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‘Logan! Behave. Your family is here.’
‘They’ll be your family too, baby girl.’ I pulled her lips onto mine and swallowed her light moan as she let me taste her.
‘Doctor’s orders. You can’t exert your leg for three more weeks. Don’t rile me up with a promise you can’t keep, Mr. McGowan.’
‘Takes no exertion at all from my leg to make you ride my face, sweet Cherry.’
Her face was crimson when Maeve called us through for dinner.
The following day was quieter in my home as my siblings ventured out together, catching up and entertaining the young ones. Valentina had gone back to her flat to spend some time with Lara, with two of my men in tow.
Nicole sat on the sofa opposite me, fidgeting with the hem of her dress and tears running down her cheeks.
‘Come here,’ I said, holding out an arm and waiting for her.
‘I’m okay. You don’t have too--‘
‘Get your ass over here and let me hug you.’
She sat awkwardly beside me as I wrapped an arm around her shoulder, letting her cry while I waited. Eventually, her tears dried and only a few sniffles remained.
‘I may not be your husband, but I can still be your friend.’
‘You don’t have to do that.’
‘I want to. All that shit, none of it was your fault. You were just a kid,’ I said as she pulled herself a little away from me and turned to look at my face.
‘I know he was wrong, and that he hurt me, but I feel horrible for shooting him.’
‘The first kill is always the hardest, even more so if it’s someone you loved. Feel the feelings, and when you’re ready, let them go. You’ll get past this. You’ll find someone who truly deserves you and can love you without an ulterior motive.’
‘Like you love Valentina?’
‘Yes. And I’m sorry for falling for her behind your back. She swept me off my feet.’
‘And you don’t care about the camming?’ Nicole dabbed at her face with a tissue that she pulled from her pocket.
‘I don’t. I want her to be happy, and she enjoys it. Plus, I find other men wanting her kind of hot.’
‘You two really are made for each other.’ A small smile crossed her face before her eyes dropped back into her lap. ‘I got rid of the baby. I had to. I couldn’t bring up a child knowing it would always be his, and that I would have been the person who killed their father.’
‘I get it.’
‘It was still really early.’
‘It doesn’t mean it hurts any less. You can mourn if you need to.’ She reached for my hand and squeezed it as I spoke.
‘Your sister, Maeve, has actually been an enormous help. She’s helping me restructure my dad’s business to my liking now, so I don’t meet resistance later. It’s been a rollercoaster.’
‘You’re going to be great, Nicole. You are strong, and fierce and will be a great leader. Don’t let anyone, or anything, make you doubt it. You did what needed to be done, and you’ll be stronger for it one day.’
‘Valentina’s a lucky girl. I didn’t want you like that, but I meant it when I said that I saw your potential. My father was more annoyed about losing you than Hugh.’
‘I think that may have had more to do with Hugh than with me.’
I couldn’t help but wonder if Tony had treated Hugh more like a son than a burden, whether he would have turned out so selfish and mixed-up.
‘Stay in touch,’ I said when Nicole stood to leave a few minutes later. ‘You’re always welcome here.’
