“I’m not asking for your approval. It’s happening, and that’s final.”
“We’ll be the laughingstock of the entire city.”
Brennan is quiet for a moment, his eyes flickeringbetween Kieran and me, as if waiting for Kieran to explode again.
“It makes sense,” Lorcan chimes in. “We need to control whatever influence the McCarthys have left because we can’t afford for anyone else to take advantage of their weakness.Especiallynow that Seamus is…” He looks over at the empty chair behind the desk.
I nod. “Which is why I need to go after Ciara.”
Kieran opens his mouth to argue again, but I raise my hand to silence him again.
“This is not up for discussion. It’s happening whether any of us like it or not.”
“Do what you want, brother, but don’t be surprised if Callum puts up a fight.”
“Like I said, I’ll deal with Callum.”
Kieran doesn’t look convinced, but for once he stays silent. He knows better than to argue when I’ve made up my mind.
Lorcan locks eyes with me. “So, it’s decided.”
Brennan looks wary. “Are you so sure she’s going to say yes? She literally looked like she wanted to stick a knife in you only hours ago.”
“Don’t worry about me, little brother. I can be very…persuasive.”
Brennan huffs a laugh before pulling out his phone and scrolling. “We should get started on everything.”
I nod, my mind already working through the next steps.
This is the perfect solution. In one fell swoop, I fulfill my father’s last wish, and I get closer to a woman who intrigues me more than she has a right to.
Of course, getting Ciara to agree to marriage isn’t going to be easy. So, I guess I’ll have to make it extra clear that if she refuses, she’s going to live to regret it.
Chapter Six
CIARA
It’sway too early in the morning to be awake, but then again, I never really went to sleep.
I maybe got an hour or two at most, then the next thing I knew, Mila was up and getting ready for her five a.m. Pilates class, and life was going on as normal.
She offered to let me hang around, but Callum will likely need to talk about what happened last night, so the sooner I get that over with, the sooner I can leave it all behind me.
After borrowing a pair of pink sweats and flip-flops from Mila, I walk the two blocks to where my car is parked, my dress over my shoulder and my heels in hand. I must look a sight, wearing last night's makeup with my hair all knotted, but all things considered, it’s the least of my worries.
By the time I finally pull into the long, sweeping driveway of the McCarthy estate, the sun is almost fully risen, painting the sky in stripes of pale pink and orange. Normally I’d stop to admire such a sight, but not today.
Today, everything feels muted.
Even the house looks tired, which somehow makes my mood even worse.
It once stood as a proud monument of our legacy, with its white marble columns and sculpted hedges, but now it just looks weathered. The gates creak as they open, and weeds push through the gravel because the gardeners are long gone. The fountain in the center of the driveway has dried up and is stained with mildew, and ivy covers almost the entire east side of the house.
It’s as if even my house is trying to reject my family. A family that once swam in power and wealth.
Now it’s all I can do just to keep the lights on and the water hot.
My mother would be heartbroken to see our house looking so derelict, and part of me is glad she’s not around to witness our downfall.
