Ravenous Kingpin (Kingpins of the Syndicate #4)

38. Emory

CHAPTER 38

Emory

A ll my reasons for hiding the existence of our daughter from Killian vanished. There were still so many things we had to discuss, but none of them mattered as much as our child.

“Ready to go meet our daughter?” he rasped, the light in his blue eyes locked on me with so much love that it made me dizzy.

“Yes, but first…” He cocked his brow, waiting. I took a deep breath and swept my tongue over my bottom lip before finding the courage to continue, “I want to say… I love you, Killian.” His tall frame stood still, almost as if he’d stopped breathing. “Six years ago, I was infatuated with you. But today… I love you so much that it hurts to breathe. I’ve never wanted anyone else. You… You and the daughter you gave me… That’s all I ever wanted.”

He stared at me in bewilderment and doubt started to creep in. Maybe that was too much? My stomach churned as I started to question my honesty. Maybe he?—

But before I could even finish the thought, he took my mouth for a rough kiss, stealing my breath.

“You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this. For you,” he murmured against my lips. Emotions clogged my throat and this time I didn’t bother hiding my vulnerability from him. “Once I discovered you were alive, I was determined to pursue you for as long as it took until you loved me as much as I loved you. And when I found you, I was determined to show you what our life could look like.”

“And my two-year clause?”

He smiled, suddenly looking younger. “There’ll never be any short-term clause when it comes to you. There’s only one way I’m ever leaving you, and that’s in a coffin.”

“Were you lying?” I feigned a gasp, but happy tears trailed down my cheek.

“The day I married you, I promised to love you and have you till death do us part, and I intend to keep that promise. I’ll be damned to ever let you go.”

My throat closed. “So, together forever?”

He caressed my hair gently.

“Forever.” I let my tears fall freely. I had wanted this—my own happily-ever-after—for so long, but deep down, I was certain my time would never come. Yet, here it was, staring at me with so much love. “Now, let’s go meet our daughter.”

“You haven’t met her?”

He took my hand and kissed my palm. “No, I’ve been with you while Basilio stayed with her, reading to her and waiting for her to wake up.”

I pulled him down, wrapping my arms around his neck. “In sickness or in health, I’m yours. I love you, Killian.”

I was his; he was mine. And nobody would ever tear us apart.

My husband adjusted the hospital bed into a makeshift chair of sorts and pushed me over to the next room while I stared at the wall that separated me from her.

My reason for being. The best gift given and taken from me, only to finally be returned to me.

My husband moved the curtain to the side and I found my brother sitting there, holding Amara’s—my daughter’s—hand, and reading from a fairy-tale book. She sat awake, her deep blue eyes locked on him, holding on to his every word, and memories of my own childhood when he used to read to me swarmed in.

History had a funny way of repeating itself, although I hoped certain cycles would end.

Starting today. Starting with our generation.

“Hello.” Amara’s soft greeting demanded attention, and I locked eyes with a set that was identical to Killian’s. “Who are you?”

I was surprised at how well she spoke English. Did I have Liana to thank for that?

A curious gleam in Amara’s eyes waited for answers and my gaze shifted to my husband’s. I had worked up so many scenarios over the years, but this was never one of them.

A tremor gripped my fingers while I studied her frail frame and short hair. I didn’t know what had happened to her over the years or what she’d had to endure, but I knew that I would kill to protect her.

Her lips parted, and her next words sent shockwaves rolling through me.

“Are you my real mommy and daddy?” A sharp inhale of breath cut through the air. Mine. Killian’s. I could feel her gaze digging into my soul, seeing more than any five-year-old should. “Why aren’t you saying anything? Is my English bad? Mother Liana said it was important for me to speak it.” She paused for a moment, then looked scared. “Or do you not like me?”

I blinked, not bothering to wipe the teardrop that hit my cheek, because soon many more followed.

“Of course we like you, Amara.” Killian spoke up first, his voice filled with emotion while endless chaos swept through me, rattling my teeth. “We… We love you and are so happy to meet you. And your English is perfect.”

She continued to watch us suspiciously, her eyes too calculative for a girl her age. “And you?”

“So happy,” I croaked, giving her a wobbly smile. “I have… I’ve wanted to meet you for so long.”

“Then why didn’t you?”

Somehow her directness didn’t surprise me. After all, she was Killian’s child.

“Because I didn’t know where you were,” I admitted softly. “But there wasn’t a day that went by that I didn’t search for you.” Killian maneuvered my bed next to her so Amara and I faced each other. “I swear, baby, I… I wish?—”

My voice cracked and she said, “Mother Liana told me about you.” I bit my bottom lip to stop it from trembling and Amara’s small hand pulled out of Basilio’s and reached for mine. “She saved me, and she loved me.”

Maybe Liana Volkov wasn’t the villain. Maybe I owed her more than I would ever know or understand. So many maybes to ponder.

“And for that I’ll forever be grateful to her,” I whispered.

Basilio stood up and pressed a kiss to my cheek. “Welcome back, sis. I’ll talk to you later. Yeah?”

I nodded, and without another word, he walked out of the room, letting us have our family reunion in private.

“Did you kill her?” our daughter asked once Basilio disappeared. “Did you kill Mother Liana?”

I blinked, my eyes darting to Killian who answered on my behalf: “No. She was gone before we arrived.”

“Don’t kill her,” she said, her voice unwavering as she stared at us. “I love her. She took care of me when I was sick.”

I should have been there for her , my mind screamed. I should have taken care of her, not someone else.

“I’m grateful to her for it,” I rasped. “But she should have told me. She knew I was looking for you.”

Her reply surprised us all. “She was scared.”

My brows furrowed. “Of what?”

“Being alone.” Her words stole a breath of air from my lungs, and suddenly I pitied Liana Volkov. I knew what it meant to be alone, but I couldn’t forgive her for keeping my child from me. “Please don’t hurt her,” Amara whispered, folding her hands together.

“I promise you, we will not kill her,” Killian vowed, keeping his voice low. “She kept you safe, and for that we owe her more than we’ll ever be able to repay.”

That seemed to satisfy our daughter because she nodded.

“She said one day you’d probably find me, and if you didn’t, then she’d tell me all about you when I was ready.”

“How long have you been with her?” I asked her.

She shrugged.

“For as long as I remember. She was always with me.” Then her eyes darted between Killian and me before adding, “But I’m with you now.”

And life would never be the same.