Oh to be loved

3

The first morning in Cillian O'Rourke's house felt like waking up in someone else's life. Amara lay in the soft bed, staring at the ornate ceiling, trying to shake off the disorienting feeling that had settled over her the moment she walked through those gates. Her room was beautiful, with elegant curtains and intricate woodwork, but it felt like a cage—one made of luxury and silence.

The morning light streamed through the window, casting long shadows across the floor. Amara hadn't slept much. Her mind had raced all night with thoughts of Malik, of what Cillian might have in store for her, and what this deal really meant. Thirty days seemed like a long time when the man holding your fate in his hands was as dangerous as Cillian.

With a sigh, she sat up and rubbed her eyes. There was no use in wasting time thinking about it. She had made her choice, and now she had to see it through.

A soft knock on the door startled her.

"Come in," she called, her voice still thick with sleep.

The door opened slowly, and Declan stepped inside. His face was unreadable as always, but there was something about him that felt slightly less menacing than Cillian. He held a tray with breakfast—toast, eggs, and a cup of tea—balanced in one hand.

"Morning," he said gruffly. "Cillian told me to bring you this. He's out handling business today. Don't leave the house."

Amara arched an eyebrow. "So, I'm just supposed to sit here?"

Declan shrugged. "Pretty much. You're not a prisoner, but it'd be smart to stay out of sight."

She hated the sound of that. "What kind of 'business' does he have?"

Declan's eyes flicked toward the window for a moment, then back to her. "None you need to worry about. Just follow the rules, Amara, and this month will go by easier."

*Rules.* Always with the rules.

Amara took the tray from him and set it on the small table by the window. "Why did he want me here?" she asked, unable to hide the frustration in her voice. "What's the point of this deal? I don't get it."

Declan was silent for a moment, his eyes hard to read. He seemed to weigh his words carefully before answering. "Cillian doesn't like loose ends. Your brother got in deeper than he could handle, and Cillian saw an opportunity."

"An opportunity for what?" Amara pressed.

"To see how far you'd go for family." Declan paused, his gaze lingering on her. "People will do anything when someone they care about is on the line. Cillian likes testing boundaries."

The words sent a chill down Amara's spine, but she didn't let it show. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched, evaluated, even though Cillian wasn't there. Declan's expression told her nothing more, though she doubted he'd give her answers even if he had them.

"Thanks for the breakfast," she said, her voice steady.

Declan nodded curtly and turned to leave, but before he did, he added, "Stay out of trouble, Amara. You don't want to see what happens when people cross him."

As soon as the door closed, she let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. The weight of his warning hung in the air, suffocating. What kind of man made deals like this? Why test her loyalty to Malik in such a twisted way?

Sighing, Amara picked at her breakfast. She wasn't hungry, but she knew she needed to eat if she was going to keep her strength up. She stared out of the window, taking in the view of the vast, empty grounds that surrounded the house. There was something hauntingly beautiful about the place, but also isolating. It was like being on an island, far away from everything she knew.