CHAPTER 14

Ian was not someone who was easily caught unguarded. He was always alert and ready for action. After all, he was a Lucian. He was the one supposed to do the sneaking, the spying, the investigating.

So how come Sinead was easily able to appear out of nowhere and block his path, just like that?!?!

"Sinead." For once, he didn't know what to do, which direction to take. She had been just like an obsessive fangirl, hounding him with the impressive loyalty and doggedness of a beloved Labrador. Except Sinead was not beloved, and she certainly wasn't a Labrador, not even a dog.

"Ian," she exclaimed, but there was a sternness in her tone. Without warning, she stepped forward, and slipped her arms around his waist. Ian tried to step back, but in vain. The girl was not letting him go that easily. "You've been very, very naughty lately."

"You're hardly one to talk," he murmured under his breath. If it wasn't for her disgusting intervention, he would have had Amy and would not have had to go through all this trouble.

She frowned up at him, as if she was innocent and had done nothing wrong. Damn. What was with women, playing up their vulnerability? Except for Amy, of course…she never used it to her advantage. "What do you mean, babe? I didn't do anything." Her frowning eyes turned to puppy-dog ones.

Ian gritted his teeth and pushed her away. Dazed, she leaned against the wall. "Don't you call me 'babe', Sinead," he snarled. "I hardly know you, I don't even like you, and you act as if you're my girlfriend?! Back off! And stop acting as if I'm the one who's in the wrong!"

Sinead gasped, feeling a rip in her heart. As if it was tearing up. Tears sprang forth, unsuppressed, and spilled down her cheeks. How…how could he do this to her? "Because you are!" she shrieked, letting loose all her frustration and brokenheartedness. "Why? Why can't you see that I love you? What do you see in that Amy freak, the Cahill stain? Why do you always push me away?" She began to sob, shuddering uncomfortably.

Ian's face hardened. "Because I. DON'T. LOVE. YOU." He emphasized each word, filled them with as much hate as possible. "Now leave."

Sinead glared at him, her face streaked with tears. Her hand leapt forward, and she---

---she slapped him. Ian's face smarted, reddening in reaction. But he just stared her down fiercely. "Got what you wanted?" he hissed viciously. He knew he shouldn't act like this, and might not have had, if Sinead hadn't pushed him to the end of his tether. "Doesn't change anything."

She stared at him, feeling her heart sink, then turned and ran away, her footsteps like a funeral dirge.

Ian clenched his fists. He had finally overcome most of his obstacles.

But his worst obstacle…was Amy herself.

A/N:

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