Adam

“I’m gonna get into an accident.”

“Then keep your eyes on the road,” Anna said, and then laughed at me.

I gripped the steering wheel of my Porsche and scowled at her. “Why the hell did you wear a skirt with those boots? All I can think about is sliding my hand up beneath that thin material and pressing my fingers—”

“You better keep that hand of yours on the stick shift.” She faked a pout.

“Fine.” I wet my lips, stealing a glimpse of her out of the corner of my eye. “But I need to relax a bit before we get to Galway. I was hoping later tonight we could do something involving you wearing nothing more than your cowboy boots.”

“As much as I’d like to spend every waking moment beneath the sheets with you—”

“Or in the shower. Or on the counter. Or . . .” I flashed her a grin, and my cock stiffened as I remembered all the places we’d made love in the last week.

I still couldn’t believe it had been only a week since I fought Frankie. Donovan was MIA, and the whole thing was starting to feel like a dream. Donovan was either hiding somewhere outside of Ireland, or someone had put him beneath the ground. To be honest, I didn’t give a feck. As long as he was gone from my life he couldn’t hurt Anna or the kids.

“I heard Galway’s a charming place. Maybe we can have a fun getaway here some time, but I’m thinking tonight won’t be the most romantic of evenings.”

She had a point, but I wasn’t in the mood to face the reality of what I was about to do. Not yet, at least.

My pulse quickened as her bright green eyes roped me in, which wasn’t the best idea as I was beginning to drift into oncoming traffic.

“Are you sure this is what you want? I know I suggested it, but—”

“You’re right about going. It’s time I do this.” I scratched at the stubble on my jaw and continued to drive. Anna leaned back and shut her eyes, and I allowed the silence to eat the air between us until the GPS alerted me that I’d arrived at my destination. “What’s this?” I slowed, looking at the sign on the building before us. It read “MMA Training Center.”

“Why would Owen live above a gym? It can’t be easy for him to be around fighting,” Anna commented as she stared at the building.

“Damn. I don’t know.” I had a bad feeling in my gut, and I was wondering if maybe I shouldn’t get out of the car.

I hadn’t even heard her exit the Porsche; I must’ve been in a fog because she was now standing outside my door. “Come on,” she said through the window, tapping on it with her fist.

I raised my hands in submission. “Okay,” I mouthed.

As she secured the straps of her long coat, which covered the bare skin of her legs just above her boots, I noticed that she was shaking. I didn’t think it was from the cold. “Are you okay?”

“I think so.” I could see the movement in her throat as she swallowed. “You think the place is open on a Saturday? Only two cars in the parking lot.”

“We’ll see.” We walked to the building and a slow roll of fear moved through me. Would I be able to face him again? Could I look him in the eyes in a wheelchair, knowing I’d put him there?

“I don’t know if I can do this.” My hand hovered in front of the door.

Anna’s fingers rested on my forearm. “You’re the strongest man I know, Adam. So yes, you can do this.”

Her hand moved down my arm and covered mine as I gripped the door handle now. We opened it together and then I took a step back, allowing her entrance first.

“Guess it’s open,” she said as she went in.

I nodded and followed after her. The bright lights of the gym had me squinting, and I looked around, only finding two people sparring on a mat off to my right.

Then I saw him.

“What—?” My heart was about to obliterate my insides as I stood stupidly, gawking at Owen as he moved toward us. He looked as shocked as me. His eyes round. His mouth parted. “That’s—that’s him.”

“Oh my God,” she whispered.

“Adam McGregor?” Owen looked the same as he had five years ago. Except this time, he wasn’t lying in a hospital bed. This time, he was standing right in front of me.

It didn’t make any bleeding sense.

“You’re walking.” I took a step back, needing more space to process what I was seeing.

“I’d hope so, but what the hell are ya doing here?” Owen folded his arms and looked at Anna then back at me.

I blinked a few times. “I’m a bit out of sorts right now,” I finally said.

“Do you want to sit?” Instead of waiting for my response, since apparently, I was unable to formulate sentences, Owen waved to the seats outside one of the room’s many fighting rings. He took two big strides and pulled a chair around for Anna.

Anna sat and then looked up at me. “Sit, Adam.”

I scratched the back of my head and finally sank into the black folding chair. “You’re supposed to be paralyzed.” I raised a fist to my mouth, tapping at my lips. “I came here to apologize like I should have done five years ago, and—wow.” I was going to lose my damn mind right now.

Owen straddled a chair and nodded. “The doctors weren’t sure if I’d walk again. These things aren’t set in stone.”

I was shaking my head. “My folks said you were—”

“Then they lied to you,” he said.

My hand fell to my lap, and Anna reached over and squeezed it.

“When your folks came to visit me they discovered I was getting better. They offered me a hell of a lot of money to get out of Dublin and never talk to you again. I don’t know why they wanted you to think that I was paralyzed.” He shrugged. “But as far as I’m concerned, I willingly stepped into that ring with you, knowing Goddamn well you were in a whole other league. I shouldn’t have done it, and that’s on me. Not you.” He swiped a hand across his mouth as his brows pulled together. “It worked out well for me, though. I’ve been running this gym for the last few years, and I’m happy.”

“Adam.”

Anna’s voice arrested my attention. “Yeah?”

“Are you okay?” she asked.

I stood up and went over to the fighting ring behind us. I rested my elbows over the rope and clasped my hands. My eyes shut, searching through the different emotions that funneled through me all at once.

I’d been killing myself for five years, and he was okay?

Anna’s hand touched my back, and I released a deep breath. “All this time . . .” If Anna hadn’t encouraged me to visit Owen, to try and move on—I may have never known the truth. Jesus.

I opened my eyes and turned to face her, reaching for her hand, lacing my fingers with hers. I kept quiet for a few minutes.

It was overwhelming.

I released Anna’s hand and faced Owen. “I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t need to say anything, man,” Owen responded.

At the moment, I didn’t think I could say anything else. I nodded and walked away.

“Adam!” Anna called out.

The sunlight met my face as I pushed open the door. I tipped my chin up, absorbing the rays, sucking in a deep, cold breath.

“Are you okay?” She came around in front of me, her hands going to my chest.

I grabbed hold of her wrists and stared into her beautiful eyes. “I’m really feckin’ confused.”

“I can’t imagine how you must feel.”

I released my grip on her and cupped the back of my neck, working at the tension there. “He’s really okay?” I squinted at her.

“Yeah . . .”

I sat on the curb outside the gym and pressed my face to my palms. I wasn’t much of a crier but damned if I didn’t want to let loose right now.

A huge fecking weight had been lifted from my chest.

“How are you feeling?” she asked after a few quiet moments.

“How am I feeling?” I looked down at the gravel beneath my shoes and kicked at the loose stones there. “Shit . . . I’m both pissed and thankful.”

“Thankful?” She sank next to me, her hand traveling up to my cheek.

“If my parents hadn’t lied to me about Owen being paralyzed, I’d probably never have stopped fighting. And maybe I would have ended up killing someone. Maybe myself.” I reached for her hand and clasped it tight. “I may have never met you, either.”

As much as I wanted to raise hell with my folks, I knew that parents did crazy things to protect their kids. And although I’d hated the guilt that had eaten away at me for all those years—hell, I had hated myself—I was pretty sure they had saved my life.

“Anna?”

“Yeah?”

I lowered my head, feeling so damn light right now, so fresh. “I really feckin’ love you.”

She laughed. “I don’t think the words feck and love go all that well together.”

I grinned at her. “Hm. I sure as hell think they do.”

“You have such a dirty mouth,” she said, wetting her lips.

“Oh Anna, I plan on using that mouth all over you tonight.”

She raised a brow. “Promise?”