Flynn (The Irish Consortium #2)

Prologue – Flynn

“Beautiful wedding, mate.” I clap Declan on the shoulder.

“Thanks, brother.” He raises his glass, and at that moment I see her. She’s in a black-and-white suit and glasses, sitting at a computer, the only person here not drunk, dancing, or flirting. She’s just…working.

“Didn’t think you were the nerdy type,” Declan chuckles next to me.

“I’m not,” I mutter, taking a sip of my Guinness. “Just looking.”

“Right.” He snorts, eyes sliding toward her, analysing like only Declan Callaghan can. “You’ll break her in two, mate.”

I grin. “And that’s always fun.” She pushes her glasses up, fingers flying across the keyboard, oblivious to me. “Who is she?”

“Autumn.” An amused female voice cuts through the music. Dropkick Murphys pounding through the speakers.

Viviana.

“Wait…Autumn? Who the fuck names their kid Autumn?” I try to avoid the mocking tone but fail.

“Hey!” Viviana smacks my arm. “I love that name!”

My eyebrow shoots up. Fuck, she’s serious.

“Fine, fine.” I turn back to Autumn. Chocolate hair with a streak of red that glows when the light hits just right. Hazel eyes with gold, pale skin, freckles near her neck. She looks so breakable, so—

“I met her when I needed photos for a company. They wanted them for their website. She’s an incredible photographer.” Viviana pulls my attention back, thank fuck, because I’m already twitching.

“Photographer, huh?” I nod, taking another sip of Guinness, keeping my hands busy so I don’t do something stupid at Declan and Viviana’s wedding. After all they have been through, they finally deserve a real one, where she actually likes him and doesn’t want to kill him.

“For fuck’s sake, Flynn.” Declan slaps me on the back, nearly making me spill my drink. “A girl like her with a primal arsehole like you?”

Oh fuck, not in front of Vivia—

“Primal?” She steps in front of me, mouth open, eyes scanning me like I’m some strange animal.

I jab Declan in the arm. “Thanks a lot,” I groan. Facing Viviana, I find her lips parted, her eyes locked on mine. Shit.

“Well…Declan is dominant—”

“Oh no.” She cuts me off, amusement brightening her eyes. “Don’t make this about him. You’re into primal…stuff?”

Not the time or place, but Viviana has me boxed between her, the bar, and Declan. She’s not letting it go.

“Do you even know what that is, firecracker?” Declan tries to divert her, but it’s useless.

“Yes, well…kind of…” She squints like she’s trying to crack me open. “You hunt, right? Follow a more feral way of—” She trails off, eyes twitching.

I’ve got no idea what the fuck to say. Declan bursts out laughing beside me, shaking his head.

I’ll break his nose on his fucking wedding day, I swear.

“So?” she presses.

“Yes, hunt. Something like that.” I breathe out, trying not to look too uncomfortable talking kinks with my best mate’s wife.

She glances at Autumn, then back at me. “She doesn’t look like the type who’d want to be pursued in the dark woods by someone like you.” She chuckles.

That’s what makes Autumn interesting: the innocence in her eyes, the way she’s covered head to toe yet still lets that little hint of cleavage show enough to make me want to bend her over the table.

“You never know. You hated my guts.” Declan leans into Viviana with a smirk that says it’s time for them to get a room.

My hands clench when I catch a guest leaning into Autumn. She smiles gently, uncomfortable. I could make him regret it.

“I’m not looking to chase her,” I tell Viviana, though my mind is already staging scene after scene of the ways I could.

“Hmm, hope not.” Viviana chirps, but Selma, her best friend, calls her away before I can reply.

“Thanks for that, fucking arsehole,” I mutter.

“Sorry, mate.” Declan sips his whisky. “It slipped.”

My spine stiffens when she bends to grab something from her bag.

Declan and I used to frequent a kink club in town when our parents were still alive.

Back then, we only had to show up at Consortium meetings, not make decisions.

We spent the rest of our time finding out what made us tick.

Declan was into control and dominance. Me?

I pushed further. Biting, scratching. Chasing until they laughed nervously, then throwing them to the floor and fucking them right there. Biting until I tasted blood.

After our fathers died, Declan became leader, and I stood beside him, his right arm, along with his brothers. I gave it all up. I dated, got bored, tried again. Same shit. I’m expected to marry, get my wife pregnant, continue the Brady name. The next rulers of the Irish Consortium.

Autumn isn’t like the women in our world. She’s not scared of us. Doesn’t have that look in her eyes. She doesn’t see the deals being made in the shadows. She’s just here to work and enjoy Viviana’s wedding. Sweet. Untouched.

My breathing quickens, and Declan shifts closer.

“You’re fucked.” He grunts.

“I know,” I mutter, unable to tear my eyes off her.