release an exaggerated sigh. “It wasn’t like that. My father arranged it for business purposes. I never loved him. In fact, I hated him.”

“And he hit you?”

I nod. “He did a lot of things. So if there’s any part of you that meant it when you said we’re friends, let this go.”

“You don’t know me very well, Ms. Hill.” His knuckles gently stroke my cheek, his eyes filling with the raw power of his emotions. “I do not let things like this go. If someone hurts a person I care about, I take care of it.”

Care about…

He cares about me?

My stomach coils into knots, and my heart throbs to have that—to have a man care for me and mean it.

Those knuckles stroke my lips, and they tremble in the wake of his touch.

“If you don’t want to give me his name, I will find it on my own, and I will kill him. And that’s a promise.”

Part of me wants that. I want to see that bastard and his father dead. But another part just wishes for it all to be over. Though can it ever be if they’re still alive and looking for me?

“You don’t know how to let things be, do you?”

“Not when it matters.”

“And I matter?” I whisper, shuddering with anticipation, hoping to hear that I do. That I mean something.

His expression goes slack, a hint of a smirk appearing at the corner of his mouth. “I’ll see you inside, Ms. Hill.”

He lets me go, while all I want is for him to touch me again, craving for that warmth to return.

Yet most of all, I crave to hear him say that I matter.

But instead, he walks away.

I remain there long after, wondering how I went from wanting to keep my distance to wanting Tynan Quinn to admit he actually cares.


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