Rubbing my chin, I predicted, “There’s going to be a war.”
Her sharp inhalation stung me. “R-Really? I remember the last one.”
I jerked my chin. “In ’09?”
“Yeah. Mom was terrified when I left the building, even to go to school.”
“Smart woman,” I admitted. “The Haitians were small fry by comparison, though. These are Colombians . . .” I ran a hand through my hair. “I want you to have your bakery, Aoife.”
She frowned. “I know you do, Finn.”
“I’m just not sure if this is the best time for it.”
That had her tilting her head to the side. “I can see that.”
“Would you hold off for now?”
She stared at me, her eyes drifting over my face as she took me in. I didn’t know what she saw, but her bright-green eyes grew soft as she rounded the counter and cupped my chin. “Thank you for being honest with me and not laying down the law.”
My lips curved. “Don’t thank me yet.”
A snicker escaped her. “You mean, you’ll lay down the law if I don’t agree?”
My stomach felt like it was loaded with stones. “I can’t lose you,” I rasped, and both of us were taken aback by the intensity in my voice.
She licked her lips, then leaned forward and pressed a kiss to my mouth. “I’m not going anywhere.”
I bit her bottom lip, reminding her she belonged to me. “Good.”
Pressing my forehead to hers, I closed my eyes and felt her soft breath against my mouth. “Can we hold off on the bakery?”
“We can. Not forever, though?”
I liked that she tried to reason with me, and I wasn’t an unreasonable man. “Not forever,” I confirmed. “The last thing I want is you cooped up in here, Aoife. I just want you safe, and I can’t lie to you, it isn’t safe at the moment.”
“I understand, Finn, truly I do.”
A relieved breath escaped me. “I’m glad.”
“I need to visit my dad tomorrow, Finn.”
Her words had me tensing. “I know.” After clearing my throat, I stated, “Samuel will take you, and I’ll have someone ride with you, too.”
I knew she didn’t like the sound of that, but I didn’t, either. There were a lot of changes heading Aoife’s way, and I was scared they’d frighten her off.
I could be an obnoxious bastard, but even I knew someone could only withstand so much.
Aoife had lost her business, been coerced into a sexual relationship with me. Then I’d proposed, and now there was a gang war heading our way that necessitated her traveling with security for a while. . . .
If that wasn’t a culture shock, even for someone who knew how the gang worked, then I didn’t know what was.
“All right,” she told me, and I pressed a kiss to her mouth in thanks.
I wasn’t stupid. Aoife wasn’t biddable. She was in bed, but not anywhere else. I’d learned that at the O'Donnelly’s dining table. She hadn’t quivered or quaked under Aidan’s scrutiny, and she’d held her own with my brothers.
For any woman to do that?
She had balls of steel. I just hoped she wouldn’t run scared from all the changes that were heading our way.