Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 64885 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64885 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
“She called in a favor—”
“Bullshit,” he cut me off. “I know the way your game works. And I know you can negotiate your favor and you did. You could have negotiated that favor into anything else. I know how smart you are, how cleverly you could’ve gotten out of this if you’d wanted to. But you didn't. You put the Irish Princess on a plane, flew her to Vegas, and tied your name to hers. You wouldn’t have done that if there wasn't some kind of emotion tied to her. And if that's the case, that's fine. You know we aren’t going to fuck with that. But you can't stand here with one foot in the door and one foot out.”
A low growl rumbled in my chest, and I raked my fingers through my hair.
What he was saying wasn't wrong.
I knew that, deep down in my gut.
I took the steps I did to protect Serenity, that was true, but I did it because every fiber of my being was drawn to her. The thought of her getting hurt or sold off like some broodmare pissed me off so badly I saw red.
But she barely knew me. I couldn't betray her by consummating this thing and irrevocably chaining her to a future she’d run screaming from.
“I need time,” I said. It was the most honest response I could give my brother. “I'll figure a way out of this where we all win.”
Dante sighed, and I felt the weight of the entire family in that release of breath. He had the curse of being the oldest, and while he loved our family and everything we did, he didn't exactly have the luxury of making choices like I did.
“If you’re determined to let her go, then you're right. Not touching her will give her bargaining power if she ever gets caught. But do you think you’re capable of that?”
“I told you, I am.”
“Fine,” he said. “But if I were you, I’d fuck her. She knows the life. She’d probably make a good wife. Live happily ever after and all that shit.”
I laughed darkly. “There are no happily ever after for guys like us.”
“Guys like me, sure. Guys like you? You could have whatever you want. All you have to do is have the courage to take it.”
“Are you calling me a coward, brother?”
Dante smirked. “I guess only time will tell.” He pushed away from the desk, rebuttoning his suit jacket as he made his way toward the door. “I'll keep you posted if I hear of any valid threats. If I were you, I would double security, and I wouldn't let her go out in public alone. There's no way that O'Brien is just going to sit back and let you keep his princess. Doesn't matter if he thinks you've consummated the marriage or not. You've offended him, and you know how that family is.”
I sighed and crossed the room, shaking his hand. “I appreciate the advice, and the heads-up. Stay in touch and stay safe.”
“Always do,” he said before releasing my hand and heading out the door.
I ensured he made it through the gates, and that they closed securely behind him before finally scooping up my coffee mug and heading toward the kitchen. Thanks to the brotherly meeting, my coffee had gone cold, and it was more than time for another cup.
I stopped just inside the kitchen at the sight of Serenity in nothing but one of my T-shirts. The fabric hung down to her mid-thigh, but her legs and feet were bare as she reached up on her tiptoes, trying to get something out of one of my cabinets.
Once I remembered how to breathe, I headed over to her, realizing she was trying to get a coffee mug, but it was too high for her to reach.
Her little sigh of frustration was just this side of adorable, and I came up behind her, reaching over her head—
Serenity yelped, and she flinched so hard she stumbled back a few steps and into the adjacent counter, hissing at the sharp contact her body made with it.
Her blue eyes were like saucers as her chest heaved.
I held the coffee mug she’d been reaching for in my hand, my other hand raised to show her I wasn't trying to touch her.
“I was just getting this for you,” I said in the softest tone I was capable of. I gently set the coffee mug on the counter and then backed away a few paces.
Serenity clenched her eyes shut, shaking her head before nodding to herself and focusing on me again.
“Sorry,” she said, her voice cracking.
Rage overtook me, and I had the sudden urge to hunt Doyle down and bash his head in. The way Serenity had just reacted told me everything I needed to know. Confirmed every suspicion I previously had and hoped to fuck wasn't true.