What the fuck just happened?
He goes to reach into his inner pocket but stops himself. He grabs my hand, leading me towards the stairwell with the onsite apartments and gets Roger’s attention.
I’m honestly in a state of confusion as I stand there with my legs crossed. Ian takes a hundred-dollar bill out of his wallet and writes on it.
“This is my number. If you need anything, you tell me immediately, you understand?” he asks.
His tone is no bullshit and firm, and I like it.Gah, what happened to my fantasies of being some badass dominant Omega?All I can think about is Ian telling me what to do and how much I would like it.
“Elena?” he repeats my name, his hand back to grasping my chin. I don’t answer, and he wraps me in his arms, giving me a tight hug.
I try not to cry.
I haven’t been hugged in so long. His scent wraps around me, and for the first time in a long time I feel safe, how is that possible? How can this stranger and his scent make me feel so comforted?
Sure, he just made me fall apart in the hallway of a high-end brothel, but this somehow means more.
“Promise you’ll call if you need anything.” His voice is softer this time, still demanding but somehow also reassuring.
I nod against his chest, and he kisses the top of my hair.
“Straight to your room to get cleaned up,” he instructs sternly.
I finally find my voice. “When will you be back?”
“As soon as I can,” he replies with a smirk before Roger opens the door for him, and he leaves the club.
I don’t think I could have imagined a more interesting first night on the job.How the fuck am I supposed to not let anyone touch me until he comes back?
5
CILLIAN
I adjustmy suit jacket as Declan pulls the car around the front.
That’s not what I intended. I didn’t intend to lie about my name, nor put my hands up that tight little red dress.
If I’m being honest, I meant to go in there and throw her over my shoulder, dragging her back to my home, where she belongs. But the way she looked at me like she’s searching for her place in the world had me stopping in my tracks, along with her scent. She might not recognize it for what it is, but I do.
She ran away instead of being bonded to me, and I need to know why. It’s clear she doesn’t know who I am or that she’s been promised to me for a considerably long time, but I wasn’t going to introduce myself as Cillian O’Brien and risk causing a scene.
I didn’t know if she knew of my name, even just in passing, so I fucking lied. When I approached her, and her eyes widened, I thought for sure she would spin on those ridiculously high heels to run away from me.
Of all fucking places, she had to be working at The High Roller. Maybe Anthony underestimating her is working to our advantage because never in a million years would he think tolook here. Plus, with our inside information, we would know right away if he was speculating about her whereabouts.
The only reason I haven’t done anything too drastic is because I know she hasn’t touched anyone else and that she won’t while I figure this shit out. She’s safe, as long as no one in this goddamn club touches her and her brother doesn’t come sniffing around.
Finn is going to kill me. What’s even worse is I’m not sure what will happen when he scents her for the first time. This is a cluster fuck.
“Not there?” Declan questions in his heavy brogue.
He’d only just moved back from Cork in anticipation of the deal that was supposed to happen. The Beta has been on a tight leash for quite some time, and I know it’s only a matter of time before he does something rash. I consider lying, consider keeping Elena a secret until I figure out what to do with her.
She ran away for a reason, and I imagine it has to do with the idea of being forced onto a pack. Not to mention her brother seems like a real fucking shitehawk. I bet Matteo’s body was still warm when the greedy prick decided he wanted to supersede his father.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure that everyone in our line of work has some form of daddy issues, but I’d never disrespect my da’ the way he has.
“She was there.”
