“Excellent plan.”
He leads me out of the SUV, and I’m immediately surrounded by four guards. Bobby and Lucky are two of them, the other two I don’t know.
The rest of the gang joins us, but we don’t walk in as a group.
The guys want us spread out until we’re safely in the ballroom, and I can’t help but feel the guilt once again because of the measures they’ve had to go to in order to make sure we’re all safe.
Mateo kisses the back of my hand, and we’re escorted through the resort to a nearby ballroom. It’s not tucked deep into the building but is just off the lobby. And when we walk inside, my jaw drops.
It’sbeautiful.
Crystal chandeliers the size of cars hang from the ceiling. There’s a stage where a six-piece string band is set up, playing soft music.
Tables with beautiful champagne-colored linens draped over them are spread out, each with gold place settings. Huge bouquets of flowers are the centerpieces, and I realize that they’re the same flowers as my tattoos.
The same as the new garden on the rooftop of Mateo’s building.
I love him so much.
I’ve also never been to anything this fancy in my life.
“Let’s mingle, shall we?” Mateo asks as he smiles softly at me, but then turns to stone once more as he surveys the room.
Despite the fact that this man rides a sport bike, fights in cages, and runs this city with his brothers, he very much fits here, with his tux and sharp eyes taking everything in. He’s switched right into James Bond mode, and I amhere for it.
Julian and Natasha join us, and I lean over to kiss my friend’s cheek. She looksamazingin a red ball gown with her hair half up, showing off incredible diamond earrings.
“No movement,” Julian says, and Mateo nods.
Rome and Lulu are across the room. She’s absolutely glowing in her black gown, which does not look like a muumuu at all. They’re talking to a tall man with dark blond hair and light scruff on his chin.
“Who is that?” I ask.
“That’s Cillian O’Connor. Head of the Irish. This is his resort,” Mateo says and offers me a glass of champagne. I have no intention of actually drinking anything, but I hold the glass. “The man on his left is his brother Declan.”
“Are they twins? They look so much alike.”
“Identical,” Julian confirms. “Cillian inherited the family business because he was older by five minutes.”
“Wow.” Natasha’s eyebrows climb. “Did that piss Declan off?”
“No, he didn’t want it,” Mateo replies. “He likes the freedom of being Cillian’s number two.”
Carson’s moving around the room, his face hard and his blue eyes shifting over every person here.
“You guys are so ... I don’t even know how to describe it.”
“We’re at work,” Julian says, but leans over to press his lips to Natasha’s head. “This is a side to us you won’t see often.”
I notice that Cillian walks away from Rome and heads our way. He nods at Julian and Mateo and kisses Natasha’s hand, and when his gaze moves to me, his bright-blue eyes soften, and he smiles kindly.
“It’s a pleasure, lass.” He shakes my hand politely. “Congratulations are in order, I hear.”
“Thank you. And thank you for doing all of this.”
“Who doesn’t enjoy a party,” he responds with a wink. “Yakuza just walked in.”
“I saw,” Mateo says, his hand tightening on mine, and I follow his gaze to the door where six Asian men just came in. They don’t have any women with them.
