Chapter 14
Isabelle
After I wash off the mess that bastard made on my stomach, I rummage through the bag my mother left in my room. I change into jeans and a t-shirt and ignore the ache between my legs. I brush out the leftover curls from my hairdo, toss it in a ponytail, and shove on my tennis shoes. With my phone tucked in my back pocket, I swing open the door and stop short at the giant hulk of a man leaning against the wall. I briefly remember him from the wedding because I thought he looked like he could crush me with his bare hands. His auburn hair is pulled back into a ponytail with the sides shaved off. The diamond studs in each of his ears draw more attention to the tattoos etched on his pale scalp. I wonder if Rian has tattoos under his hair too and then shake my head, not wanting to appreciate anything more about him.
“Going somewhere?” the man drawls out. His lips quirk up at the corner. He crosses his thick arms. Bunched muscles flex under the tight black shirt that shows off broad shoulders. More tattoos spiral around his arms, similar to Rian’s, a reminder that this man must be a part of the brotherhood.
I straighten my shoulders back, reassuring myself that they won’t harm me. “Yes.”
He stares at me silently for a moment, his dark blue eyes sparkling in amusement before raising an eyebrow. “Well, don’t leave me in suspense.”
I narrow my eyes. “I would prefer not to tell you.”
“Request denied.” He stands taller, dropping his hands into the pockets of his ripped jeans. I realize that he’s dressed more appropriately for a casual outing instead of a wedding. “You want to leave, you leave with me. Or you turn around and throw your tantrum in that room.”
“I’m not throwing a tantrum,” I scoff. “And I don’t even know you.”
“Didn’t notice me standing beside your husband?”
“Nope, too busy looking for exits.”
“There were four. Two behind the podium, the one you came through, and the side wall parallel with the fifth row from the front pew,” he states in a matter of fact manner.
I blink, some of my anger draining away. “A little too late for that information.”
He smirks, a low chuckle rumbling out of him. “You wouldn’t have gotten far, darlin'.”
Then he nods toward the end of the hallway. “We staying or going?”
“Would you take me to Rian?” I ask, crossing my arms.
His eyes twinkle with humor again. “Absolutely.”
An off-putting sensation prickles at the back of my mind. His quick agreement should be a warning in itself, so I say my feelings. “I feel like this is a trap.”
His grin widens. “I like your intuition. Very useful for being around men like him…and me.”
I take a step back before realizing I don’t have the key to get in the room. I’m stuck in the hallway with a psychopath who could kill me.
The man snorts. “I’m Cillian. You don’t have anything to fear from me. Rian is my brother.”
“Anyone can lie,” I say, proud there’s no waver in my voice. If only my pride hadn’t forced me to storm out of the room without a second thought.
Cillian nods. “Anyone can lie, just like you and Rian pretending he just deflowered you.”
My heart jumps into my throat and I stand taller. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
He presses his fingertips to his mouth, hiding a smile. “I’m his brother, like I said. Ready to go find your husband now?”
I let go of the room’s handle and nod. He pushes off the wall and walks to the stairwell, only glancing back once to ensure I’m following him. We walk in silence all the way to the parking garage, where he leads me to an SUV that I am hesitant to climb into. After a few seconds I decide if he wanted to kidnap me, he could have knocked me out at any time.
When he starts driving, I fidget in the passenger seat. This isn’t how I imagined my wedding night going.
“How’d you know about Rian and me?” I ask to break the silence.
He peeks at me before turning his attention to the road. “I was there that night at the bar. I tried to go home with your friend.”
My shoulders slump. “Does everyone in the brotherhood know?”
Cillian shrugs. “I don’t know. Rian’s sex life isn’t a topic we openly discuss. You’ll have to ask him.”
“Why are you bringing me to him so easily? I would think you’d keep me locked in the room.”
He smirks. “Because the look on his face when he sees you will be worth his fury. And a reminder that he can’t just run off to do whatever he wants. My sister would have backhanded him for even leaving to begin with, so I’ll do it in her honor.”
My eyebrows scrunch together when he pulls up in front of a dingy-looking parking lot. Most of the empty windows have for lease posters on them, besides the middle business. The neon signs and wood paneling on the front stand out against the bleak darkness.
“The fucking stronzo went to a bar?” I growl out, moving to grab the door handle.
Cillian grips my elbow. “I said I would take you. I didn’t say you could go inside.”
“Let go of me.” I try to pull my arm from his grasp but his hold tightens.
He clicks his tongue. “Now don’t go struggling. Rian will stab me if I leave a bruise.”
“I’ll stab you if you don’t let go.”
Cillian laughs. “Damn. The fucker was right. A woman after my own heart.”
I turn to look at him, confused.
He shakes his head. “Sit your ass back down and wait for your husband like a good little wife.”
I roll my eyes, wanting desperately to show him how much I’m not a good wife, but I settle back in my seat instead. Cillian pulls his hand back and opens the glove compartment. My mouth drops at the vast amounts of snacks stuffed inside.
“It looks like you cleared out a 7-11.”
Cillian chuckles, pulling out a bag of chips. “Nah, just some of your bodegas. People have looser lips when you’re spending money.”
“I’m sure Luca would love to know that,” I mutter, pulling out a bag of licorice.
A snort echoes to my left. “It’s the name of the game, darlin'. Everyone has their dirty fingers in everyone’s business.”
Ignoring the comment, considering this isn’t a game I want to participate in, I eat my licorice in silence with my eyes glued to the entrance of the bar. As soon as the man I’m looking for comes through it I toss the food to the floor.
Cillian’s curses follow me out as I open the door, muttering something about a child lock.
I step out and Rian stops short, taking in my sudden appearance before turning his glare at Cillian.
“You left me in bed and came for a drink?” I grit out, crossing my arms.
Aodhan blows out a low whistle, tapping Rian on the back and moving around us. “Let’s leave the newlyweds to it, brother,” he says to Cillian before stopping next to me. “Have a good night, Isabelle. Welcome to the family.”
The dead expression in his eyes doesn’t comfort me, even with the spoken sentiments. I swallow and don’t say anything as they get into the SUV I just exited.
I look back at Rian, who has been watching the entire exchange silently, when Cormac steps out of the place next. He whispers something into Rian’s ear and my husband nods. Then he disappears into the dark parking lot without a glance at me. The man moves as if he can control shadows.
“You had Cillian follow me here?” he asks after a minute.
I shift onto my other foot, wondering why I even care where he’d gone to begin with. But I don’t want to be made to feel like I’m in the wrong here. “Who leaves their wife on their wedding night?”
Rian’s sinister smile has me backing up a step as he walks toward me. I have nowhere to go, so I stand there when he cups my face, tilting my head to look up at him.
“If I thought you cared, I wouldn’t have left you.”
I grit my teeth, moving his fingers off my jaw. The neon lights reflect off his knuckles and my chest constricts at the blood smeared on them. I inhale sharply.
“Were you killing someone?” I whisper.
He pushes his knuckle between my lips, and the metallic taste immediately hits my tongue. I scream, pushing him away and spitting it out. Rian chuckles, sucking the same knuckle into his mouth. “No, my curious little wife. I wasn’t killing someone. What gave you that idea?”
Fed up with his teasing and the turn this evening has taken, I glare up at him. “This is why I didn’t want to get married, at least not to a Made Man. I wanted my husband to respect me, respect our vows, and have a fucking conscience.”
Rian stares at me, the darkening of his eyes the only sign of his anger. My chest rises and falls fast as I try to control my emotions. It’s irrational, but I was hurt when he slipped out of our hotel room without another glance. I hadn’t expected the man to cuddle, but I also didn’t think I’d spend my wedding night alone.
A throat clears and I look over Rian’s shoulder. The man that caused a scene at my reception stands in the doorway with a grin. I can make out the smears of blood under his nose and the swelling of his semi-shut eye. My heart skips a bit, knowing Rian left to defend my honor after the disrespect that man showed at our union. I want to roll my eyes at men and their pride, but a flicker of appreciation worms its way inside.
“A lover’s quarrel? Honeymoon already over?” he says, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it as he laughs at his joke.
Rian sighs, rolling his shoulders. “What did I say?”
The man holds up his hands. “Wasn’t looking at your wife. ”
I roll my eyes and cross my arms over my stomach. Rian tracks my movement and takes his keys out of his pocket, nodding to a car behind me. “Let’s go home, Isabelle.”
While it feels like our conversation is unfinished, I follow him silently. As I climb into the passenger side of the sleek sports car, I glance back over at the man smoking in front of the bar. He gives us a two-finger salute before stomping out his cigarette and heading back inside. Something tells me that whatever transpired tonight, it won’t be the last I see of him.
* * *
To untrained eyes, the subtle shift of shadows along the walls could easily be missed. But I’ve been to Luca’s house with Ricky enough times to know where to look for guards. It doesn’t surprise me that Rian’s house is equally protected, but as the gates close behind the car, my heart drops with an impending sense of dread. This is my prison now, and who knows when he will let me back out?
“My parents won’t be happy I’m missing in the morning,” I say, trying to calm my nerves as we head down a long driveway.
“And?” Rian retorts. His tone is even and almost bored.
“Neither will Luca.”
His hands flex on the steering wheel. “If Luca has a problem with me taking my bride home and missing their god-awful tradition of showing off bloody sheets, then he can bring his complaints to my door. I’ll be here to welcome him with the devil’s knuckles.”
“If you already opposed the tradition, then you could have said you didn’t care for a pure wife.” I spit out between clenched teeth.
Rian flashes me a smile drenched in wicked sin. “But I wanted you. And if I asked, you wouldn’t have come willingly. I’ve been watching you for the past few weeks, Isabelle. Ever since I found out your name and learned who you were.”
I straighten my shoulders. “You don’t know the first thing about me.”
His head tilts back as he laughs. “You sure? Because I have my ring on your finger, my cum dripping out of your pussy, and I’m going to have you sleeping in my bed every night. And all it took was a single conversation and you agreed without hesitating.”
He parks the car, turning to face me as I tremble in fury. My eyes lift to his, hoping he can see the absolute determination brimming inside. “You know what you’ll never have? My love. There will never be a day where you can say with confidence that your wife loves you wholeheartedly, that she stays with you willingly, out of devotion and loyalty.”
Rian’s smile only falters for a second before he leans forward, his hand wrapping around the back of my seat. His lips are a breath away from mine. “I can’t wait to make a liar out of you. You know why, Isabelle?”
“Why?” I whisper, unable to resist his baiting question.
His hand cups my cheek, his thumb pressing down on my bottom lip. “Because my dear wife, family is your weakness. You will do anything for family, and when I get a couple heirs out of you, you’ll watch our children grow and you’ll see how much they love their da… your walls will come down and you’ll love me for them. I’m a very patient man. If I have to wait for your love, I will.”
Rian lets go of me and climbs out of the car. Through the windshield I watch him walk up the steps of the large house, disappearing through the front door without a backward glance. His stiff gait is the only real indicator of his anger. The thought of having his children should disgust me, but I can picture the image he painted. The idea of little girls with his eyes and little boys with his hair make me feel a foreign yearning. My hand brushes against my stomach, it’s possible he could have knocked me up tonight.
My door opens softly, and I flinch from the chilly night air before I turn to blink up at Aodhan. He holds out his hand, and I grab it as I climb out of the car.
“There’s no escaping this, Isabelle,” Aodhan says grimly.
I glare at him but before I can reply, he shakes his head and continues.
“Rian has never taken anything for himself. He puts the needs of our family and all the families we are responsible for above his own. This is the first time he’s ever done anything selfish, without a care or thought of the consequences. If you think he’ll ever let you go, you are either in denial or delusional.”
“So what do you suggest I do? Just take it? Become an obedient little housewife? That was never my dream,” I seethe.
Aodhan shrugs. “Dreams can change.”
Scoffing at his response, I storm toward the house to find my husband leaning against the doorway with crossed arms.
“What?” I snap.
His eyebrows raise before he stands straight and nods to his side. “Come. Let me show you our room.”
I bite back the retort I wanted to sling at him and continue up the steps. As much as I don’t want to give in, I’m exhausted and a bed to sleep in sounds heavenly.
“The men who aren’t married stay here with me, as well as Deirdre. No one is permitted in our room but us.” I don’t know who Deirdre is, but I’m not going to ask and come off as possessive, or worse…jealous.
I glance at him. “So you clean your own room?”
“Our room. And I do.”
A smile pulls at my lips and then a giggle because it’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard all night. It almost makes him seem human, and not an untouchable, killing god.
Rian looks at me curiously. “What?”
“Sorry, I was just imagining you with a vacuum.” More giggles overtake me, proof of how tired I truly am. He stops to watch me for a second, tilting his head. I wipe the tears at the corners of my eyes and wave for him to continue up the stairs. But he doesn’t move, watching me silently. I swallow at the seriousness of his expression and he moves down a step to be in line with me.
“I do want you to be happy here, Isabelle.”
My stomach flips and I give him a small nod. There’s nothing I can say at the moment that would be nice, but I’m done fighting for the night. I just want to sleep and tomorrow I can think about what to do.
Rian sighs, then turns to move back up the stairs. Guilt eats at me for ignoring his obvious peace offering, but I can’t bring myself to care right now. The man has taken the future I’ve always dreamed of away.