27. Emily
I’ve been in Ireland for a few days and finally mustered up the courage to go on a date. Declan promised that he’s not going to force an arranged marriage on me and for that, I am partly grateful. Some part of me wants to have another arranged marriage so then I will have no choice but to move on from Liam.
The bastard still haunts my memories and dreams despite being thousands of miles away.
Maybe if I give myself to someone else, I’ll finally be able to love someone who will love me in return.
So, tonight. That’s what I plan to do.
Maybe it’s foolish. Okay, it’s definitely foolish. But Liam is so embedded into my being that it’s suffocating me.
Loving him is destroying me.
I coat my eyelashes with a layer of mascara one final time before twisting it shut. I run my fingers through my natural curls and straighten my pale blue sundress. The fabric flows beautifully down my curves, stopping just below the knee. I’ve paired it with white sandals that have a high enough heel to lengthen my legs.
My freckles are on full display and have darkened from the amount of sunlight I’ve been getting since moving here, so instead of covering them with make-up, I’ve opted for a more natural look and only put on mascara and some lipgloss.
With one last look in the mirror, I shut off the light and exit the bathroom.
“Ma, I’m leaving!” I shout from the foyer.
She comes into view and walks down the steps.
“You look beautiful, mo stór,” she says, pulling me into a hug.
“Thank you, ma. We’re going to be walking around the Farmer’s market before going to dinner.”
She nods with a smile. “Perfect. Now, remember, Ronan and Lorcan will be keeping their distance but will be watching.”
I inwardly groan and she levels me with a disapproving look.
“It’s for your own safety and you know this. You’ve had guards follow you your entire life.”
“I know, I know. It just seems unnecessary to have two men watching me.”
“Emily…” she sighs. “L eanbh, these next few months, if not years, are going to be very dangerous with Vladimir and we need to keep our wits about us.”
I nod in understanding.
Things with Vladimir are in an odd state of limbo. He continues to maintain his stance of not having anything to do with my father’s death. I don’t know anyone who would have enough Russian help to attack us that wouldn’t be Vladimir, but that’s Declan’s job to find out.
Here in Ireland, though. It’s been quiet. We’ve had no words of any attacks here and no confrontations with any of Vladimir’s men. There have been rumors of a new Russian mafia forming that is outside of Vladimir’s control, but I don’t know enough about it to know if it’s true.
“Go on this date, and just make sure you stay safe.” My ma pulls me into another hug before leaving down the hallway.
I can’t put my finger on it, but there is something about this man that doesn’t sit right with me. When we first arrived at the market, he was very sweet and attentive, it was nice but now, he’s becoming a little too comfortable invading my space.
I discreetly scan the area and meet the eyes of both Ronan and Lorcan. They both nod and then disappear into the small crowd.
“So, Emily. How long do you plan to be in Ireland?” Fionn asks as we stop at a stand with freshly baked bread.
“I’m not entirely sure but I do hope to stay a while. I haven’t spent much time here since I was a girl.”
He nods and then checks his watch for the umpteenth time since we arrived.
“Am I keeping you from something?” I ask, my eyes gesturing to his watch.
He chuckles and it sends a creepy sensation down my spine.
“No, of course not. I just have someone coming that I’d love for you to meet.” He smiles at me, but it doesn’t meet his eyes.
Something is wrong.
I turn to look for Ronan and Lorcan again but don’t see them.
Fionn’s phone chimes and he pulls it from his back pocket. He quickly replies and puts it away before looking me in the eyes.
His stare is cold, his body language is no longer welcoming. He glances over my shoulder and then a wicked sneer spreads across his face.
I take a step back and tense when I feel the hard, cold metal of a gun pressed to my back.
“If you scream, I will shoot.” A deep voice with a thick Russian accent says in my ear.
My eyes frantically scan the area for Ronan and Lorcan but they’re still nowhere to be found.
“You’ll see your precious bodyguards soon.” Fionn chuckles.
A large hand wraps around my bicep, and I’m roughly escorted away from the Farmers’ Market and to a small alley where a white van is parked.
“Bag.” Fionn holds out his hand with a bored expression.
My heart is pounding against my chest, and my stomach threatens to spill its contents.
I slide the bag off my shoulder and place it in his hand. He dumps its contents. He picks up my phone and searches through it.
“Tell her you’ve been offered a photoshoot tour with your modeling agency, and you will be leaving immediately. Do not give any hidden messages or pull some shite that will indicate something is wrong.”
My brain whirls as I try to keep up with what he’s demanding.
He shoves the phone in my hands. When I peer down, my mom’s name is on display. All I have to do is press call.
The cold press of a gun to my temple sends my body into motion and I press the button.
“Speaker.” Fionn grunts.
Doing as he says, I listen as the phone rings. The moment my mom’s voice fills the speaker I suck in a breath.
“The date is over already?” she teases.
Fionn’s jaw ticks, his glare a clear warning.
Swallowing the tightness in my throat, I adjust my sweaty grip on the phone.
“Ha.” I laugh nervously, “I’m actually calling to let you know I just received this a-amazing news from my agent. They’re offering me a spot on their US tour.” I blurt the words out, feigning enthusiasm as panic coats every cell in my blood.
“Oh, mo stór! That is a wonderful opportunity. Go! Go! We’ve had quite the eventful life recently and I think this is exactly what you need.”
I can almost physically hear my heart shatter in my chest.
“Are you sure?”
The gun presses harder into my head and I wince.
“When would you need to leave?” My ma asks.
I clear my throat.
“I actually need to leave immediately, which is why my date ended early.”
Fionn nods in approval. I close my eyes as the first tear spills out of the corner of my eye and down my cheek.
“Oh.” She says, the word extending. “How long are you expected to be gone?”
I open my mouth but then shut it quickly.
I’m never going to come back… am I?
My eyes flick to Fionn and he slowly shakes his head before looking at the other man who holds the gun to my head.
“Um… Right now, there isn’t an end date.” Each word leaves a sour taste in my mouth.
“Mmm.” She hums.
I’m trembling as I wait for her reply. I hope she’ll make a fuss about not knowing how long I’ll be gone. I’m hoping she demands that I stay so then she’ll know that something is wrong.
“I think it’ll be a good chance for you to find some kind of escape from reality.” Her words are like a punch in the gut. My stomach churns. “Make sure you keep me updated on your trip.”
I sniffle, unable to hold back the tears.
"Oh, Emily.” Her voice softens. “I know it’s been hard… very hard, these last few weeks. But everything will be okay.”
Fionn motions with his hands for me to speed up the conversation.
“I- I’ll talk to you soon, okay, ma?”
“I love you, mo stór .”
“I love you too.”
When the call ends, Fionn rips the phone from my hands and pockets it.
“Take off your jewelry.” The man holding me at gunpoint orders.
I hesitate. My necklace has a small tracker in it. I can’t let them take the one chance I have of someone finding me.
Fionn’s hand connects with my cheek before I have a chance to register what is happening. My head whips to the side and I press my palms against the sting.
“Jewelry. Off.” He growls. This time, I don’t hesitate to remove everything. I place them into his waiting palm. My eyes fill with tears as I watch his fingers wrap around the necklace Liam gave me.
The van’s door opens, and I freeze as I come face to face with Lorcan and Ronan. Their faces are stoic, clearly expecting to see me.
“Get in.” Lorcan orders.
I’m shoved forward, forced into the van, followed by Fionn and the other man.
“Where are you taking me?”
Fionn turns around and looks at me with a smile that is anything but pleasant. “You’ll see.”