CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
Ella
O n Saturday, Balor drives us to East Hampton where his sister is hosting a bridal shower for Jillian, even though they’re already married.
I felt so honored that night at the gala when she included me. Technically, she put Balor on the spot, but the man didn’t even flinch.
If anything, I did. I wasn’t prepared for him to come around so completely.
“This is a first,” Balor says through the comfortable silence. “A bridal shower.”
“None of your sisters-in-law had a bridal shower?”
“Sisters,” he corrects. “We don’t use in-law. Once you have our name, you’re one of us.”
“That sounds a little eyebrow-raising, no?” I fold my arms. “Especially if you say my brother and sister are getting married?”
He barks a laugh. “You’re right. Fortunately, though, we don’t talk to outsiders much.”
“Did your parents take you on trips growing up?”
Balor barks another laugh. “With eight kids?”
“I figured your family could afford it.”
“Money-wise, sure. But it would have been a security nightmare.”
“Wait.” I turn to him. “You’ve never been to Disney?”
He shrugs. “Nope. Kieran is planning a trip with Isabella next year when his sons are older.”
“Did you travel anywhere?”
“On my own, sure. After college.”
“And not with a woman?”
“No.”
I reach across the console to hold his hand. He not only squeezes it back, but he kisses my knuckles. With his lips wetting each one, I know my next tattoo.
B.A.L.O.R.
On each finger like Lachlan has on his hand for his wife Katya. What a hoot! Me having the same kind of tattoo as big, scary Lachlan.
“What about you?” Balor asks me.
I don’t mention my tattoo idea because he’ll tell me I can’t get one when I’m pregnant.
I sigh. “We rented a lake house one summer in Maine, the year before my mother died. It was pretty great. Campfires, roasting marshmallows, learning to swim in the lake, boating, sunsets.”
“Damn, butterfly. That sounds amazing.”
“Oh, and catching fireflies.” I exhale. “Then my mom died, and Dad just lost all interest in traveling.”
“I’m sorry. So, uh, no Disney for you either?”
I shake my head and pat my stomach. “Someday, though. Right?”
“We’ve got a lot to make up for.” There’s an edge to Balor’s voice, and everything always circles back to Wes.
I haven’t told him that my ex showed up at school, and my nerves are too on edge about it.
It’s been eight months. Wes can’t possibly want to put everything on the line by harassing me now, can he? If Balor finds out, I worry Wesley won’t live to see another sunrise. That will spark an investigation.
Balor’s ability to use cyber skills to cover his family’s crimes rival that of any police department, probably even the Feds. But there’s always a chance something will fall through the cracks.
I can’t be the reason his family faces retribution from law enforcement. So, I keep quiet. I’ll tell Wesley I’m seeing someone if he bothers me again. I’ll tell him I’m pregnant if I have to. Surely, that will make him not want me anymore. I pray he’s smart enough not to fuck with the well-being of another man’s child.
We reach East Hampton in little more than an hour, with Balor pulling over a few times for pee breaks I needed from all the water I’ve been drinking. Without a wince of annoyance, he turned off the highway with ease each time and walked me into every rest area we stopped. A donut shop once and a fast-food restaurant the second time where when I said I had a craving for fries, he bought me some while I used the restroom.
His sister’s home is a spectacular waterfront architectural wonder with multiple rooflines and classic cedar shakes. Expensive cars and sparkling SUVs line the paved, circular driveway, and balloons billow in the breeze, tied to lampposts.
I spot a catering truck parked on the street. Because it’s March, the party is indoors.
“When are they having their wedding party?” I ask Balor as he parks behind a black Escalade.
“A couple of weeks,” he says to me over his shoulder.
Typical male doesn’t know the exact date.
“I need the date.” I check my makeup in a compact while he checks his phone. “I need a dress, a card.”
“A card? For what?” He turns his head to me.
“To put a gift inside,” I answer.
“Gift?”
I sit back and drop the compact into my purse. “You’re kidding, right?”
“We don’t exchange cards.” He gives a scan of the property, where I spot three men in suits standing on the covered porch.
It makes me wonder if his ignorance of gift etiquette is a mafia thing or a wealthy thing. No, it’s got to be a guy thing.
“Do you mean with each other? Or other people?”
“What other people? ”
“Never mind.” I wave him off. “I’ll talk to Katya.”
Balor smiles and says, “You like her, don’t you?”
“She’s a sweetheart. I also appreciate her letting me work with Lia.”
Balor gets out of the Rivian and then comes to my side to collect me. Leading me to the front door, he keeps his hand on the small of my back.
This is the first time we’re being open about our relationship. My father is coming home soon. He calls every couple of days, but mostly texts because of the time difference. I wonder how he’ll take the news of our relationship.
I stop outside the stately front door as a new thought hits me, something we need to be on the same page about.
“Do any of your brothers know about Los Angeles?” I ask.
Now he flinches. Eyes fluttering, he says, “Aye.”
“Oh? And do they also know that you left me there? Had your bodyguard pay me off?” Shame heats my neck.
“I remember everything about that afternoon.” Balor’s jaw ticks. “I left you in that bed. Left you dripping with my cum.”
“Why?” It’s a topic we’ve skipped over.
“I didn’t think I could walk away from you so easily. I needed Trace as a buffer.” His confession rocks me.
Did he immediately feel I was different?
“I was also appalled at myself for begging to cum inside you without a condom.” He places a hand across my abdomen. “That’s when we made our baby, though, right?”
“I’m thinking that’s when it happened.” I lean into him. “As thrilled as I am about it, I should have told you no. You were a stranger. That was very irresponsible of me.”
“I think it just means we were meant to be.” He smirks.
“And it’s good I didn’t have to get my father involved to track you down.”
Balor’s head tilts. “How well do you really know your father?”
The question straightens my spine because I know my father is shady. “He’s a programmer. An IT guy.”
Balor purses his lips and without saying another word or knocking, he opens Shea’s front door for me.
I step inside ahead of him but turn to ask him another question. “What did you tell your family about me and my dad?”
Balor hugs me. “I’ve cleared up everything with my family about who you are. And most importantly, what you mean to me.”
When I turn back around, I freeze seeing so many people in a living room with vaulted ceilings staring at us.
Balor’s about to say something when a stunning woman with dark hair approaches us. She throws her arms around Balor and his hands wrap around her waist. Smiling, he kisses her on both cheeks.
I think this is Jillian’s friend, since I assume one of his brothers’ wives wouldn’t greet him this enthusiastically.
“Ella, this is my sister Shea-Lynne.”
Ooops, I was wrong. “Sister as in...”
“My actual sister. My blood.” He beams at her. “And my best friend.”
That stings. I thought I was.
“Before you came along,” he corrects when he spots my smile falter.
“It’s so nice to meet you, Ella. A beautiful name for a beautiful woman.” Shea leans in and hugs me. Whispering in my ear, she says, “And congratulations.”
Heart spiking, I stiffen. “Thank you.”
“This is Jillian’s day. You’ll have yours soon. I promise.” She hugs me again.
With his arm around my waist, Balor says, “You know this means you’re next, Shea.”
Her eyes immediately fly to Trace Quinlan, standing a few feet behind her. He’s been assigned to protect her. And his eyes, and pretty much body, are glued to her.
“Not if this Neanderthal has anything to do with it. I have a better chance of licking the glass of the Mona Lisa than getting a man in my bed the way Trace Quinlan is up in my grill.”
Shea’s voice drips with venom but raw vulnerability seeps through. Mentioning licking glass and a man in her bed has Trace looking ready to combust.
“I’ll talk to him,” Balor says, pressing a kiss to my cheek, then heads in that direction.
I consider telling Shea to just lick Trace and get him into bed, but since we just met, I think it’s best to save that comment for the next time I see her.