Nodding slowly, he presses for more. "You seem young for a lawyer."
My cheeks warm from the wine again, "I just got my license. I'm still technically an intern for a few more days, but I become a junior attorney for the firm next week."
"Wow," he breathes. "That's incredible, Brigit. Congratulations."
I fight the urge to tuck my head into his shoulder and hide the way his praise washes over me. Jesus Christ, my desperate need for approval, even from strangers, is ridiculous. "Thank you." I clear my throat, "What do you d— just kidding, you do this. You're the reason everyone here is running face first into walls."
"An open bar at a charity function. Who knew it'd be such a hit?" he mutters playfully.
"I bet your partner did," I suggest. "While he might have been thefirstin the fountain, I doubt he'll be the only."
"Fucking hell," he groans, "He'd take it as such a compliment if he knew he got people wasted enough to go swimming in their thousand dollar suits and dresses. So if youdosee anyone take a dip, you can't tell him."
I don't bother saying it won't be a problem.
Realistically, I'll never see either one of them again.
When the song ends— and it may not even be the same song as when we started dancing, there's no way to tell when they all sound thesame—I extract myself from his hold, taking my first real breath since we came back inside.
Checking my watch, I use the time as an excuse, "It's getting late. I have an early morning tomorrow." Lie. And the slight narrowing of his eyes while his lips pull in a smirk tells me he knows it, too. "It was nice meeting you."
"You, too, Brigit," he places both hands in his pockets, "Thanks for the dance."
I nod once before escaping from the gala as quickly as is polite, slipping into a cab to head back to my real life.
The dance and conversation were fun, sure, but nothing more than that. We were two strangers in passing, possibly the only two normal attendees there, commiserating about being stuffed in a room with the pompous elite.
Hopefully, I made a good enough impression on everyone else that I'll be able to report to Ian and our owners that it was a success.
That's what was most important tonight.
Earning my place in the life I'm building with Ian.
Chapter 25
Strip
CORMAC
Idon't think it's supposed to feel like this.
I just put two bullets through someone, and the only thing that even registers in my mind is how it might affect Brigit.
She's still frozen against the wall panel he must have shoved her into hard enough to crack it, her terrified eyes locked onto mine.
Slowly, I set the pistol on the closest couch, not breaking eye contact, not even giving her a chance to look at the mess of a man on the floor.
Once the dangerous weapon is out of my hands, I return to my petrified girl, wrapping my arms around her shoulders and pulling her into me.
She collapses into my hold, her body shaking with fear and desperate sobs.
"You're okay," I tell her, though I know that she's not. She's not even close to okay right now, clinging to me like I'm the only thing keeping her here on earth.
Instantly, my mind starts spinning through what will have to come next.
We have a body in her apartment.
A cop's body.
