Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
“You’re going to be my husband, and I am going to pamper you like you’ve never imagined.”
“I don’t doubt that, but what about Ava? You haven’t even met her, and it’s not right for you to have to support her too.”
Didn’t he understand that anyone he cared about automatically mattered to me? “I would gladly take care of your sister, but that’s not going to be an issue.”
“What do you mean?” Liam’s confusion just made me want to kiss him again.
“You’re going to be able to take care of her with your own money.”
He snorted. “If I had the money to do that, I would never have borrowed from you.”
“And that would’ve been a tragedy, because I wouldn’t have met you. I wouldn’t have fallen in love with you. I wouldn’t be about to marry you.”
“This is crazy. I never meant for you to overturn your whole life for me, but I’m glad you did. What money are you talking about?”
I’d revealed enough surprises. “I’m going to let your cousin tell you. But understand that your life is about to change in all kinds of fabulous ways. I know you’d rather not be associated with your own family or mine, but—”
“I’ll do anything for a life with you.”
I did kiss him again, wrapping him in my arms and letting myself enjoy how good he felt. When we broke the kiss, both needing air, I said, “My family is really not that bad, maybe yours isn’t either.”
“We’ll see about that.”
42
LIAM
The O’Keefe’s headquarters had the dark, oppressive feel I had expected from Val’s home and his father’s. The artwork and accents contained skulls, ravens, and depictions of creatures being hunted, and I felt like anyone or anything could be hiding in the shadows. I didn’t want to stay any longer than I had to.
Val and I were led down a red-carpeted hall to a room where Vito and several other men sat on one side of a table facing people I assumed were members of the O’Keefe family.
A man old enough to be my grandfather sat at the head of the table. He was dressed in all black. His white hair was still thick and perfectly styled to sweep off of his face.
Even if he hadn’t been seated so prominently, I wouldn’t have needed anyone to tell me he was Cathal. He held himself in a way that exuded power.
I also knew the man at the other end of the table was Lucien. He was unbelievably gorgeous. He wore a red shirt with his charcoal gray suit and black tie. He looked like the perfect ideal of a seductive, dangerous man. I could imagine how his boyfriend fell for him easily.
The other men in the room also radiated strength and danger, but I kept my attention on Cathal.
Val and I remained standing as Lucien rose and moved toward us. He addressed Cathal. “This is Liam, Valentino’s fiancé.” Lucien acted as if he knew me well, even though we’ve never met. “Liam, this is Cathal O’Keefe, the head of your family.”
Cathal inclined his head toward me. “Come closer.”
I moved toward him, and Val followed as Lucien returned to his seat.
I was standing as close to his chair as I dared. I expected him to say something, but he wasn’t looking at me. He was looking over my shoulder at Valentino, his face hard and cold.
“Tell your dog to stand down.”
I bristled at him, speaking about Val that way, but I knew this was not the time to start a fight. I turned and looked into Val’s eyes. “I’ve got this. Trust me.”
I wasn’t sure how I’d developed such courage. Was it from coming face-to-face with Dom, from saving his life and being accepted? From the easy way Lucien introduced me? Or just from knowing how strong the bond between me and Val was? It didn’t really matter because I knew I had the strength to stand my ground and not agree to more than I was willing to give.
Val stepped back, and I faced Cathal again.
“That’s better. My apologies to you that you were not properly introduced to your family after your father’s death. There was a letter intended for you that would have explained your father’s true identity and given you information about how to claim your inheritance.”
What inheritance? Was that the money Val had mentioned?
“I never received a letter. I met with an attorney about my father’s and mother’s wills, but their cars and a small sum was all I received. I had no idea my father had been known by a different name.”
“You weren’t meant to know as long as he was alive and we weren’t in power. The letter that was meant for you was destroyed. The McConnells got to the attorney you spoke with, and he turned the paper over to them. He’s been dealt with.”