“Not so rich,” I murmur angrily, “that’s why just draining the rest of his money isn’t enough.”
Cormac’s watching his wife, laughing and talking with mine, eyes narrowed. I know how protective he is of Mala, but I don’t like how he’s looking at Morana as if she’s a disease that could infect her.
“Talk to Nikandr again,” I say. “Make sure he’s clear on what he saw, aye?”
He looks doubtful, but he nods. “Let’s get back to the women before I have to stab those slimy fecks who are moving in on them.”
I don’t bother to tell him that the well-dressed couple standing next to them are from my security staff. I’d hired the blonde Norwegian husband and wife team because they are less conspicuous than the standard giant fuckers most of us in the business use. The woman, Natalia, can serve as a personal bodyguard for Morana when I finally let her out of the house on her own. I watch with a grin as Natalia and Sven casually pivot in front of the two men heading for our wives, blocking them from moving in.
We walk through the crowd, shaking hands and deftly sidestepping a couple of lower-level thugs, desperate for a connection with our clan.
“Keep an eye on the Lord Provost,” Cormac murmurs. “If he even looks like he’s turning toward those Blackwood arseholes, we’ll cut that connection with a fecking ax if necessary.”
“We haven’t used a hatchet in a long time,” I reminisce, “remember those two pricks from the Triad attack? You pulledSean-seanair’sceremonial battle-axe right off the wall.”
“Aye,” he agrees, “it fit the moment. Hell of a mess to clean up, though.”
I don’t see the woman with the enormous chest barely encased in her red dress until she nearly falls into me, grabbing at my jacket.
“Oh, pardon! I’m such astammerel- so clumsy. Cameron, is that you, darlin’?”
Staring at her, I’m trying to place a name to the tits. Those, I recognize, which is likely why she’s shoving them in my face.
“Lorna Buchanan, silly! We spent some time together last summer? How lovely to run into you!”
Glancing over her shoulder, I see that Mala and Morana are still deep in discussion, while my new wife may not make a fuss, my sister-in-law would never let me live this down. The very purpose of her existence is to remind me of my past indiscretions.
“Of course,” I say, stepping backward. She nearly falls into me again, off-balance. Cormac, that bastard, is just watching this unfold with a barely hidden grin. “How are you?”
I’m thinking I met her at one of our clubs in Glasgow. I was pretty scuppered and my hazy memory recalls that we used the office above the club to fuck.
“I’m so good,” she purrs, “just in town for a photo shoot.”
“Uh, huh…” I check Morana’s location over her shoulder again.
“We should get together while I’m here, you can show me around?” Lorna’s persistent, I’ll give her that.
“My apologies, I’m certain my wife would not appreciate it,” I say, watching her practiced smile fade.
“Married? You?” Her eyes are narrowing as she gives a little giggle. “I’ve heard no such thing.”
“He’s just newly wed,” Cormac finally throws me a fecking bone and steps in. “He swept his lovely bride right off her feet and stole… her heart.”
Bastard.
“Given your history, lad, it’s surprising she recognized you without your dick out,” he chuckles as we walk away.
Just as we reach our women, Alain Baird, the Lord Provost of Edinburgh greets us. “It can’t be!” he says in a carrying voice meant to deliver a rousing campaign speech, “Cameron MacTavish married? There’s an entire city of women in mourning tonight, I’m certain.”
Morana turns with an uncomfortable smile and I take her left hand, lifting it to show him. “I’m happy to say I am.” I give him a large grin with too many teeth. “My beautiful bride, Morana Ivanova MacTavish.”
I don’t like Baird’s speculative stare, but he’s courteous and charming to my bride and I move her away as soon as is polite.
“Are you having fun?” I murmur in her ear as I slide my arm around her waist. Sweet Jesus, this dress is too thin, the silk is warm from her body and I can feel the muscles in her back move as she shifts to look up at me, eyes wide in surprise.
“Yes,” she admits, “Mala is so nice! She was just telling me about meeting your brother at the Ares Academy.”
“Ya’ mean when my cradle-robbing brother carried off one of his students?”
