He looks at Ian, not me.
“I’ll do this one thing for you, brother. Don’t fuck it up.”
He stands to his full height, looking down his nose at me before heading towards the exit.
“What was that about?” I ask Ian as soon as his twin leaves The High Roller.
“Just him being a grumpy bastard, ignore him.”
I play with his tie, sliding my fingers under it and flipping the back to find the Dior logo. It seemed like more than his brother being difficult, but I don’t feel like I have the right to ask.
I should return Ian’s money and tell him this isn’t going to work out. I thought I was an expert at hooking up with no feelings, but I realize now that my vagina and heart are conspiring against me when it comes to this tall Alpha with the addictive scent. If I end it now, I won’t get hurt; this little crush will get squashed before it really ever started.
He wraps his hand around mine, the one that’s still holding his tie, and he kisses me. His lips are softer than I’d imagined they’d be, but he isn’t gentle; the kiss is searing. Ian’s tongueenters my mouth, making me moan, returning the favor. The tip of my tongue touches one of his canines, and I nearly shiver.
He breaks the kiss, the left side of his mouth tilted up. “A deal’s a deal,mo stór,” he states.
I don’t know how he already knows me so well, but something I don’t do is go back on my word. I just nod and crash my lips back to his.
7
DECLAN
“She’s safe?”he asks, the accent he’s gotten so good at hiding sneaks out nonetheless.
“Aye. I’ve been sitting in front of this fucking brothel for days now. She doesn’t leave,” I tell Lorcán.
“I should come and get her. It’s not worth the risk of leaving her there. Anthony is on a tirade trying to find her.”
“I’ve been keeping an eye out, Lorc. Not a singleGuidoin sight. Are you sure you’re ready to face the music, anyway?”
He sighs over the phone. Lorcán is my longest-standing friend, and knowing both him and Cillian are so fucked over the doe-eyed blonde has me curious. It’s why I’ve been camped out in front of this building for the last few days. Not to mention the boss, Seamus, is nearly positive that his son is going to fuck this all up.
“What did Seamus say?” He notably doesn’t call him his father; I suppose I don’t blame him.
“Considering she’s meant to be shared between us, that we need to figure it out and not fuck up his business on the West Coast? As long as we don’t cause any waves, he doesn’t care. Anthony will more than likely be taken care of, so your schemes of double agent can finally come to an end.”
He laughs over the phone.
“Why didn’t Cillian or Finn call me?” he asks, and I shrug, even though he can’t see me while sitting on my camping chair. People glare, but when I glare right back, they keep walking by.
“Aw, feeling jilted by your half-brothers?” I croon.
“Fuck off, Declan.”
“Ah, so I should leave the blondie to her own devices. I could be knuckles deep right now, you know?”
Lorcán sighs heavily into my ear. “She’s supposed to be yours too, Declan.”
Sure, I’m part of the deal, but only because Seamus doesn’t want his sons to fuck up his entire empire. I’m not sure why he thinks throwing me into the mix will somehow make a difference. Maybe to keep the peace or be the voice of reason, but I’m not even sure I’m good at that.
“As much as I beat off all the ladies with a stick, I don’t see me meaning much to this one.”
“You haven’t met her,” he replies, irritation clear in his tone.
“Ah, well, luckily for me, I have a brain instead of a knot.”
“Oh, fuck off.”
