A short, squat redheaded man hops out of the car, leaving it running. “Alasdair! I’d say it was good to see you again, but I suspect the circumstances of this meeting aren’t great, so forgive me if I don’t. Now, what the hell happened?”
Kerry turns to the man, dipping his head in a polite greeting. “O’Neil. Regardless of the circumstance, I think it’s good to see you again. Thank you for agreeing to meet me despite the vitriol that Astero must be spewing.”
“Yeah, well, as I mentioned the last time we spoke, I noticed some suspicious behavior with him. But I liked you from the start. I knew that old bastard must not be telling the whole truthwhen he told me his side of the story.” O’Neil scoffs, and then his eyes land on me. “Oh, pardon my language, miss.”
I chuckle and reach my hand forward towards him. “It’s all right. I’ve heard worse, trust me. I’m Amy. Amy Astero.”
O’Neil immediately beams and takes my hand, shaking it. “Ah, what a lovely lady you are. And you make a handsome couple together. You remind me of my own wife, you do.” He turns to Kerry with a wink. “Don’t mess it up and lose her, Alasdair.”
“I try my best every single day.” Kerry chuckles before taking a deep breath. “Now, you want to know what happened? It’s simple. Astero felt threatened. He brought up your name in particular. I think he caught wind that you might be interested in cutting him out, and that right pissed him off. I’ve got a couple leads as to who might’ve tipped him off, but, in short, I believe it’s a bastard that my allies made an enemy of. He told me he wanted the wedding off to prevent me from getting access to these docks, and dividing Astero and I would be the fastest way to do that.”
O’Neil sighs and shakes his head. “Ah, the classic game. Well, Astero is a fool to fall for it. You don’t burn bridges like that. Besides, a love like yours can’t be ruined so simply. Did he really think his granddaughter would just drop the man she loves so easily and do as he says? He always did talk about women poorly, like objects and not people.”
I clear my throat to speak up again. “I don’t think he realized we’re in love. He’s never been a very observant man.” It felt nice to speak ill of him. Freeing. Empowering. “I think he assumed I was only doing this because it benefited the family.”Of course, that was the truth at first. But this man didn’t need to know that.“But you’re right, he’s always treated women badly. Myself included. And I’d like to leave that and be with someone who treats me right.” My gaze drifts to the tall Irishman next tome, who’s smiling like he’s just been crowned King. Or, rather, Queen.
O’Neil is practically swooning as he looks between us. It’s quite a funny expression on an older man, who seems like a tough and seasoned New Yorker. “How beautiful. Well, you came to the right place. I can’t help but love romance and everything that comes with it. So, I’m in.” He claps his hands together. “I’ll switch over the contracts right away. My docks will be yours and we’re cutting old Astero out of it. Out with the old, in with the new Astero.” He winks at me likeI’llbe accessing the docks, not Alasdair. “After all, I’m still keeping my word and keeping it in the Astero family.”
Kerry chuckles. “We’re glad to hear it. I’d like to have a peek at his storage crates, too, if you don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind at all.” O’Neil beams at Kerry like he’s been waiting for a way to make my grandfather suffer. Maybe he has been, I don’t know.
“Wonderful. I’ll attend to that soon enough, perhaps in a few months, whenever is convenient for you. I’d like to wait until after I’ve gotten my future bride settled in Ireland, though.” Kerry slides his hand down to the small of my back, making goosebumps break out all over my skin. “We’ve postponed our wedding until all of this is resolved. We didn’t want business and family drama ruining our big day. But, once it does happen, won’t you come to Ireland to attend it?”
You would’ve thought that Kerry just offered the man a million dollars by the way he smiles at my ex-but-future-fiance. “I would love nothing more than to bring my lady across the pond to visit my ancestors’ home and do just that.”
Kerry holds his hand out to O’Neil, who gladly accepts it with a shake.
Step one of cutting my grandfather out of things is officially accomplished.
4
Amy
Kerry is silent the entire ride back to the hotel. I’d be nervous that he’s somehow upset with me, but I’ve spent enough time with him now to tell that he’s just thinking. Very intensely, by the looks of it. He isn’tintendingto look scary.
No, when he wants to be intimidating, you damn well know it.
His thumbs fly across the phone. I’m making sure not to look at his screen, not wanting to see any details about hisbusiness.Any doubt about his actual romantic interest in me has been removed now. I’m not worried about him seeing anyone else.
We’re almost to the hotel when he finally looks up at me, resting a hand on my arm. It feels warm and all-encompassing. “Something’s come up, leannán. I’m needed elsewhere for a couple of hours, but I don’t want you far. I took the liberty of having Jack gather your things and bringing them up to my guest room in my suite, so you’ll be comfortable there. Now that things are settled with O’Neil, I want to go to Ireland as soon as I finish up this one loose end. Okay?” I nod and he reaches up to caress my cheek. His eyes flicker to my lips, and I wonder if he’s going to kiss me when he clears his throat. “Stay in the suite. I don’t want your grandparents to know where you are.”
I nod. “Okay. I’ll stay there.” The car dips slightly as it pulls into the front of the hotel.
Kerry dips his head in a nod. “I know you will. You’re my smart girl, Amy.”
If I wasn’t planning on staying put before, I definitely am now. I have a thing for praise, clearly. At least when it’s coming fromhim.
Kerry escorts me up to his suite, making sure I have everything I need before he goes. But not before making me deadbolt the door behind him.
I turn and look out over the cityscape out the tall windows of his suite, the glittering lights of New York City dazzling as they’re spread out below.
Another day, another hiding away in a hotel room.At least this one is nicer.
Kerry
I’m trying not to get my hopes up. But as I lean against the wall in the darkened room, watching Steffoff groan as Jack and Liam pace around him, it’s difficult. Because everything is going to plan. The cords to Astero are being cut one by one, and he’s going to suffer for it. Amy is willing to give me a chance and wants to pursue something with me. The more I think about it, the more I know that her wanting to not rush into marriage actually means she’s serious about our relationship. She’s staying with me, but wanting to do this properly. It’s a good sign.
And now? Well, now we know exactly what De Matteis and his underlings have been up to and what they’re planning, all thanks to this chattering Swedish rat that sits in front of me.
