“He works for Enzo. No other reason.”
I stare at Marco hard. I can tell he’s lying to me. I may not know him at all but I’ve always had a good bullshit detector and right now, Marco is not telling me the full truth.
What secrets is he keeping?
“I don’t want to marry you,” I state point blank.
“I didn’t plan on marrying you either but after your father offered you up, I couldn’t refuse. And you will be mine, Ciara. I will not lose another woman.”
“Another woman? What does that mean?”
He looks away and composes his expression. “A slip of the tongue. You will be mine and that will be final. Now, I should talk with your father some more. He’s the one who will help me in this war.”
“And I can’t?”
“You’re just the woman I agreed to marry to get what I want.”
“You’re an asshole,” I spit out.
“And that’s no way to talk to your future husband.” Marco walks away before I can get another word in.
Cormac rushes to my side. “What did that fucker say to you?”
“Language, Cormac. What will our dad think?”
“Fuck Dad for making you marry that man.”
“You need to get rid of him for me,” I state without taking my eyes off Marco. I will not marry a man who insists on trying to control my life.
“I have a plan.”
“Make it happen faster. Dad told me earlier that he wants the wedding to happen by the end of the month.”
“I will get rid of him, I promise. I already put the plan in motion.” He nods towards Marco. “See?” I watch as Marco takes a sip of the drink in his hand.
“You didn’t,” I say.
Cormac smiles, looking proud of himself. “I did.”
At that very moment, Marco stumbles backwards, clutching at his throat as he falls to the ground. The other guests scream and swarm around him but I can only smile. Cormac poisoned Marco for me. Good riddance. I was never going to marry a man like him. Over my own dead body.
Chapter Three
Marco
Iwake up in a hospital room. I know it well. After I was shot multiple times by Will, I spent months in different hospital rooms, recovering, but they’re all the same. Same smell. Same look.
I jerk upright to discover Patrick sitting across from me. “What happened?” I immediately ask.
He sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. “It seems you were poisoned. It was enough to make you pass out but I called for an ambulance and they saved you in time.”
“I was poisoned… at your party. I remember drinking the champagne you provided and then… here I am.”
“It wasn’t me, Marco. I want this deal to happen. I assure you. I wouldn’t have offered you my daughter’s hand if I didn’t want you married to her.”
“I believe you.” Patrick wants power just as much as I do and he knows we can achieve it together. “Which means someone else doesn’t want me working with you. Who?”
“I’m not sure. But I’ll find out. I’m just glad you’re alive. This way we can proceed with the wedding. Ciara cried when I told her you were all right. I think she cares for you already.”
