I press my mouth to hers. They’re coloring a deeper shade merlot by the second. Bonny, big tears are in her eyes. My Grand’ was right. I’ve never seen a sight so beautiful, and I murmur that bit of truth. “God must’ve taken a long holiday when He created ye. I love ye so much.”
“Lei . . . Lei . . .”
“I love ye, so I’m about to make things right between us,” I assure her. “The bastard who ruined what we have is on his way to us, Chevelle. Took almost two hours, but I found him. A call was made throughout the clan. The closest lad in his general vicinity was dispatched to grab themotherfecker.”
“Shut up.”
“Nae, I’m telling ye the clan way.Shitegets handled when I’m not running like a lone wolf. I’m a MacKenzie, Chevelle. Ye too. For too long ye’ve denied me of my right to—”
“Then leave me!”
My teeth sink into Chevelle’s bottom lip. While she assaults me with slaps, my fingers run the length of her ribs, down to the curve of her hip. I bring my hands back up over her flat stomach to her breasts, clutching the heavenly globes. She once fed my bairn, gave my weeweanall the nourishment she needed. All the while, Chevelle’s begging me toleaveher.
I press a kiss where my teeth embedded her plush mouth. “Ye and I’ll never leave each other. It’s impossible. We’re one. My heart is in yer chest, lass. So, I’m deid without ye.”
“Are you—you’re trying to kill me!” She gasps for air. “Like my dad did my mom.”
“Maybe I thought about it for a split second.” A hard dose of silence fills the space between us. My soft sigh breaks the stifling stillness. “But nae, yer da didna murder yer mam, nor did he turn the gun on himself. They were murdered, Chevelle.”
Chapter 49
Chevelle
I heara heart-wrenching tone that’s foreign even to me. It’s not until my lungs ache that I realize I’m screaming at the top of my lungs. I’d threatened my husband to leave me, to divorce me. Now, I’m broke down, telling him to take back his lies.
I call him everything under the sun, even a leprechaun. It’s like a possession has seized me. “You’re a lying, cheating bastard. Don’t you ever tell me that. My daddy killed . . .”
My throat is so raw it cracks. In the back of my mind, I consider why I’m fighting the man I love over this? Why would I honestly accept that Dad murdered Momma? Because, if what Leith says is true, it would explain why half my body, my heart and soul, still cling to Dad’s soul, still senses a profound goodness.But that isn’t there, right?Lady told me, over and over. My dad killed my mom because he loved her too much. And my mom cheated, but she never left. Her dependency on my father was her cage.
“He didna do it!” Leith’s voice is hard gravel, weighing heavy on my mind. “Mam told me.”
“I just asked you for a moment, Leith. Get off and leave me alone.”
The full weight of him is off me in a second. I gulp in air. My sore throat is so dry I hack. He stalks into the en suite bathroom then returns with a stainless-steel cup of tap water. Ignoring his attempt, I sit against the wall, my legs pulled up to my chest.
“He loved yer mam just as ye mind it.”
The fabrication flies from my mouth. “I do not remember that.”
“Heh, all ye mind is his love for yer mam. Think back. Did yer da ever raise a hand to hit her? Have a harsh word for yer mam?”
“No. But men are deceptive.” Our eyes link.
Leith’s cerulean eyes glow like burning embers of guilt.
“I’d appreciate time to digest our new normal, Leith.”
My husband settles on the edge of the bed next to me. When I clamber to my feet, his huge hand commands my thigh, clamps down. In a low pitch, he orders, “Chevelle, the longer ye sit and simmer alone, ye’ll be the spiteful wee girl who was denied everything she ever loved—yer family.”
“Let me—”
“Nae!” His savage clinch causes me to pant. “I’d like to say the day I met ye, ya had a new family. Ya had a clan. But ye were too stubborn for them all. I’ll just settle for the truth. For years, I’ve been yer family. Mia’s yer family. Ye’ll not be ruiningusby stewing in resentment.”
By now, my fingernails are clawing Leith’s forearm, counteracting his grip on my femur. “Resentment my ass. I trusted in you!”
“Okay, I’ll begin with Yates.”
A sharp sting streaks across the surface of my leg when Leith lets up. He encircles his arm around my waist, locking us hip to hip. I start to push off the bed but consent with a twisted mouth. Running is useless.