Redeem Me (Beckett Brothers #2)

30. Caelon

Chapter Thirty

CAELON

Letting slip to Ivy that I plan to murder my enemies slowly and painfully doesn’t seem to have put her off. She’s let me creep into her bed every night this week.

Maybe she assumed it was the drink talking. Sure, it may have loosened my lips but my plans are cemented like concrete.

The second we have the confirmation that the O’Connors were involved in Isabella’s death, Killian’s men plan to isolate Jack and Declan while I personally deliver revenge. I’d have done it already, but Killian insists we wait until we have proof.

Of all my brothers, Killian says the least, but when it comes to experience of war, he has the most. He’s spent years fighting someone else’s battles serving our country. It changed him. He projects an air of disinterest, but nothing escapes his attention. He has a frightening, violent streak, tempered slightly by a deep sense of morality. I’d bet there isn’t a shrink in the world who could work that fucker out.

‘Where are we going?’ Ivy asks, eagerly peering out of the helicopter window as we speed over lush mountains and picturesque lakes. The excitement in her tone is infectious.

She’s wearing one of those goddamn summer dresses. It’s taken all my willpower not to lift it up round her waist and see what she’s wearing underneath, but I’d hate to distract the pilot.

‘You’ll find out in about ten minutes.’ The kids are with Jocelyn this weekend, and while I love shacking up for marathon sex sessions with Ivy, I’m aware I haven’t had the chance to take her out properly. She deserves better. She deserves to be wined and dined and spoiled like a princess. While I’m not comfortable dating, I am comfortable with Ivy. Given we’ve been living together for weeks, and shared both deadly secrets and decadent secretions, we’ve got to know each other pretty damn well, skipping over dating milestones in a short space of time.

Now, I finally have the chance to take her out, I won’t risk us getting papped again. I have enough enemies as it is, without adding Dermot to the list.

Rian is reopening the Luxor Lounge next week and my best friend is like a dog with two dicks. Obviously, I have to attend the grand opening night to support my little brother, though the prospect of being surrounded by naked women doesn’t do nearly as much for me as being around his little sister.

The Donegal mountains crest on the horizon, rugged green caps piercing the clear blue skies.

‘I’ve never been to Donegal before.’ Ivy blows out a breath as she presses her nose against the glass like a child.

‘We have a habit of not making the most of what’s right in front of us.’ I shrug.

‘Is that an innuendo, Tortured?’ Ivy spins to face me. My eyes fall to the freckles dusting her cheekbones .

‘Take it any way you like.’ I press a kiss to her temple, breathing in the scent of her familiar shampoo.

‘Oh, I intend to,’ she chuckles. ‘I’ve never been flown away for a dirty weekend before.’

If I could, I’d whisk her away every weekend. I seriously need to get a new nanny. Not because I don’t like this one, but because I need someone to take care of my children so I can monopolise her attention.

Eight minutes later, we land on a small circular helipad at a five-star lakeside hotel I’ve recently bought. The previous owners went bust and I snapped it up to add to the Beckett Bliss range. The location is priceless, but the building is majestic, too. I’ve had a construction crew working twenty-four-seven to get it ready for its reopening next month, but for this weekend, it’s just Ivy and me, and a handful of staff.

‘Wow,’ she gasps, as an impeccably dressed porter greets us.

‘Mr Beckett, welcome.’ He nods and offers a welcoming smile.

I glance up at the building. It looks a hell of a lot better than the last time I was here. ‘This is Ivy.’

I don’t introduce her as my girlfriend. One word doesn’t do justice to describe what she is to me. And we’ve already established she’s not a girl; she’s all woman.

My woman.

I thought the attraction between us might fizzle, crash, and burn, but the fire between us rages stronger with every passing day. It’s unsettling, but undeniable. No matter how many times I have her, I crave my next hit like an addict.

So, what does that mean for the future?

Until I met Ivy, my future involved nothing but wreaking revenge on the O’Connors and raising my children.

Ivy is my twinkling glimmer of hope at the end of a long and dark, suffocating tunnel. For the first time in a long time, I’m wondering what my life might look like after I’ve dealt with the O’Connors. I’m finally considering the possibility that I may actually have a life afterwards, even if I don’t deserve one. Which is in equal parts enthralling and terrifying.

I shut my eyes, forcing away thoughts of anything other than the present.

‘This is unbelievable,’ Ivy gushes, rushing up the red-carpeted steps to explore, her eyes wide with wonder. ‘Don’t tell me you own this place as well?’

‘Yep.’ I follow her inside, my soles clicking over the black-and-white marble flooring. A brilliant white grand piano takes pride of place in a huge hallway. Gilded landscapes of the Donegal scenery line the walls. An impressive, glistening crystal chandelier hangs from the centre of the room, sending tiny rainbows in every direction.

Ivy runs a finger over the top of the piano and cocks her head. ‘Where is everybody?’

‘It’s just you and me, Tranquil.’ I wink. ‘I figured we’ve given the staff enough to talk about for a while.’

‘I am “the staff.” Did you forget?’ She winks back and takes a seat at the keyboard, tapping out what I’ve come to recognise as another damn Taylor Swift tune.

‘Not this weekend, you’re not.’ I hover beside her, watching her slim fingers fly over the keys. ‘This weekend, you’re the queen of this castle and you know what queens do, right?’

Her fingers slow to a stop. ‘They wear crowns?’

‘They rule.’ She’s spent weeks taking orders from two four-foot-tall dictators. It’s time she gave a few orders herself. ‘Whatever you want, just say. Whatever you need, I’ll make sure you get it. If you want to stay in the castle for the next two nights and not leave, we can. If you want to skinny-dip in the lake or climb the mountain, we can. This weekend is all about you.’

Her tongue darts out to wet her lower lip and I watch her throat as she swallows her surprise. ‘Why?’

‘Because you give so much of yourself to me and my kids every day, I want to do something for you.’

Her hands fall from the piano to her lap. ‘Every time you touch me, you do something for me. You spend every free minute giving me pleasure. You don’t need to do this as well.’ Her bright eyes glisten. ‘You know, for a man who claims not to do romance, this is pretty romantic.’

‘I want to spend time with you without everyone watching.’

Ivy shrugs. ‘It’s kind of weird at home, isn’t it? Like we’re a cross between Love Island and Big Brother.’

‘Which is why I’ve requested different staff, so you wouldn’t feel like the nanny.’

‘Like I said, it’s romantic.’ Her lips twist like she’s suppressing a smirk. I pause, waiting for whatever line she’s about to deliver. I know her well enough to know one is coming. ‘Let’s hope you can keep all the balls in the air.’

‘Why?’

‘I don’t do romance, but I will make you come hard enough to see stars…’ She tosses my line back at me.

‘Oh, sweetheart, leave the balls to me.’ I roll up the sleeves of my shirt. ‘Get up on that piano now.’

‘What?’ Her eyebrows rocket upwards.

‘Get up on the piano right now. You have a date with my tongue and some stars.’

She scans the room. ‘What if someone sees us?’

‘If they don’t see us, they’ll definitely hear us. Now get on the fucking piano. Or do I have to tie you to it?’