Dermot stepped forward, grabbing his throat as I heard the click of a gun, which Dermot pressed against his abdomen. My chest tightened and my breathing went fast, both worried and fascinated about what would happen. I couldn’t help but hate this man for hurting Dermot. I also wasn’t positive if I was ready to analyze the part of me that was excited to see him suffer.
“I would suggest you leave, Patrick.” King’s voice was smooth and dangerous. “Now.”
Dermot let go of his neck and the man stumbled, his breathing rough as he shot a hateful look, before practically sprinting from the courtyard. I swallowed, not liking the tension in Dermot’s back as I tapped King’s grip on me. He released me almost immediately, and I crossed the space and wrapped my arms around Dermot once again, a shudder seeming to run through him.
I didn’t hold back, trying to infuse affection and love into the grip I had on him. I didn’t worry about being rejected or him pushing me away. I knew he wouldn’t, and when he turned towards me and wrapped me up further, his nose pressing into my hair, I knew I was right. I didn’t think twice as he lifted me up, my butt on his crossed forearms as he carried me inside, his chest letting out a low rumble.
I couldn’t tell you where King had gone or where the others were. None of that mattered right now. I was trying to be an emotional space heater for Dermot and warm him up completely.
“Dermot,” King called out.
Dermot paused, looking back at him silently.
“I told our teams I want McCaffrey in the basement by tonight.”
Dermot finally let out a soft, dark chuckle. “I’ll be there.”
McCaffrey?
“Like Ian McCaffrey?” I asked softly. “You’re bringing him here?”
I couldn’t lie, panic surged through me at that, and as if knowing, Dermot let me slide down his body and walked me back against one of the stone walls near the stairwell.
He grabbed my waist and spoke softly with a dangerous heat. “To kill him, Dahlia. We are bringing him here to kill him.”
“Oh,” I whispered.
“Afraid?” he asked, looking resigned to my reaction.
Was I? I shook my head. “I’m more afraid of being in the same house as him, not the other part.”
It was true. I hadn’t known for sure what King and them had been talking about the night of Ian attacking me, but I was piecing together that they were supposed to have him ‘taken care of.’ So where was he now? I didn’t like that he was out there. I shouldn’t have supported their plan… but I wanted it handled. I wanted him gone.
I blinked, realizing it was the first time I had actively wanted someone dead.
Was I changing? What was happening to me? Was it a bad thing?
“Don’t overthink it,” Dermot warned softly.
“I wasn’t overthinking it for the reason you would assume,” I murmured, my brow dipping in confusion.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean that I think… IwantIan dead.”