"Belle!" I turn at the sound of my name being called. Killian is running to catch up to me. His dark hair is a mess, and I want to run my hands through it. "Belle, wait!" I love the sound of my name falling from his full lips.
"Killian? What are you doing here?" I ask, wiping the tears off my face.
"I can't let you leave. I love you. Please don't go!" The sadness on his face is killing me. He loves me? My heart soars with his words.
"Killian…”
“I’ve been a fool, but my eyes are wide open now, and I know what you mean to me. If you give me a chance, I will never let you go. I will never stop trying to earn your love. Please, Belle,” he says stepping up next to me. “Don’t leave me.”
“Killian—”
“Give me a chance to make everything up to you, Belle. Give me a chance. I’m not letting you get rid of me.”
“Killian, stop.”
“Belle, I miss my wife. I love you. You complete me…”
“Hush,” I cry. “You had me at hello.”
I run into his arms. He wraps me in a tight hug, his strong arms pulling me into him. Then, he presses his lips to mine, and my heart is full. I lose myself in his kiss, in the way he’s holding me against his body—so tightly that I can barely breathe. But that’s okay. I don’t need air. I don’t need anything else in the world because I have Killian’s love.
I want to tell him everything he means to me, but before I can, a strong hand rips him away. I stand there, suddenly alone. Police officers surround Killian and place him under arrest.
“Wait, what are you doing?” There's something wild, a wave of anger I've never seen marring his chiseled face.
"Sir, you need to stop resisting. You're being arrested for murder." His eyes catch mine, and the confusion there feels like a knife to my gut. They burn into me like he knows my deep dark secret instantly.
"Did you turn me in?" he yells, pulling away from the struggling officers.
"I had to. It was the right thing to do. I… I'm so sorry." I stand there feeling so raw and exposed.
"Belle! Why?"
I try to explain myself, tears running down my face again. My whole body is shaking, feeling so cold that it’s seeping into my bones in a way that I know I’ll never be warm again. I had to turn him in. I had to! I wrap my arms around myself as I watch his anger turn to fury. Even in all my dad's fits of rage, I'd never seen anyone look so angry.
"I'm so sorry, Killian. I love you…I do…."
All at once, his handcuffs disappear, and he pulls a gun out of the holster of the officer standing next to him. Time seems to slow down around me as he points it at me. I start to scream out and watch in horror as the muzzle flashes. The bullet whizzes through the air toward me. Just as it’s about to hit my chest, I squeeze my eyes shut not wanting my last moment to be of Killian staring at me with hate.
I wake up, screaming loudly. My heart is pounding against my chest, my face covered in tears. I snatch the blanket off the floor, wrapping it around my body, feeling as if I will never feel warm again. I look around to make sure I'm alone—my pulse echoing in my ears. I try to get control of my breathing, hiccuping in my fear. I've never been so affected by a dream in my life.
Hesitantly, I walk to the front door, making sure it's locked. What will happen if Killian finds out that I was at his work that night? I’m sure his secretary will mention it. Even if I get lucky and she doesn’t, what happens when he discovers my father double crossed him?
CHAPTER 14
BONES
Orla's nephews drag in Killian, and for a second, I wonder if they'd botched the plan already by killing him. His limp body hangs between them as they carry him by his arms and legs. This man's life is about to be turned sideways all because Orla's out for his blood. It’s almost enough to make me feel sorry for Donovan. Being so wrapped up in Orla, there’s no way he would think to refuse, especially with the big payday to seal the deal. He’s just watching everything with so much fucking pride he reeks of it. He has no idea that Orla and her nephews are playing him for a patsy.
"Is he dead?" I ask, my tone coming out accusatory. They look at me like I've lost my mind.
"No," the taller one says, dropping him down on the floor. Killian doesn't even stir. "He’s just out of it. With any luck, he'll come around about the time the cops show up," he laughs. I really hate his laugh. The fuck-head is a pretty boy in a suit—the type I want to knock down just for the hell of it. My club would chew him up and spit him out before he even knew what hit him.