It’s a declaration of war if our objectives end up clashing.
“My loyalty is to my brother’s safety.”
The words shouldn’tirritate me.
But they do.
Because I don’t hear husband anywhere in that answer, not that I should reasonably expect to.
I mean, it’s irrational for me to be pissed off because I already knew what her answer would be. But it makes my job that much harder unless I find a silver bullet that gives my family the upper hand.
And right now, I’ve got nothing. No cards to play.
I bring a hand to the back of my neck and rub.
So how the fuck am I gonna win this game?
The city lights blur across the windshield as I drive back to the penthouse later.
Tierney sits quietly, staring out the window, wringing her hands together.
“You did good tonight,” I say.
“I wasn’t there to impress anyone. Least of all you.”
I let out a snort. “Obviously.”
She turns her head slightly. “Your ma hates me.”
“She hates losing control.”
“And I represent that.”
“Uh, yeah, Tierney,” I say. “You did something that could destroy my family, everything we’ve built. And now you have something that can make us targets to a lot of fucking bad people.”
“We’re both fucked because of what I did, let’s face it,” she mutters. She’s silent for a minute, then says, “You enjoyed that third degree, didn’t you?”
I glance at her with a smirk. “I like seeing you with yourback to a wall. I admire how you held your shit together when you really wanted to attack.”
“They don’t trust me. You know, I’m not going to do anything that’ll hurt my brother.”
“I know,” I say. “I admire your loyalty. But even though my family doesn’t trust you, they still respect you to some extent. You’re not fragile or stupid. And you’re not as cold as you pretend to be. You took a shitty situation and jumped in head first because of your loyalty. You gotta respect someone who does that.”
Her jaw tightens. “Don’t pretend you know me.”
“I know enough. Much as you hate to hear that.”
The garage door opens when I pull up to the security gate and I drive through. After backing into my spot, I turn off the engine.
For a long minute, neither of us moves.
“You threatened Connor earlier,” she says.
“I just reminded you of the stakes.”
“Don’t think you can use him against me.”
I turn my whole body toward her.
