19

Gasping for breath, I awoke from a nightmare, drenched in sweat, and immediately clutched my rapidly beating heart.

The room was flooded with sunlight and I was really glad I couldn't remember my dream, when the reality seemed a lot worse.

Nero lifted his head slightly and looked at me somewhat thoughtfully, whereupon I immediately kissed his forehead and then slowly rose from the warm bed.

Still confused about the whole mess, I dropped my head in my hands and immediately memories flooded my mind again...

The memory of my unbearable fear, of my panic screams and my countless tears. Again I saw him right in front of me and although it was light outside I would probably never dare to even look out of this window again.

Just the thought of it made me shudder and I shook myself briefly to run to the bathroom immediately.

I turned on the hot water, ripped off my sweaty and blood-soaked clothes and then climbed into the cabin to prepare myself under the pounding heat for the day and the questions that awaited me.

My head kept playing scenes in my mind that I tried with all my might to block out, but after I just couldn't do it anymore and I could literally feel the fear of the previous night trying to take hold of me again, I turned off the tap and hurriedly dried myself off and then hurriedly got dressed.

Black leggings, a yellow T-shirt that was much too big, and so I ran down the stairs with wet hair and quick steps.

Arriving in the living room, Senan and Rian were standing at the table, the latter of whom immediately came towards me and looking into his eyes, I suddenly remembered that I had hit him.

Did he take offense at me?

"I'm so sorry," he breathed as he stopped right in front of me, taking my hands in his. "I know an apology won't make up for anything you've been through, but I promise it won't happen again."

He sounded sincere, but he knew, as well as I did, that he couldn't promise anything like that. He probably did it anyway to give me at least a small sense of security, and grateful for that, I nodded and wrapped my arms around his broad body to snuggle up against him.

"And I'm sorry I smacked you," I whispered into his black shirt and then inhaled his scent deeply, which instantly calmed me a little.

"That was probably the least," he said calmly, gently stroking my back until the patio door opened and I peeked past him curiously.

"Senan, come!" Odran called his little brother, who then followed him outside. Only now, looking outside, did I notice the many armed men running around like startled chickens.

They were probably supposed to keep us safe, but they couldn't. Because I realized that I was probably being watched for days and no one had noticed... Except for myself and I didn't dare tell anyone about it....

"Sit down," Rian snapped me out of my thoughts and led me by the hand to the dining table, where I sat down exhausted on one of the chairs and watched him disappear to the kitchen and come back with a still-steaming mug.

He placed the fragrant coffee on the table right in front of me and I immediately recognized the two pistols behind the cup, which were still lying there and made me hold my breath just by looking at them.

"Now tell me exactly what happened. Every little detail can be extremely important," Rian said calmly and sat down on the chair right in front of me to take my hands in his again.

I didn't even know where to start, so I started by saying that I felt watched a few days ago, and he suddenly accused me of not telling him straight away.

"I was afraid you would see me as weak! Besides, I wasn't even sure if all of this was real or just pranks from my stressed-out mind!" I defended myself and immediately he got up and paced back and forth in front of me angrily.

"And what was yesterday?" he then wanted to know and looked at me intently.

"I saw someone from my window and I wanted to tell you about it, but no one was listening to me!" I confronted him with the truth to make him realize that he really had made a mistake.

"I apologized," he said, perfectly composed, as if that meant everything was forgotten, and then sat back down in the chair in front of me. "What happened then?"

"One of the guards escorted me downstairs, just like Nero, but there was no one there. Again I questioned my sanity and took a few steps through the sand until I heard a noise and Nero barked."

Rian listened carefully to me, nodding again and again and in places where I could hardly speak, as tears filled my eyes again, he gently stroked my hands, but it didn't do me any good.

The fear stayed deep within me.

Then I told him about the weird situation with the finger gun, and he seemed absent-minded for a moment and then asked me to describe the guy.

How would you describe someone who only wore black clothes at night?

"He looked dark," I said with a shrug and he raised an eyebrow questioningly.

"So an African American?"

"No!" I immediately shook my head, but then it occurred to me that he could have been one after all. I hadn't seen a piece of his skin. "Well, I don't know, but by dark I mean he was dressed in all black and also had a mask on."

"Size?"

Rian stood up, took a piece of paper from the table and, pen in hand, looked at me expectantly.

"Did you actually hear me??? It was pitch dark!"

"You must have recognized whether it was a giant or a dwarf!"

"Had it been a dwarf, I probably wouldn't have been scared!!"

I got up and glared at him while he too seemed annoyed at my snotty answers.

"Even a dwarf is dangerous as long as he has a weapon in his hand," he said in his cold voice and looked outside.

I took a deep breath and wanted to end this topic quickly, so I tried to remember as best I could.

"War was tall, about the same as Senan but wider than him. He kept tilting his head in a weird way when he looked at me," I explained and Rian then looked at me.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Well, like a zombie who always swings their heads to their shoulders like that."

I imitated this movement as best as I could and the way Rian was looking at me suddenly made me laugh so hard that he just widened his eyes.

I was probably still in shock.

***

As I continued to get carried away by my hysterical fit of laughter, Rian stood up with a worried look on his face and then slowly walked towards me to enclose me tightly in his arms.

His so familiar smell enveloped me and the louder I laughed, the tighter he held me against his strong chest until my laughter turned into a bitter cry and I could feel the warm tears running down my cheeks.

"You were right," I sobbed into his shirt, cupping my hands in front of my face. "I am naive and weak and bring you only problems."

Ashamed, I tried to free myself from him, but he wouldn't let me. With little strength, he took my hands from my face and looked deep into my eyes, causing me to immediately gasp and lose myself again in the beautiful color of his irises.

Such a mixture that in its uniqueness looked like the perfect storm of a sunny day.

"Naive, maybe," he said calmly, carefully wiping my tears from my cheeks. "But certainly not weak."

He whispered those words straight into my face so I could feel his breath on my skin and I gaped at him with my mouth slightly open, trying hard to figure out if he really meant what he was saying. "You didn't leave Nero alone, Keeva. Do you know how many people wouldn't have cared? But you didn't and I can only imagine what you would do for the people you love with all your heart."

Without saying anything else, I clung to his shirt and looked up at him longingly, causing him to lean down to kiss my lips so tenderly that I sighed softly with happiness.

"You have no idea what I'm going to do with this guy," he said in a menacing voice and pulled me even closer by my waist to conquer my mouth with his tongue so stormy that my entire body was in turmoil got.

My stomach was tingling like crazy and I was so infinitely grateful to him that with his demanding nature he managed to banish these terrible memories, at least for a short time.

A loud clearing of his throat that suddenly sounded behind him made him reluctantly let go of me and when he then turned around and I also saw Cathan standing there in the front door, Rian immediately let go of my hand and ran a few steps towards his father, who was staring at me maliciously to.

"Nice to see how you keep control of everything," his father just said coldly, raising his eyebrow while his folded arms showed only too clearly how averse he was to me.

"Don't question me in front of my wife," Rian said menacingly, and in a flash I stared at Cathan's hands sticking out from under his gray suit jacket. I didn't see any hurt, but the way he was behaving towards me, I really would have believed him capable of doing it.

"Remember, it's only a marriage for purpose," his father hissed, and just as Rian was about to give him something back and I could almost see him shaking with anger, I quickly ran between the two.

I wanted to prevent another family quarrel caused by me, but apparently it was too late for that again.

RIAN POV

If he weren't my father, by God, I really wouldn't have been able to control myself.

I had really never gone through so many emotions as the last 24 hours!

I felt pure hatred towards myself for not listening to her. Felt sad that her normally cheerful eyes had changed. Suddenly her irises also showed fear, fear and despair... I hated it!

Plus this gnawing anger at not having found the slightest clue as to who this guy was. The gun showed no marks and even on the beach we found absolutely nothing!

If I caught him, he would be begging for God's mercy!

On top of all these swirling emotions, which I didn't show outwardly because I didn't want to upset Keeva any more, my father now came along and felt like he had to show off!

"Stop it right now!" Keeva's loud voice snapped me out of my thoughts and then, amazed at her courage, I watched as she stepped between us and gave us both a warning look.

This woman ... I really couldn't find any more description for what she triggered in me with her eyes alone.

"I've had enough! I'm up to my neck and it's really scary! After all, I come from one of the poorest areas of Dublin and I've seen enough! But what I haven't experienced is a family treating each other, as if they were the greatest enemy!"

Her desperation could hardly be ignored and at that moment I didn't even dare to move. A quick glance at my father showed me that even he, who didn't fear the devil, put up with her yelling at him.

"You were wrong not to listen to me, but the matter is forgotten and there is no need to discuss it anymore," she turned to me, taking a deep breath.

"And to them," she then confronted Cathan, which made me hold my breath and only expect that my father would hit the ceiling and I would have to throw myself in between. "Rian certainly has everything under control! If those stupid security guards prefer to play Candy Crush instead of looking around, that's no one's fault! Maybe they should collect their cell phones before they go on duty or something!"

Cathan gave me a cursory glance while Keeva continued to complain about the security guards, and while he raised an eyebrow, the corners of his mouth suddenly twitched.

Was he impressed? That couldn't possibly be possible...

"And one more thing! Yes, what we have is a sham marriage, but since I still don't tolerate any other women at his side and sometimes want affection, it's perfectly legitimate that I demand this tenderness!"

She snorted and gave me a quick look before running to the kitchen and getting several mugs from the cupboard.

Cathan and I still stood in silence until he came close to my side to whisper something in my ear.

"When the devil gets stuck, he sends a woman."

What was that supposed to tell me now?