A Terrible Misunderstanding (A New Adventure Begins - Star Elite 6)

been, and still is, a very sound and very happy union.”

He sighed because his words did nothing to ease Clara’s misery.

“Niall knows he can marry. He just won’t.”

Atticus sighed because he knew then that Niall most probably wouldn’t be back. Words failed him. He had no idea what to do in this situation because while this did involve an operative of the Star Elite, it was also a private matter and one that involved his daughter.

“All I can do is get on with my life. I am sure it will all be fine in the end.” She offered her father a smile, but it went nowhere near her eyes.

Clara was miserable, and Atticus knew it.

Niall was just as miserable, and his friends knew it.

Two weeks later, cold, tired, and hungry, Niall slammed into a new safe house and glared accusingly at his colleagues.

“I don’t want to do anything that would risk your ire, Niall, but what do you plan to do about our dear captive? He cannot stay with the local lads much longer. Richard has said he is sick of nursing him.”

“I don’t give a damn if you bury him up to his neck in the nearest dung heap. Just get rid of him. No. Wait. I will do it,” Niall snarled.

He snapped on his gloves and turned to the door.

“I thought you said you were never going back to Serpentine,” Will called after him.

“I have a job to do.”

“Don’t we all,” Rhys growled.

Niall slammed to a stop and turned to glare at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means that we are dealing with enough right now without having to tiptoe around here in case you beat any of us up,” Rhys snapped. “Why don’t you go and see the damned chit and apologise for being a grumpy bastard and then we can all get on with our lives?”

“What in the Hell would you know about it?” Niall snarled.

“I know that you haven’t been the same since you clapped eyes on her. I know that every time you were supposed to save her you had her in your arms and had to reassure her with a kiss. Moreover, you have taken it upon yourself to demand that Morgan keep watch over her just so he can report everything she does to you. Don’t you think that is a little – intrusive.”

Tension within the room increased tenfold.

“I have done no such thing. While Smidgley is on the loose, Clara Potter has to be considered still in danger,” Niall argued. “I have just made sure she is safe. It is our job, you know.”

“Like kissing her was,” Will snorted.

“It was a stupid mistake and I apologised for it. There is no connection between me and Clara Potter. There never has been, never will be. Get used to it, gentleman. I don’t care what the chit gets up to, she is nothing to do with me.”

With that, Niall slammed out of the safe house and marched toward his horse. He was on his way to Serpentine before he stopped to think about what he was doing. It was half- way there that Will, Harry, and Phillip caught up with him.

“Get lost,” Niall growled when they pulled their horses up beside him. “I can deal with Boyle on my own.”

“You should know that his cousin has been relieved of his position now,” Rhys informed him casually.

“Good.”

“I think you had better meet with Atticus. He has been asking what happened to Erasmus and might want to be the one to issue final warnings to the man before you release him. Talk to the boss before you get relieved of your position as well,” Harry suggested.

“Marriage isn’t an enemy, you know,” Rhys said several miles later. “It can make people quite happy.”

“I am not the marrying kind.”

“You are not the single kind either,” Harry snorted. “Face it, you are bloody miserable.”