He's late —

It's intentional.

He knew exactly what time he was meant to meet them, but he just didn't show up. It's cruel — , and it eats at him to subject them to it — but he had no choice. This was the life he'd been born into — there had been no other path for him than this, and now he was staring down the consequences.

Because Ciarán Quinn was fucked.

Someone had leaked the rendezvous point for the Donn Syndicate's latest smuggling shipment, and he had been identified in the footage provided to the police. Naively, he thought his family would get him out of it. After all, he was one of the boss's sons. Sure, he wasn't the heir; that was his right cunt of an older brother, Sean, but being his kid had to count for something, right?

Only his brother had just stared at him without a hint of pity and told him they had no choice but to have him take the fall. It's for the good of the family, Ciarán he'd said before turning back to his paperwork. Some family— Family wouldn't sell out their own brother to keep their hands clean.

He had just forty-eight hours before he was expected to turn himself in — the smallest of courtesies Sean had managed to give him. Which meant he had just forty-eight hours to break them heart.

Valeria — his lover— as cheesy as it was to call them that, was the one who'd made life worth living recently. Instead of living for the next reckless mission or meaningless fling, he found himself living for them smile. Of course, he never told them what he did for a living. How could he tell someone like Valeria who was so normal — so pure that he was a dirty criminal with too much blood on his hands?

Maybe that was selfish of him — but damn it all, he had just wanted to bask in Valeria 's radiance just a little longer. Only the sand in the hourglass was slipping away, and the expiration date on their relationship was here. He couldn't ask Valeria to wait for him — not when he could possibly spend a decade behind bars, and he doubted they would even want to be with him when they learned the truth.

So instead, he plans to break them heart in the worst way possible.

The bar is dimly lit as he enters, looking just as it did when he took them on their first date here. Only now he's an hour late, with his arm around a buxom brunette — Niamh, who hung around his men. She was one of those girls who liked the thrill that came with being with a dangerous man — even if most of the time they never called the next day. She'd been so eager that he'd finally gave her the time of day that she practically threw herself on him. Even though he's only using her to hurt Valeria .

His head is swimming — the pleasant buzz of alcohol flooding his system. He needed the liquor to steel himself for what he's about to do — channeling every cruel thought he's ever had into his performance.

Because he doesn't deserve them — especially not after this.

But it was the only way to protect them from himself.

Ciarán spots Valeria out of the corner of his eye and leans down, making a show of how he whispers in Niamh's ear. His hand is on her ass, steering her towards the bar, smirking as she giggles vapidly in response. Good — let her put on a show she doesn't even know she's giving. He needs to ensure Valeria thoroughly hates him after tonight.

As they pass Valeria 's table, Ciarán does a double take before his smirk turns cruel. Fuck! It's going to kill him to do this. they looks so beautiful sitting there waiting for him, and here he was, a complete and total amadàn, crushing the one good thing in his life because he's a coward and a fuck up.

It's better they hates you. He reminds himself, swallowing his own thundering heart as he meets them gaze.

"You still here waiting for me?" He asks, shaking his head in mock disbelief. "Darlin', that's tragic. You think you'd be able to get the hint when a bloke doesn't show after an hour." He releases Niamh, coming to place both hands on the table Valeria sat.

"What? Did you think a guy like me was actually into you?" one eyebrow raises, his face a practiced mask of the arrogant cruelty he usually saved for his opponents in a boxing ring. You're a monster, Ciarán Quinn. Those words had haunted him since his schoolboy days. He'd always hoped they were wrong — but now, standing here, he knew all too well they were true.

He is a monster.

And he's ruining the one good thing he ever had in his life.

"You were just another body to warm my bed — but I've grown tired of you, Valeria . You just weren't enough for me."

He has to bite the inside of his cheek to keep his hands from shaking — he can't let Valeria know he's falling apart inside by doing so. He knew it would hurt-- but it was so much worse than he ever imagined. It felt like he was ripping out his own heart and crushing it.

Blessedly, the daft beour Niamh slips her arm around his again, pulling his muscular arm against his chest. She's pouting as she's looking up at him, hating that his attention is fixed on Valeria . "Who's they, Ciar?" she asks with a whine. Ciarán has to stop himself from rolling his eyes at her insipid whine, forcing a charming smile as he looks down at the brunette.

"No one important, doll," he begins, his blue eyes flickering towards Valeria once more, a silent apology flashing in his gaze before it's gone, and he wraps his arm back around Niamh.

"Come — let me buy you a drink. My pretty girl looks thirsty."

He doesn't look back.

He can't.

If he did, he might break and beg them for forgiveness.

Because he thinks he might love them.

Fuck—

He's such a monster.

At least come morning he'll be locked behind bars and they'll never have to see him again.

And he?

He'll replay tonight in his mind — hating himself for the rest of his life.