“I’m deadly serious.” I raise a brow. “So, tell me,Ciara. Do you know how to be a good girl?”
Her expression doesn’t change, but the way her jaw tightens tells me I’ve struck a nerve.
“Go to hell.”
“I already live there.” I lift my glass. “You’re just moving in.”
She stands suddenly, which captures the attention of the table.
“This entire thing is a fucking joke. I’m out.”
Callum is on his feet in an instant, a look of panic on his face as he reaches for his sister. “Ciara, sit down. Let’s just finish this.”
“I don’t need to sit down. I told you, I’mdone.”
She looks at me with such fury and disgust that I can’t stop myself from laughing.
“And people say marriage is boring.”
She looks about ready to smash her wine glass over my head, which I’m sure my brothers would find entertaining.
But thankfully, Callum tugs on her arm and snaps her out of her rage, at least for a moment.
“Ciara, I already told you there is no other option. We have to do this.”
“Youdon’t have to do anything. It’s me who’s signing my life over tohim.”
I flash her a wink, which only adds to her fury.
“Do you get off causing people pain, is that it?”
“You don’t want to know what gets me off, darling.”
Kieran howls with laughter. “I’m so fucking glad you forced me to come to this tonight. This shit is entertaining.”
“I’m glad I amuse you,” Ciara fires at Kieran.
“You could do more than amuse me if you want,” he teases, which is the final nail in the coffin.
I’m all for teasing Ciara, but that privilege does not extend to my brother.
I slam my fist down on the table, all traces of amusement gone from my face as I look each and every person in the eye. “Enough!”
“Ronan, I—” Callum starts, but I hold up a hand to silence him.
I direct my attention at Ciara. “If you want to go, then go. All we need is a signature from your brother, and the deal is done. We just invited you along tonight to be polite.”
Ciara looks about ready to lunge for me, but Callum holds his arm out in front of her to hold her back.
“Ciara,please. We need this.”
I sit back and watch as a look passes between the siblings.
Callum looks to be at breaking point, and from the way Ciara’s shoulders eventually slump, she knows it too.
She sits back down beside me, her green eyes blazing with fury as she looks at me, but I don’t have it in me to feel bad for what I’m making her do. Mainly because I can’t get over how fucking sexy she looks when she’s mad.
“You might have gotten your way with this stupid marriage. But don’t think for one second that you own me.”
