Like clockwork, Illumi’s internal alarm goes off—twenty minutes past the latest time he allows himself to sleep in.
Involuntary. Unavoidable. A failsafe buried in bone and marrow.
He jolts awake.
A sharp lurch of the chest. Vision blurred. Scalp prickling where his hair’s been pulled taut. There’s no grace to it—no slow return from rest, no indulgence in the softness of waking.
His body, too well-trained, anticipates the breach before it happens. It moves before his mind has caught up. Even now, especially now, discipline overrides everything else. It always has. He’s lived under its hand for so long, he no longer knows what it feels like to live without it. He’s lived second to it his entire life. Every breath shadowed by expectation, its command embedded in muscle memory.
A long, resounding beat of stillness follows.
Illumi’s arm is outstretched, fingers groping for an alarm that never rang. His mind is already racing through a day that won’t arrive, accounting for time he hasn’t lost. The realization settles slowly.
Then: the sound of breathing—soft, doubled. One slow and steady. The other, lighter. Sage, no doubt, tucked somewhere between them.
The scent hits him next. Vanilla and bergamot, soaked into the sheets. The warmth of someone else beside him.
Hisoka.
Illumi lets his hand fall limp to the mattress. He turns, carefully.
There he is. Barely visible in the dim light, curled just within reach.
Summary: Detective Killian Jones took an indefinite leave of absence from SBPD after his brother was murdered in the Line of Duty. Bitter and broken, he resides in a cabin on the beach when his brother's former partner, David Nolan brings him a case he knows the vengeful detective won’t be able to resist. A case involving Liam's killer.
Dr. Emma Swan makes all of her decisions like she operates on her patients—with care, competence and compassion. But when her colleague, Graham Humbert, is murdered in cold blood by the man who was freed because of a decision she made as a juror, she starts second-guessing herself. To make matters worse, her squeaky clean reputation is being questioned when she becomes a suspect for Graham’s murder.
There is one detective who believes she’s innocent, and he has a plan to protect Emma and find his brother's killer at the same time. When Killian finds himself caught between his duties to the SBPD and his need for vengeance, matters are only complicated by the feelings he develops for the woman he's supposed to protect.
He's impulsive and hot-tempered, and she's methodical and cool under pressure. Despite their differences, can they work together to bring the murderer to justice, or will the murderer get to them first?
Rated: Explicit due to mature language, character death, violence, murder and smut. The scenes won’t be too graphic, but I’d rather overrate than underrate it.
Previously on Beyond a Reasonable Doubt: Neal breaks into Emma's home, and David arrests him. Killian's worried for her safety and escapes the hospital. Emma finds him outside her ranch house and takes care of him.
Catch up: Pro I Ch 1 I Ch 2 I Ch 3 I Ch 4 I Ch 5 I Ch 6 I Ch 7 I Ch 8 I Ch 9 I Ch 10 I Ch 11 I Ch 12
Also available on: AO3 I FF.N
Chapter 13
There’s a naked man in her bed.
A gorgeous, naked man.
Emma washes the dishes, tends to the horses and does some chores at Anna’s and Kristoff’s trying to forget there’s a naked man in her bed.
Ha! Like she could forget.
Earlier she had pulled Killian’s truck into her garage out back and brought in the duffle bag from his front seat with his clothes and things, setting it on the floor at the end of her bed.
By the time she’s back inside her house, there’s a knock on the door. Panic rises in her gut as she wonders who it could be. Did David find out Killian’s missing, assume he came here and ask Elsa for her address? The man obviously has no boundaries, so she wouldn't put it past him. But when she opens the door, she’s surprised to find Camila and Elsa on her porch.
“Uh, hi.” Emma throws on a smile and looks over her shoulder to make sure Killian hasn’t gotten up from his much-needed sleep. After confirming the coast is clear, she reverts her attention to her cousin and niece.
“Auntie Em!” Camila throws out her arms, and Emma picks her up, giving her a hug.
“What a pleasant surprise!”
Elsa’s face clouds over with guilt as she steps inside. “I hope it’s okay to stop by like this. David told me what happened with Cassidy, and I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
Of course he did.
Emma sets down her niece, refraining from rolling her eyes. “It’s perfectly fine. You and Camila are welcome here anytime. And yes, I’m okay, I just took a few days off.”
Elsa dons a small smile as she places her hands on Emma’s arms. “I feel terrible you had to stay at your house alone.”
Emma shakes her head. “It’s not your fault, Elsa. Cassidy would’ve tried to get to me regardless. I’m only glad me staying at your place didn’t put you and Camila in danger.”
“Auntie Em, may I use the restroom?”
“Yes, you may, Camila,” Emma answers with a smile, appreciating how polite her niece is.
“Thank you!” She darts off toward the bathroom.
“Do you want anything to drink?” Emma asks Elsa.
“Sure, some iced tea if you have it.”
Emma heads to the kitchen and pours her cousin a glass, bringing it to her.
They sit on the sofa as Elsa sips her tea. “So, does Cassidy have this weird obsession with you or what?”
Emma cringes at the topic, but she supposes she owes Elsa more answers about what’s been going on. “Unfortunately, yes. He’s been stalking me and breaking into my house.” Emma goes into more details, mentioning the roses and the cards he left for her.
“And David hasn’t done anything about it?”
“He arrested Neal but had to let him go yesterday.”
Concern wrinkles Elsa’s forehead. “Oh, Emma, you really shouldn’t be alone.”
Technically, she’s not alone, since she has Killian here, but she can’t exactly tell Elsa that.
She can hear Camila bounding down the steps, which is odd because there’s a bathroom down here.
“Auntie Em, why is Uncle Killy naked in your bed?”
Emma’s cheeks flame as Elsa looks over at her cousin, her jaw dropped. “Killian’s here? I didn’t know you released him. I have to see this!”
“Wait, I can explain….”
But it's too late. Elsa is already dashing up the steps like a teenager. Emma sighs and stands up, heading upstairs with Camila.
When she reaches her bedroom, Elsa is standing in the doorway with her jaw still on the floor and her hands cupping her mouth.
“See, I told you, Mommy. Uncle Killy’s naked.” Camila covers her mouth with her hand and giggles into her palm. “I can see his tushy.”
Emma looks over Elsa’s shoulder, and sure enough, the sheet and blanket had slid off of him, revealing his perfect, naked butt.
“Shhh, we don’t want to wake him,” Emma whispers. “Uncle Killy needs his rest.”
Elsa snorts and looks over at her, winking. “I’m sure he does.”
Emma's fairly certain she’s blushing even harder now. She opens her mouth to correct her and the assumptions she knows Elsa has formed in her head by now about what happened between her brother-in-law and cousin, but Emma doesn’t think it’s a good idea to tell her he escaped the hospital. Elsa would probably tell David, and David would come over here as fast as he could and bust down her door, trying to drag Killian back to the hospital. But honestly, besides escaping and trying to kill himself to get here, she’s glad he’s here. She’s glad she doesn’t have to be here alone.
She steps into her bedroom and goes over to the bed, checking Killian’s incision, her cheeks flushed as she tries not to stare at his ass. But damn, it really is a perfect ass. She unfortunately has to cover it up with the sheet and blanket and return to Elsa and Camila who are still standing in the doorway. Emma reaches for the knob, and the three of them back up into the hall so she can close the door.
“So, you and Killian, huh?” Elsa questions, nudging Emma’s elbow, a big, bright grin on her face.
Emma smiles bashfully as they head downstairs. “Me and Killian.” On one hand, Emma is glad Elsa isn’t upset with her anymore, or at least doesn’t appear to be, but on the other hand, she hates that she’s lying to her cousin. But it’s not completely a lie.
Before Emma found out Killian was investigating her, there was definitely something going on between them. She did invite Killian into her bed after all, and they shared one hell of a kiss. A kiss she still can’t get out of her head. A kiss that still makes her hot when she thinks about how good it made her feel and how amazing Killian tasted. Hell, if she could do it all over again, she would.
“Well, do I get any details?” she asks excitedly.
“He’s a good kisser,” Emma answers, giving her something truthful at least. “ Very good.”
“So was Liam. I think it runs in the family.”
Emma laughs, surprised where this conversation has headed.
“Auntie Em, can I see the horsies?”
Phew. Saved by her niece.
Emma nods and smiles, carding a hand through Camila’s brown curls. “Sure. You can ride Buttercup if you want.”
Her big blue eyes light up with excitement, and she smiles from ear to ear. “Really?!”
“As long as your mom’s okay with it.”
Camila gives Elsa the Puss in Boots eyes.
“Okay, you can ride the pony.” Camila squeals as Elsa lowers her voice, whispering in Emma’s ear. “I suppose it’s only fair since you rode my brother-in-law.”
Emma’s jaw drops to the ground as they head outside. She was not expecting that from her cousin.
“I got new paddock boots.” Camila points to the shiny black boots on her feet.
“I noticed. Very nice.” She narrows her eyes at Elsa. “So you had planned on horseback riding when you came here?”
Elsa shrugs. “She had hoped. And I didn’t have the heart to tell her no. I mostly wanted to check on you and see how you were doing. But you know Camila—she loves Buttercup.”
Emma nods as she grabs Camila’s black riding helmet from the tack room and hands it to her. Buttercup has a beautiful chestnut coat and likes to give kisses.
“Are you sure we shouldn’t wake Killian? He would love seeing Camila ride.”
Emma shakes her head. “He may be out of the hospital but he’s still not good as new. He really needs his rest.” That isn’t a lie. Actually, Emma's downplaying how well Killian is, but she doesn’t want to worry her cousin.
She helps Camila tack Buttercup to prepare her for riding, and she helps them over to the mounting block, letting her niece mount the pony. Emma holds onto a lead rope attached to Buttercup’s halter as she leads the pony around, Elsa walking beside them.
Emma is glad they came over, she’s glad she gets to spend time with her cousin and niece. Camila rides for a bit before they head inside, and Emma makes them sandwiches for lunch. After they leave, she takes a much-needed shower.
~*~
When Killian wakes up, he’s on his back and the room is dim, light seeping from under the connecting door he assumes is to a bathroom based on the shower he can hear running. He has no idea how long he has slept, all he knows is the shower is being turned off and he can soon hear the sound of a hair dryer. Moments later, the door is opening and the light goes out.
Emma emerges from the bathroom in nothing but a towel wrapped around her body, the smell of fruity shampoo and soap following her into the bedroom. She looks over at him, catching him staring. “I hope I didn’t wake you. The bathroom downstairs doesn't have a shower.”
“It’s okay, love.”
“How are you feeling?” Her feet are bare against the hardwood floor as she walks to his bedside and leans over, her hair falling over her shoulders in soft golden waves he wants to comb his fingers through. He wonders if her golden locks feel as soft and silky as they look. He wonders if her lips taste as sweet and delicious as they did the last time he kissed her. She sweeps her hair to one side as she examines him closely, the tips of her hair brushing against his chest hair. “Do you want anything?”
“Aye,” he manages, his voice hoarse as he looks up into her luminous green eyes. Her body on him, her hands on him, her lips.
“What would you like?” She runs her hand through his hair, brushing some stray strands away from his face as her other hand secures the towel against her body.
He’d like to slip his hand under the bottom hem of her towel and let his fingers get lost between her thighs. He’d like to get something else lost there too. His tongue, his cock… “You.” He can hear her breath catch, and he cups the back of her head, pulling her to him. He was right—her hair is as soft and silky as it looks.
And so are her lips.
She eagerly moves her mouth against his and tastes so sweet and warm, even better than he remembers. He can tell he’s running a fever, his body hot like fire, but when their tongues meet, goosebumps cover his skin, chilling him to the bone. Their mouths waste no time getting reacquainted with one another, her tongue brushing his so fiercely, his head is spinning.
Emma pushes the blankets away from his body, revealing his cock that’s fucking aching for her. She wraps her hand around him, stroking him softly. He groans into her mouth, his hand still buried in her hair as his other one grabs her hip, wanting her closer. Apparently, she can read his mind and has no qualms making his wish come true, because the next thing he knows she’s climbing on top of him and straddling his waist.
Her bare center is rubbing against his stomach, eliciting a rough groan from his throat when he feels how wet she is. And it’s not from the shower, considering the rest of her is dry. Then her towel has to go and fall halfway, and she presses her body closer to his until they're skin to skin, leaving no space between them, his brain turning to the consistency of mushy oatmeal. Her nipples harden against his chest, and he growls as he runs his hand up her back and brings it around, cupping her firm breast in his hand and brushing her nipple with his thumb, producing the most sensual, delicious moan from her mouth he’s ever heard in his life as he gently tugs on the perfectly pink bud.
He’s hard as a fucking rock as he glides his cock through her glistening folds, letting her feel how hard she makes him. He has never been this hard before. Releasing her hair, he moves his hand to her bare ass, pushing the towel away as he squeezes her perfect butt and presses her firmly against him. He winces in pain. He’d been so caught up in the kiss, he’d forgotten about his wound.
Emma quickly breaks the kiss, panting as she studies his face in concern, their eyes meeting with electric intensity as she rakes her fingers through his hair. “Killian, we shouldn’t do this.” She’s breathing raggedly as he pulls her closer, burying his face in the crook of her neck. “You’re not well. You shouldn’t be engaging in any strenuous activity.”
He smirks against her skin as he peppers kisses up and down her neck. “If I die, it will be so worth it.” He’d die a happy man.
“You are not dying on my watch.”
He pouts and settles for taking one of her nipples into his mouth and sucking. She moans, her back arching. “Killian…as your doctor, I…” she croaks out, her body physically disagreeing with her words. “I advise you against it.”
“Says the naked woman on top of me.”
Her cheeks flush with a rosy pink hue, a bashful smile curving her lips as she rises. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t you dare apologize.”
She climbs off of him, taking away all her warmth as she wraps her towel back around her body and pulls the sheet over him, her skin all flushed as she spins around and goes to her dresser, searching through her drawers. The back of her looks just as good as her front, the towel barely covering her arse. He licks his lips as he watches her take out some clothes.
“Don’t peek.” She cranes her neck to flash him a blushing smile.
He looks up at the ceiling. “I won’t, I promise.” But he has no intention to keep his promise. Returning his eyes to her, he watches as she drops the towel and slips on the smallest thong he has ever seen. It’s as pink as her perfectly round, flushed cheeks, and she slips on a matching bra before pulling on a pair of jeans. As she’s buttoning them up, she looks over, catching him staring. “Hey, you said you wouldn’t peek.”
He shrugs, never peeling his eyes from her as she pulls on a tank top, covering that tone, sexy stomach. “I also promised David I’d keep my hands off you, but that obviously didn’t happen.”
She turns around and plants her hands on her hips as she narrows her eyes at him. “David told you to keep your hands off me?”
“Yes, because you’re a suspect in the investigation. He thought liking you would cloud my judgment.”
Emma makes her way back to him. “And did it?”
“Aye.” He reaches for her hand and threads their fingers together, his heart pounding erratically. “But I have no regrets…other than not being truthful with you.”
Her green eyes are full of warmth and forgiveness as she caresses his cheek with her free hand. “You were doing what you had to do.”
He growls and grabs her hip, pulling her closer. “Now I’m doing what I want to do. You better hope I don’t get better.”
She arches her brow. “Oh and why’s that?”
He squeezes her hip. “Because when I do, you won’t be able to keep me off you.”
Emma’s cheeks redden as she slips away from him, a smirk curving her lips as she backs away toward the door. “I’m counting on it.”
~*~
As Killian takes a much-needed shower, his head is still spinning, but not because of his injury. That damn kiss he’d shared with Emma had made him want to do much more than kiss, despite how much pain he was in. It definitely would’ve been worth it. Then she said she was counting on it when he said she wouldn’t be able to keep him off her when he was feeling better again.
But as much as he looks forward to it, he has to focus on other matters. He had left that note for Cassidy, who is most likely out for blood. Even more than he already was. He has to protect Emma from that monster, so he can’t be thinking about how much he wants to be inside her or how much he wants to keep kissing her.
Fuck.
He’s hard again just thinking about what he can’t do.
He gets out of the shower, scrubbing himself dry with a towel and trimming his beard with the razor from his duffle bag he’d brought with him to Storybrooke. Emma had brought it inside and set it at the foot of the bed.
He’s beginning to look more human than he was before the long sleep. He’s no Prince Charming, but still devilishly handsome.
He leaves the bathroom just as Emma enters the bedroom, her cheeks turning pink when she sees him.
“Sorry, I uh…”—she fumbles for words as her eyes travel down his body, then she snaps them up to meet his blue ones—“I just wanted to let you know I’m making dinner if you’re hungry.”
He smirks, his own cheeks heating. “Thanks, love.”
She spins around and leaves, giving him the opportunity to get dressed.
When he enters the kitchen, she’s slicing some zucchini and squash on a cutting board. She glances up at him, pausing from her task. “Feeling better?”
“Much. Thank you. For everything. Except for the shot. My arse is sore.”
“Well, you look much better.”
“Thanks, love. And how are you? David told me Cassidy attacked you.”
“So you believe I was actually attacked? David sure didn’t.”
“David still considers you a suspect. I don’t. Believe it or not, he’s even more bullheaded than I am.”
“Well, I’m fine.” Emma begins slicing more vigorously. “Other than that sicko having this twisted idea I’m his woman. Your truck is in the garage out back, by the way,” she informs him, changing the subject. “Since you broke out of the hospital, I figured you didn’t want anyone to know you’re here.”
“You figured right. If David knew, he’d be breaking down your door.”
Guilt clouds over her features as she looks up at him. “Elsa knows.”
Killian gulps, staring at her in surprise. “She does?”
“She stopped by with Camila earlier to check on me. Camila ventured upstairs and saw you in my bedroom. She asked me why her uncle Killy was naked in my bed.” Emma laughs.
Killian’s cheeks warm, and he scratches behind his ear. “What did you tell them?”
“I didn’t tell them you broke out of the hospital. I just told them you were resting…” Emma adds the squash and zucchini into a bowl and quarters some red potatoes on the cutting board, her eyes focused on her task. “I made Elsa believe you and I slept together.”
Killian’s eyes widen. “You told her we slept together?”
“No, she assumed we had and I didn’t correct her. But don’t worry, I told her not to tell anyone you’re here.”
“Thanks, love.” Killian thinks about it for a moment and wonders what it would hurt for people to know he was here with Emma. For people to think they were together…as a couple. Cassidy would especially be furious. Then he’d definitely track them down and seek his revenge.
With her knife, Emma points to his phone on the counter. “Your phone has been going off like crazy.”
He goes over to pick it up, seeing all the missed calls and voicemail notifications from David. His phone rings again, and David’s name comes across the screen. “Bloody hell,” Killian curses under his breath. “I might as well get this over with.” He carries his phone to the front porch before answering. “Hey, mate,” he greets cheerfully, pretending he has no idea he’s about to get his arse chewed out.
“Where the hell are you?”
“I’m doing fine. Thanks for asking.”
“Killian—”
He releases a long sigh. “I was getting antsy and couldn't take that hospital anymore. So I left, grabbed my truck from your house and got to Port Lavaca around five o'clock. I’ve been asleep most of the day and got a whole lot more rest listening to the surf than I was able to get in the hospital.”
“Bullshit. I already know your cottage is empty. I asked the police there to check.”
Shit.
“Now cut the crap and tell me the real reason you escaped the hospital.”
“I’m a big boy, David. I don’t have to explain myself to—”
“You’re with her, aren’t you?”
“It’s none of your business where I am.”
“It is my business. Because she’s coincidentally flown the coop, too. Elsa mentioned she and Camila went over to Emma’s ranch earlier today.”
“Oh, now you’re using my sister-in-law and niece to spy on me?”
“No, for your information, Elsa called me to report a break-in.”
Killian’s stomach lurches. “A break-in?”
“Yes, and take a stab at who was the uninvited guest?” David doesn’t need to say the name out loud for Killian to know who it was.
Cassidy.
Balling his free hand into a fist and clutching the phone tightly with his other hand, he grits his teeth and snarls. “I’ll kill him.”
“First we have to find him. He disappeared before I got there. He’s not at his condo either.”
Fuck.
Killian does his best not to say anything to Emma over dinner. He’s guessing she doesn’t know yet, otherwise, she’d be upset.
“Everything okay?” she asks, taking a bite of her chicken.
They had brought their plates outside to enjoy their dinner on the deck out back while watching the sun set, but he finds it hard to enjoy anything after the news David had shared with him. Even though Emma’s cooking is quite good. “Everything’s fine.” He takes a bite of zucchini. “This is delicious. I think you missed your calling as a chef.”
She arches a brow at him, taking a sip of white wine. She wouldn’t let him have any, said mixing alcohol with painkillers could have harmful side effects, but it’s nice to see her so relaxed. Which is exactly why he doesn’t want to tell her about her cousin and niece. “Really? You think the doctor who saved your life missed her calling?” Her question is loaded with amusement.
He manages a small chuckle and sips his water. “Fair point, love.”
When they’re finished eating, Emma sets down her fork on the plate and crosses her arms on the table. “Are you ever going to tell me what David said?”
Killian draws in a long breath and tosses his napkin on the plate. Before he can answer her question, her own phone rings on the table.
The screen is facing the sky, so he can see who’s calling.
It’s Elsa.
He gulps. “You’ll want to answer that.”
Emma narrows her eyes at him. “What happened?”
“Just answer your phone, love. Trust me.”
Unwilling to question him any further, she picks it up and greets her cousin. “Wait, slow down,” she says into the phone. “What happened?”
He can hear Elsa’s panicked voice as he watches Emma's face transform from carefree and relaxed to worried and concerned, and then anger.
Emma’s about to hurry off and jump in her car, but he can hear Elsa telling her she and Camila went to stay with Ingrid’s sister in Arendelle. She sighs in relief. “And you’re both okay?”
David told him Cassidy didn’t lay a finger on them. They came home to find him sitting on the living room sofa and complimenting her furniture. He also asked them where Emma and Killian were. Thankfully, Camila was taught not to talk to strangers and hid behind her mother the entire time. When Elsa told him she had no idea, he didn’t believe her and told her she and her dead husband had made a very beautiful daughter. Elsa had become frozen as a statue as she clutched onto Camila tightly and protectively. Finally, he left, and Elsa immediately called David and was in tears.
Emma hangs up the phone, her face as pale as a ghost, her expression perplexed. “He threatened my cousin and niece.” Her voice is shaking, and Killian’s thrown off guard. He has never seen Emma like this. Granted he hasn’t known her for very long, but he knows enough about her to know she doesn’t scare easily. Neither does Elsa. They are both strong women, and it takes a fucking arsehole like Cassidy to strike fear into them. “I need to go back to Storybrooke,” Emma finally says after a long moment of silence, panic in her voice. “Before he terrorizes anyone else.”
Killian rises from his chair and goes over to her, taking her arms in his hands. “You can’t. That’s what he wants. He threatened Elsa and Camila to lure us out of hiding.”
“But Killian, I can’t just stay here and do nothing.” Her eyes well with tears. “People are dead because of me! This is all my fault.” Tears stream down her cheeks. “Now the people I love are going to pay for a decision I made!”
Killian pulls her to him, holding her close, whispering softly in her ear and stroking her hair, “Hey, hey, hey.” He pulls away slightly to cup her cheeks in his hands, wiping away her tears with his thumbs. “None of this is your fault. You hear me? Cassidy is the killer. He’s been getting away with murder long before you came into the picture.”
“I know but—”
“But nothing. If anyone else is to blame, it’s me, not you.”
Emma furrows her brows. “What do you mean?”
Killian lets out a long sigh as he releases her. He goes over to the railing, gripping onto the ledge and gazing out into the dark, starry night, a crescent moon hanging in the sky. Emma comes up behind him and places her hand gently on his back. When he looks over at her, she offers a small smile and encases his hand in hers, encouraging him to explain.
He takes another breath and looks toward the sky again. “After my parents were gone, Liam was all I had left. He raised me in my teen years, and he was always there for me.” Killian gulps thickly as he thinks about all the memories he shared with Liam, the good ones and the bad ones. Liam and David attended all of his basketball games and he felt so blessed to have a brother like him. Killian talks about Liam’s last case that ultimately ended his life. “I can still remember the look of excitement on his face when he told me over lunch that he was so close to getting the oil man to crack. He was so confident. And his death was so unexpected. When I lost Liam, I lost a piece of myself that day. I lost not only my brother and the man who raised me after our parents died, but I lost my best friend.
“When Cassidy killed my brother, he left a piece of evidence behind. One that would’ve been enough to convict him. David told me he found it at the crime scene and had the lab analyze it. They determined it came from expensive goods that were only found at the most exclusive stores. A single silk thread. And if they could find a garment made of that fabric in his wardrobe, they’d have him.”
He looks over at Emma, his eyes stinging with tears. “Liam’s funeral was beautiful and the turnout was more than the church could hold. My brother was loved and respected by everyone. I was bombarded by so many guests, expressing their condolences. But I couldn’t even tell you what was said during the eulogies and the minister’s message. Because I was too enraged, too full of hate and vengeance toward Cassidy. He had stolen the one person left in my life. I had David, but he was always more Liam’s friend than he was mine. To David, I’m the brother of his dead best friend’s he feels obligated to protect.”
Emma brushes her thumb over his. “I’m sure you’re much more than that to him. And believe me, I wouldn’t say that if I didn’t think it was true. David and I aren’t exactly best friends.”
Killian manages a small smile as he looks at her. “He and Mary Margaret hosted the wake at their house. And before it was over, I slipped away without being seen. Cassidy was at home at the time, and I busted down his door and turned his place upside down, searching for the piece of clothing that was made of that thread. And you know what he was doing the entire time?”
Emma arches a brow. “What?”
“He was sitting on his couch, laughing his fucking arse off. Because he knew I was destroying any chance of bringing him to trial for Liam’s murder. Then I went after him, and I probably would’ve killed him if David hadn’t shown up and pulled me off of Cassidy.” He reverts his gaze to Emma, their eyes connecting through the darkness. “So no, none of this is your fault. If I hadn’t lost my temper and my sanity, he would’ve been on death row and you wouldn’t be in this mess. I wouldn’t have fled to Port Lavaca to hide from everyone like a damn coward.”
“You’re human, Killian. You were hurt and upset. No one can blame you for that.”
He scoffs. “Elsa did. The DA sure as hell does. And I know deep down, David does too, even if he’d never admit it.”
Emma turns toward him and places her free hand on his shoulder, pulling him toward her so he’s facing her. “I think they, as well as all of us who’ve been affected by Neal and his crimes, only want to see him pay for everything he’s done. As much as I hate to admit it, there are some wounds that can never be healed.”
Killian lifts his hand to caress her cheek. “Like the one caused by your former professor?”
Her face clouds over with confusion. “How did you…” She shakes her head. “Nevermind. You probably figured that out while you were spying on me.”
Killian drops his eyes to the floor of the deck. “Aye.”
She turns around and grabs the plates and empty glasses, taking them inside.
“Let me help you with that, love.”
“It’s fine. I’ve got it.”
He opens the sliding door for her and follows behind. He could tell Walsh is a touchy subject she doesn’t wish to talk about, so he drops it…for now. “What if we could finally make Cassidy pay for everything he has done? For attacking you, for trying to murder me? For all the other crimes he’s committed? And we did it without the evidence?” Killian says as he helps Emma load the dishwasher.
Emma arches her brow as she closes and latches the door. “What do you mean? How would we do that? The legal way?” she asks skittishly, narrowing her eyes.
“Well, you know how I said he was setting a trap for us by threatening Elsa and Camila?”
“Yeah.”
He turns toward her, planting his hands on his hips. “Well, what if we could beat Cassidy at his own game? What if we could set a trap for him?”
Emma crosses her arms and steps toward him, curiosity buzzing in her eyes. “What kind of trap?”
Killian rakes a hand through his hair, not sure how she’ll feel about his plan. “Well, Elsa already thinks we’ve slept together. So what if we let everyone else believe it too? What if we made him believe we’re a couple? Nothing grabs a man’s attention more than another man going after his woman.”
Emma's jaw hardens, and she shakes her head furiously. “I am not his woman.”
Killian steps toward her and places his hands on her arms. “I know that, but you said it yourself—he has this twisted idea you’re his. And he already hates my guts. He’s already tried to kill me once. If he thinks we’re lovers, it’ll really grind his gears.” Killian’s lips tilt into a small smirk at the thought. “He’ll be out for my blood once again.”
“Yeah and look where that got you last time,” Emma points out, stepping away from him, her eyes wetting with tears. “I almost lost you.”
He shakes his head. “It’ll be different this time. This time, I’ll be prepared. This time I’m going to catch him before he catches me.” He closes the distance between them and takes her hands in his. “This time, I’m putting him away for good.”
Missing working with these 2!! And I do promise that I will finish Trial and Error! I know it's been a long time since the last update but I assure you that I haven't forgotten about it! 🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽
In any case, revisit my gifs series 👉🏽 Trial and Error
And @wintersoldier1989 's fic 👉🏽 Beyond a Reasonable Doubt
