“What’s that about?” Malcolm whispers.
“I have no idea,” I tell him as I watch the men disappear into the room and try to get a glimpse of Maeve. I know she doesn’t want to see me, and I fucking hate it.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Maeve
“Rian! You’re okay!” I say when I shoot off the bed to go see him.
Two men slam the chair he’s attached to down and then leave, quickly closing the door behind them.
My brother’s face is pretty messed up, but he’s alive and can recover from a few superficial wounds. What worries me is that he’s also distraught. His eyes are glassy, and it looks like he’s hurting. Maybe the pain is worse than it looks. He could have some internal injuries.
“What’s wrong?” I ask when I kneel in front of him. “Are you in a lot of pain?”
“We need to leave! We can’t let them…” he chokes up, throwing his head back like he’s trying to find the words.
“Can’t let them what?” I ask. “Did they…are they going to kill you?” I ask as an invisible rope seems to tighten around my throat, right where Hunt’s hands were squeezing before.
“No, not me! Cormac!” Rian shouts.
“Cormac? How did he get involved?”
“One of the bikers, the guy who answered your door, went and worked out a truce with him earlier.”
“Wirth worked out a truce?” I say in surprise.
“Cormac agreed to it, but he’s going to take a bullet from them to even the score! Why the fuck would he do that? Why can’t it be me or anyone else?”
“I-I don’t know,” I reply as I try to figure out what this all means. “So, you’re safe?” I say to be sure I have it right.
“Yes,” he whispers, his head now hanging. “But Cormac…” he chokes up and can’t finish his sentence.
Did Wirth work all of this out to save Rian? That doesn’t make any sense since he’s the one who had him dragged here in zip ties! He was probably just trying to avoid any more bloodshed from his friends, the other bikers. God, I really wish I knew what was going on out there!
“I love him, Maeve.”
It takes several seconds for Rian’s random words to sink in because I’m so lost in my own head.
“Who do you love? Cormac?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, I know you do. He’s been like a father…” I start but Rian shakes his head and interrupts.
“No, Maeve. I’m in love with him.”
I’m in love with him.
Those are the last five words I expected to hear from my brother’s mouth because he’s so young and inexperienced…
“Oh,” I mutter and then slap my palm over my still gaping mouth in understanding. “You and Cormac have…you’re…”
“Gay.” Rian’s eyes are closed tight as if it’s so painful to say the word that he can’t look at me while speaking it. “I’ve never admitted that out loud before,” he adds. When I go quiet, coming to terms with what this all means, and being so caught by surprise, Rian gets nervous and impatient. “Say something, Maeve!”
“Oh, well, ah…” I don’t seem to be able to combine enough words for a coherent thought. After all this time, I can’t believe my brother kept this from me! Did he think I would care? That I wouldn’t love him if he told me his secret? That couldn’t be further from the truth. So, I try to figure out what to say to reassure him. There’s only one thing I can think about. The poor thing. What if it’s one-sided and he gets his heart broken? After all, Cormac is known for being a player, going through women like crazy. Does he go through men the same way?
“Does Cormac…do you think he loves you back?” I ask.
Rian shakes his head. “He’s never said the words back, but I think maybe he does. And now all of this, taking a stupid bullet, could be his way of showing it.”
“Wow. I really wish you would’ve told me before now,” I respond.
Thinking back, this explains a lot about why Rian was so adamant about not leaving town. It wasn’t about loyalty to the Irish or the cause, like our father. He didn’t love the violence. Rian didn’t want to leave the man he loved. Something like that, well, how can I argue with that when it’s so sweet and romantic?
Squeezing Rian’s knee to try and reassure him, I say, “I bet Cormac will be fine. He wouldn’t have agreed to it if he thought it would kill him. He would run. He’s selfish that way, and not stupid…”
“Maybe. Maybe not. Still, it’s too dangerous!”
“Well, there’s nothing the two of us can do about his decision right now,” I remark. “How about we pray for him?”
“Pray? Seriously? Like that will do any fucking good!” he scoffs. Rian has always been skeptical of religion, and I can understand that better now. Why would he want any part of something that condemns him simply for who he loves?
“Praying is doing something when there is nothing else to do. It always makes me feel better, more at peace, if nothing else,” I point out. Closing my eyes and bowing my head with my hand on Rian’s knee, I pray aloud. “Lord, please watch over Cormac and keep him safe tonight and every other day. Help him be the best leader he can be. Please also keep the bikers safe and out of harm’s way. Let all the men find forgiveness in their hearts to replace their anger and need for revenge. In your name we pray, amen.”
“Thanks,” Rian says when I open my eyes again. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before. I just, I wasn’t sure what you would think. I know dad would’ve hated it and probably killed me himself if he had known.”
“Good thing he’s not here, isn’t it?” I reply. “Like he was perfect? You’re a better man than our father, even if you do things I don’t approve of – like starting a war with the
