Chapter 24
AIDEN
I’m as cold as ice when I walk back into my office.
Niall and the others frown at my entrance, but Cian is carefully unreadable.
He’s wary. Waiting. Certain I’m going to do something that will justify him killing me.
He wants it so badly that he’s willing to do anything.
At the same time, he enjoys the hell out of watching me squirm.
He probably didn’t even care to watch. Just knowing he had me under his thumb was likely enough for him. The others, though? They’re pissed I blocked most of the view. But there was no way in hell I was letting them see my wife any more than they needed to.
Before, I would have killed them. Done something to get myself beaten to earn my way back into Cian’s good graces. But all I want now is to get Catriona out of their sights. Get her home, away from their grasp.
“Now, was that so hard?” Cian asks when we’ve settled in front of him. I keep to my feet, unable to sit due to the energy coursing through me. Catriona takes a seat at the desk, managing to master her expression into something like cool indifference.
“I do like a bitch who knows her place,” Cian drawls once we settle. “I have to admit, I didn’t think she had it in her.”
“She had something in her, alright,” one of the men mutters.
“That’s enough,” Cian barks, and Catriona barely withholds her reaction. “Aiden here has done what he was told. Besides, we have business to attend to. Tell me, how is my investment faring?”
“As it turns out, very well. You were right about an American expansion. We’re celebrating a record-breaking first year. I knew you’d be pleased.”
Catriona tugs at my arm, and her body vibrates with unease in front of me, but I smooth a hand over her shoulder, and she settles.
It makes everything inside me go still, but I force myself to focus on Cian’s response.
He chuckles, sharing amused glances with the four others who eye Catriona hungrily.
“Good, that’s good to hear. And what about this charity?” He says the word like he’s talking about the plague. “How much of my money did you decide to donate? I suppose it makes sense to cultivate a good image for the Americans.”
Niall scoffs, his gaze roving over Catriona like he has X-ray vision. “Pointless. I don’t know why you let him get away with this shite. He shouldn’t be doing a damn thing without your say-so.”
Cian makes a silencing gesture. “Let him speak. He more than earned it tonight.” His lips twist as he turns to Catriona for a long moment.
“A million,” I say.
There’s a long silence.
The three other men laugh, like it’s a joke.
The smile falling from Cian’s face tells me he knows it isn’t.
Catriona presses closer to me, but I don’t look away from the men in front of me as I continue.
“You were right to send me here. There are boundless opportunities and many, many powerful families with deep pockets and a demonstrable lack of self-control. Consider Senator Gallagher, for example.” Beside me, Catriona jerks like she’s going to pull away.
I still her with a gesture. “Tonight’s fundraiser was in honor of Deirdre Gallagher.
All the funds raised were to fund scholarships in her name for women at local colleges.
How could I resist donating some of our profits to a charity so dear to my wife’s heart?
Of course, it not only means lots of press for the Emerald but also for my wife and me.
Her mother. Americans do love their charities. ”
Cian’s face could be carved from granite with how hard and cold it is by the time I stop speaking. I can feel Catriona looking at me, but I keep my focus on the men in front of me.
The moment stretches until Cian smiles. “Yes, they do. And aren’t I so lucky to have such a good dog to take care of these things for me? I knew it would only take a little discipline to get you back in line. Now that this business is taken care of, we can arrange your visit back to Ireland.”
Niall turns red but doesn’t object. “We’ve called in the families for next week,” he confirms.
“Meeting you is all Mary’s been talking about for weeks.” Cian directs this to Catriona, who, impossibly, stiffens even further from his attention.
“I’m looking forward to meeting her,” she manages.
Cian pushes to his feet and gestures for the other men to precede him out of the room.
Niall does so, but not without throwing angry looks back at us before he finally disappears through the door.
Crossing the room, Cian stops beside us to study Catriona’s face.
He lifts a hand to tuck her hair behind her ear.
“Welcome to the family, Catriona. Or at least, you have my vote. There are still several others you’ll have to convince.” He leans closer, like he’s telling her a secret. “Don’t worry, though, sweetheart. From what I saw on camera, you’ll fit right in.”
He signals to Niall. “Let’s go downstairs to see the spoils of our investment.”
I give Cian a curt nod, lock eyes with Niall, then don’t breathe until the door closes behind them.
When I turn, Catriona is already pushing to her feet. “We should go too. The party is probably already winding down. You should be seen.” She’s got her public face on. The one she uses to paint over any emotion. But this time, I see the strain behind the facade.
I have to get her out of here. I don’t want her close to Cian for a moment longer than she has to be. “You’re right. Let’s go say our goodbyes.”
We find Eamon watching over Mara as she locks eyes with Niall. “I’m going to check with Niall about the meeting logistics. Eamon, you’ll wait with her?” He nods, and I tear myself away from her.
“One of these days, you’re going to give in to me,” Niall is saying when I get close.
“One of these days, you’ll do me a favor and drop dead,” Mara responds.
Niall catches my eye over Mara’s shoulder. “If it isn’t the disgraced prince. Ready for another show?”
“Ready to stop begging for Cian’s scraps?” I retort.
Niall’s eyes widen, then narrow. “You’re pretty ballsy for a man who says how high whenever Cian says jump.”
“Cut the shite, Niall. I’ve come to talk. Do you have a minute?”
He studies the room, notes Cian chatting with a visibly pale Senator Gallagher, then returns his attention to me. “Let’s talk.”
Mara clutches my arm. “Aiden—”
“We’ll only be a minute.”
“Aiden, don’t—” But I’m already walking away with Niall nipping at my heels.
Catriona’s head lolls on my shoulder. I wrap my arms more securely around her. I can’t seem to make myself let go of her. This is exactly what I’d been worried about when I saw her again. Exactly why I knew she was going to be trouble.
I carry her inside, climbing the stairs one weary foot at a time.
What a long fucking night. We’ve got a long week coming up, but the end is in sight.
We have to hold on until then. I peel her out of her clothes, noting all the raw places on her skin.
If I wasn’t bone tired, I’d pepper them with kisses.
But all I have the energy for is to drag off my clothes and climb into bed next to her.
I didn’t think I’d be able to sleep, but my eyes slip closed within minutes.
The week following the meeting with Cian feels endless.
Preparations. Worrying. But each morning, I wake up next to Catriona, and each night, she’s pressed against me in bed.
I haven’t allowed myself to do more than that despite how much my body screams for me to take advantage of every second we have left.
It’s Sunday, and we’re in the bedroom, and I’m watching Catriona fuss over what to pack before we leave for Ireland tomorrow.
“You don’t think this is too much? I feel like I overpacked. I probably won’t even need half of this. It’s been so long since I’ve traveled. I’m overthinking—”
“I know why, little wife. I can read you like a book. Why don’t you model everything you’re bringing? I’ll tell you what you should keep and what you don’t need. Even the lingerie… Especially the lingerie.”
She pulls off the blood-red dress she was trying on and switches to another as I drink in every second when I should be packing my own bags.
Everything hinges on it going according to plan.
I don’t have time to be ogling her. Fuck it.
If I’m going to die, my last meal would take place between her thighs.
She pauses, distracted. “Are you sure you—”
“Yes.”
Catriona stops mid-selection, still clad only in a black lingerie set. I wish I could tear it off with my teeth. “You don’t even know what I was going to ask.”
“Because the answer is yes.”
“To whatever I ask?” she questions with a sultry smile. If she moves just right, I can see her pussy lips through her panties. I’m salivating over her and wondering if she’ll be mad if I make us late for dinner with the Baptistes. “I don’t believe you.”
“That’s right. Do you want me to prove it?”
Her eyes flash with challenge at the words that have become a kind of game between us. “Then I want you to find another clerkship for me, better than the one with Judge Landry.”
“Done.”
“I want to burn Cian’s place down to the ground after we’re finished.”
Fuck. She’s so fucking beautiful. Have I ever told her?
I wonder what I’d have to do for her to let me fuck her again.
This time without witnesses. Are apologies enough?
Words never seem to hold weight to me. They’re easily disguised.
Is it enough to give her everything that belongs to me?
It doesn’t feel like it. And after what Cian’s done…
what he could still do, nothing will ever be enough.
“Consider it ashes, love,” I croak.
At this, she pauses, considering, and my skin tingles in anticipation. “Are you trying to butter me up so I’ll fuck you again?”
Heat floods my veins. “Maybe. Is it working?” My grin turns wicked as a flush spreads up her chest.