Liam tells the photographer to go fucking easy on the lights before bending his mouth to my ear. “I plan on flogging my?—“
“There they are!” A young woman hurries over. She’s shockingly pretty, dressed conservatively, and has a wide smile. Her big, round eyes seem to sparkle with amusement as Liam pulls away from me. “I’ve been dying to say congratulations.”
“Hello, Caroline, thank you very much.” Liam sounds oddly formal as she hugs him fiercely. “Where’s the boss?”
“Oh, he’s coming.” Caroline turns to me, brushing her dark hair off her shoulder. “You’re Regan. It’s really amazing to meet you. I’m sorry it has to be here, but you know how it goes. I’m Caroline Whelan, Finn’s wife.”
“Nice to meet you,” I say in a daze, barely registering who she really is, though the last name gives her away.
The center of power. The core Whelan family.
Finn himself strides over. He shakes Liam’s hand and pounds his back amiably before hugging me like we’ve known each other forever. I catch a bemused glare on Liam’s face at that. Finn studies me a moment, his handsome eyes glinting. He’s got a boyish charm to him, an ease and a flow, like he’s the room’s boss and everyone knows it.
Which he probably is.
“I wanted to say how thankful I am you agreed to this, Regan.” Finn squeezes my shoulders before stepping back to join his wife. “Everyone in my family appreciates it. I know it’s not easy, since you’re stuck with that one?—“
“I’m a delight and she’s truly ecstatic we’re together,” Liam says dryly.
“—But still, it’s important, and it means a lot. We won’t forget it.”
Caroline cuts in quickly. “And if you need anything, anything at all, and I mean that very sincerely, please reach out. I have some ideas about how you’re feeling right now and I wouldn’t mind chatting.”
“Um, thank you.”
Liam puts an arm around my shoulder and pulls me tight. “What my shy wife means is, we appreciate it, and please go drink the booze you paid for.”
Finn laughs loudly and steers Caroline away. I blink a few times, heady and uncertain, as Liam waves the photographer off and tells the planner to go sit on her schedule. My mom won’t like that, but Liam tugs me over to a table off to the side and fetches a glass of champagne.
“Drink it.” He makes sure I obey. It’s bubbly and warm in my stomach. “You look like you’re going to puke.”
“Sorry. I’m fine. I’m totally fine.”
“Keep saying it, maybe it’ll come true.”
“Don’t be a dick. You’re the reason I’m like this.”
“No, I’m not.” His voice softens as he looks across the room at the gathering men. I follow his gaze. “They are and you know it.”
I want to argue. He was the one at the front of the room. He was the one who took my hand in marriage. But I know what he means.
The men in this room are the real power. Their families, businesses, structures, desires, whims, those are the reason anything happens. If the Whelans didn’t want a closer alliance with my father and tighter grip over the money laundering operation, this wouldn’t be happening. Liam’s as much a piece in this game as I am.
Still… he’s here and they aren’t.
“I really want to go home. I don’t want to do this.” I say it offhand. I know it’s not an option. Liam’s got to parade me around, introduce me to important people, and I have to smile through it all like I’m happy about this.
He comes closer around the table. “We can go if you want.”
I snap my eyes to him. “Are you kidding?”
“Not at all. We don’t matter, love. You think they’ll notice?”
“My mother sure as heck will.”
“She’ll survive. I’ll make excuses to Finn and the others. Declan won’t care. Your father might be pissed, but what’s it matter? The Whelans got what they wanted.”
I bite my tongue. I know the right thing is to mingle. I should thank everyone for coming, but they’re not here for me. I didn’t invite any of them and had nothing to do with this event at all.Even the dress appeared in my room one day, perfectly tailored and ready to wear.
