Deirdre’s rage dissipated in all of her weariness. He was right—she knew what she was getting when she chose to do this.

Brendan stared down at her from his nose, his gaze unreadable. “So, why are you here, exactly?”

Deirdre closed her eyes. “I want you to let Kyran live in peace.”

“What!?”

She opened her eyes and swallowed the bitter lump forming in her throat. Her pretty, clear eyes were begging him. “Please, Brendan, if you’re pissed about something, just vent it on me. Don’t drag Kyran into it, please! He doesn’t know. He doesn’t deserve it.”

The absurdity of this revelation crashed onto him. He gripped her chin tightly and pulled her closer in. “I wish I could crack your skull open just to see whatever the h*ll is eating your brain. You’re accusing me of venting my steam on Kyran somehow!?”

“Am I wrong?” A look of confusion swept across her face momentarily before certainty replaced it. Kyran had not been acting like himself lately, and that woman had something to do with i