"Da wanted to send a message," he confirmed rawly.
"Why the fuck was Ma with him?"
"Why does Da ever do anything? He thought she should come along for the ride." He squeezed me tight then pressed a kiss to my temple. "You’re safe, sweetheart."
"She always was." He scoffed. "Damn nerve."
"Wasn’t slighting your security, Conor. I was just trying to be reassuring."
"Well, get more creative."
Aidan grunted, "Stop being a jerk." Another kiss was bestowed to my temple. "Everything’s going to be okay."
"I know it is," I whispered, my voice clogged with emotion.
"Then, why are you scared?" He paused. "In fact, why the hell are you out here and not in the safe room?"
Conor laughed. "You can take that out on her ass later. We have work to do."
"Jesus, I’ve already done a day’s work."
"It sucks to be the heir, doesn’t it?" Conor retorted, mock-sympathy lacing the words.
Because I’d been involved in the process, I knew he wasn’t wrong, knew there was still a lot to do before the night was out, especially if their parents were unconscious—what the hell was that about?
Instead of causing more of a scene than I already had, and now that I knew he was here, I whispered, "It’s okay. I’ll go to the safe room now."
Aidan squeezed me once more. "I’ll come and get you out as soon as I can, all right?"
I peeped up at him. "I missed you."
"The feeling’s mutual," he rasped, his gaze locked on mine. "Thank you for not running for the hills."
"She didn’t have a choice. Those hills were more dangerous than the estate," Conor muttered, and I let out a snot-laden laugh.
"He has a point."
Aidan growled under his breath and shot his brother a death-ray glance, then he heaved a sigh. "He usually does."