Tilly yawned. “I was so frantic when I realized that text didn’t come from you. You never write your texts like that. If anything ever happened to you, I don’t know what I would do.”
She’d told him the whole story on the drive over. He’d have something to say to Aedan and Colm about bringing her with them. He’d nearly had a heart attack when she’d stepped out of that car.
“Tilly, there is nothing I wouldn’t do to protect you. If being shot is the price of your safety I will happily pay it.”
“But I want you safe as well.”
“We’ll look after each other. Forever.”
She leaned up on one elbow very carefully. “You mean that?”
“I do. I love you, Tilly. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
Tears filled her eyes. “I love you, too. I love you so much it scares me sometimes.”
He smiled gently. “I know what you mean. You come before everything and everyone else. Which is why you’re in deep trouble for putting yourself in danger tonight.”
Her jaw dropped. “I don’t think that’s fair.”
Dylan raised his eyebrows. “Why is that?”
“Because you were in danger. You can’t expect me to just stand by when you’re in trouble. You wouldn’t stand by if I was in danger.”
“No, I wouldn’t. I’m a hypocrite and you can call me sexist, a caveman, whatever you want. That doesn’t change the fact that your safety comes before mine.”
She opened her mouth, but he’d reached the end of his endurance.
“There is no discussion about this, Tilly,” he said in a firm voice. “Lay your head back on my chest.”
With a loud sigh, she lay down. “I want it noted that I don’t agree.”
“Noted,” he told her with a yawn. “Now please turn off the light, I’m exhausted.”
Chapter Eleven
Tilly sat up with a fright. What the hell woke her up?
A woman screamed, the absolute terror in her voice had a shiver running up Tilly’s spine.
“Tilly, get up. Quickly!”
She looked over to see Dylan was already out of bed.
“Who is it? What’s going on?” she asked, flinging the covers off.
Dylan grabbed her hand and pulled her over to the bathroom.
“Lock yourself in here and do not come out, not until I come get you. Promise me.”
“I promise,” she replied just as another blood-curdling scream filled the house.
Dylan was gone before she could ask any more questions. She shut the door and locked it, huddling down on the floor with her legs against her chest. As far as she knew, Miller was the only other female in the house. Tilly longed to go and check on her, terrified for her safety, but she knew she’d probably be more of a hindrance than a help.
“Please God, keep Dylan and Miller safe,” she prayed. She hadn’t prayed in years, but if ever she needed some divine intervention it was over this last week.
The sick feeling in her stomach grew as she heard another scream that was cut off abruptly. Tilly raised her head as there was a knock on the door. Her heart raced, her breath coming in shallow, short pants. Would an intruder knock?
“A mhuirnín, it’s me. Open up now,” Dylan spoke through the door.