I’d been outplayed. Thomas had probably been waiting for this opportunity. An audience, one he knew I couldn’t risk saying no in front of. The asshole.
Connor reached around me to salvage the envelope and deed within before I had a chance to crush it any further than I already had. “Thank you, Father. We appreciate your kind gesture and will be delighted to accept.”
No, we wouldn’t.
Connor nudged my arm with his elbow. “Isn’t that right, Aileen?”
I glared, stubborn to the end even with the expectant look that told me to fall in line.
Fine.
My smile was strained as I spoke through gritted teeth. “Of course. Never happier.”
five
Thomaslookedlikeaproud papa, nearly beaming with the force of his pleasure. The crowd was slow to disperse now that the show was over.
Dominick’s gaze shifted to me for an instant. Something other than apathy showing on his face as one side of his mouth kicked up.
Monster wasn’t a term I used lightly, but it felt appropriate. There was a cold, clinical detachment in his expression. That of a predator whose prey had eluded it.
This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.
A chill snuck up my spine as Dominick mouthed, “I’m looking forward to deepening our acquaintance.”
Then he was gone, vanishing into the crowd.
“I did warn you to be careful,” Liam murmured, joining me.
“I wished I’d listen.”
For once, I was telling the truth.
Dominick was going to be a problem. Whatever plans he had, I was betting after this they featured me—and Connor.
Liam slid an arm around my back, bringing my side flush with his. “Me too,mo chuisle.”
I tilted my head back to stare up at his face. “Thanks for your help with the house situation, by the way.”
The corners of Liam’s mouth twitched upward as he looked down at me with a playful expression. “I thought you were handling things quite well.”
I scowled at him. “I didn’t want this.”
His nod held a fake sympathy. “You could always take me up on my offer.”
I looked away, wanting to avoid the subject, as I had every other time he’d brought it up.
I wasn’t sure why the thought of moving in with him made me so uncomfortable when I was practically living with him anyways, but it did. Since my apartment had burned down a few months ago, I’d split my time between his house and the Gargoyle as I looked for a new place.
“You know why I don’t,” I said awkwardly.
“Ah, yes, your pixies.”
To my relief, he sounded more amused than hurt.
I threaded my fingers through his, knowing I owed him more of an explanation. “That’s not the only reason. You know that, right?”
Vampires were a weird bunch. Their sense of personal space was different than a human’s. For instance, it was considered perfectly normal to live in a big group with other vampires.
