22. Rory
22
RORY
As Lara walks back to the main house in her cut-out swimsuit, I watch her long legs. I’m planning to strip it off her.
“Rory.”
When I enter the foyer, my father stands at the bottom of the stairs.
Lara doesn’t look at him, giving him a wide berth, and to his credit, my father acts as if she doesn’t exist.
“Yes?"
“Come to my office."
My heart speeds up. It isn’t exactly fear I’m feeling, but certainly apprehension.
Does he know something, or is this just about the mission this morning to take down The Pit?
I close the door behind me when I make it to his office, and he goes behind his desk, sitting down.
“Is this about The Pit?”
My father snorts. “No. That’s already over. Our men are gutting it as we speak.”
“Then what?"
“Can’t a father have a conversation with his son?”
I try to relax. “Of course.”
I sit down in the chair across from his desk, and my father smiles at me.
“You’re right.” He chuckles. “It is about work. So much is. I need a vacation.”
“You should take one."
“A general can’t take time off in the middle of a war, boyo.”
“Fair enough. What’s going on?”
“We’re throwing a gala, down at that venue on Fifth.”
I nod. “Do you need help setting things up? Security?”
“Nothing like that.” He pauses, looking at me in the eyes. “I want you to bring your wife.”
Shock passes over me, and it’s probably evident on my face. “You want me to bring Lara? But the Burkes?—”
“They’ll be busy scrambling since we took out The Pit. Besides, don’t you want to rub it in their faces?”
“Of course.” What I really want is to roll my eyes.
It’s not enough that he’s taken their daughter, forced her to marry me, hidden her away from them. It’s not enough that he shot her father. He’s got to keep at it, keep poking the bear.
“Then dress her up nice, bring her along.” My father smirks. “Maybe we’ll have a good time.”
“Is that all?”
“I’ve heard that Marisa will be there.”
Now I really want to roll my eyes.
Marisa Connelly had been briefly my girlfriend when I was fifteen. Nothing more than holding hands and making out behind the bleachers in high school.
But my father had locked onto that puppy love relationship, wanting me to marry her.
She’d been the one who broke up with me, for God’s sake, to go off to college.
But she’s Paul’s daughter, and he is one of my father’s right-hand men.
“I’m married now,” I say calmly, even though anger and irritation are heating my skin.
My father scoffs. “Marriage has never stopped a Murphy from getting his wick dipped.”
I look at him coolly. “So, you had mistresses when Ma was still around?”
His gaze turns sharp. “That’s none of your business. But no. I didn’t. I wish I had, the way she abandoned us all.”
It’s your fault. You drove her away.
But I bite my tongue.
“I was just curious,” I cover. "Didn't mean any judgment, Pa.”
He gives me a small smile. “All right, boyo. The gala is black tie, so wear something nice. And dress up that Burke girl of yours.”
“I’ll do my best,” I drawl, and he laughs.
My stomach turns to knots.
I don’t want to parade Lara around at a gala with all my father’s men leering at her, but I don’t have a choice.
I stand and start toward the door.
“And boyo?”
I pause with my hand on the doorknob and turn to look at him.
“I’m glad you’re home,” he says softly, and something clenches in my chest.
As much as I’ve always wanted out, as much as I’ve wanted a different life, I guess some part of me had always wanted this. I’ve always wanted my father to love me, despite knowing what kind of man he is.
It’s awful that it’s taken this to feel even an inkling of my father’s affection.
I nod, forcing a smile before heading back to the bedroom.
Lara lounges on the bed, wearing one of my T-shirts and reading a book from the library.
She looks up at me when I close the door, smiling. Her smile fades when she sees the look on my face.
“What’s wrong?”
I let out a breath and sit down on the edge of the bed. “My father’s planning a gala. Black-tie.”
She nods slowly. “So, I guess I’ll stay here with Raquel?”
I shake my head. “You’re coming along.”
Lara just stares at me, her eyes searching my face. “I’m going to leave the house?”
“He wants to parade you around,” I explain, taking her hands. “I’m sorry that we have to do this.”
She bites her lip. “I mean, I knew something like this would probably happen. It’s no good having me tucked away if he wants to piss my father off.”
“There’s something else.” I hold her gaze.
She tilts her head curiously.
“My father and his men took down The Pit this morning.”
She gasps. “The Pit? How... Did anyone get hurt?”
“I don't know. Probably.”
Her dark brows furrow together. “I need to talk to my brothers. Make sure they’re okay.”
“I still have my burner phone, but we’ll need to go back to the creek to be sure there’s no bugs.”
She nods, standing up and tugging on a pair of her shorts, tying up my T-shirt to expose her midriff.
I can tell that she’s anxious, and who wouldn’t be? The Pit has been a Burke family jewel for most of Lara’s life.
All I can hope is that no one close to her was hurt.
We’re in the golf cart on the way to the creek before she speaks up.
“Did you know about this?” she asks softly.
I swallow hard. “Yes. He told me this morning.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Her voice is still quiet instead of angry, more hurt than anything, and it makes my heart ache.
“I-I knew you couldn’t make any difference. I knew that it would only worry you.”
Instead of arguing with me, she just nods, her shoulders slumped, and I hate myself.
I could have told her. Could have at least warned her instead of dumping this on her like this.
We arrive at the creek without another word, and she bounds toward the shore after I hand her my burner phone.
I stand close to her as she puts the phone on speaker, calling the number I’ve simply saved as “Bree.”
“Lara?" I believe it’s Gray who answers, although I can’t quite tell the brothers’ voices apart.
“Are you okay? Is Declan okay? Da?”
“Everyone’s all right,” he says softly. “I guess you heard about The Pit.”
“I’m so sorry, Gray, I didn’t know?—”
“It’s not your fault. We lost Miles.”
I watch as Lara’s eyes fill with tears.
“Oh, no. Anyone else?”
“Kael was hurt. Shot in the shoulder, but he’s going to be okay.”
“God, Paige must be so worried.”
“Don’t worry so much about us, Lara. You can’t control what Murphy does.”
“There’s a gala tonight,” she says quickly. “I’m going to be there.”
“Where?”
She looks over at me, and I shake my head.
I don’t want her telling her brothers where the gala is. It will only cause more bloodshed. We have to see this through, get some dirt on my father and put him away.
Lara frowns, but she doesn’t argue.
“I don’t know.”
“Rory won’t tell you?” Gray’s voice is strained.
She glances up at me and then back down to the phone. “It’s too dangerous. We’re working on getting this situated.”
“How?” Gray demands to know. “And how do you know you can trust him?”
“I just know.”
Gray lets out a sigh. “So, what’s the plan?”
“We’re trying to get evidence to put Niall away.”
He scoffs. “That’ll never work. He keeps everything locked up tight.”
I take the phone from her, slightly irritated. “I’m going to find it, Gray. And I’m taking good care of your sister.”
“You’d better be,” he growls.
Lara frowns and takes the phone back from me. “I have to go. Just... sit tight. How’s Da?”
“He’s doing fine.”
“Tell Paige I’m sorry about Kael,” she says quietly. “And tell Da I’m sorry about Miles.”
“Will do. We love you, Lara.”
“I love you too. All of you.” Tears stream from her green eyes, and I want to wipe them away but I know this isn't the right time.
She hangs up the phone and hands it back to me, angrily wiping at her eyes.
“I wish you'd told me about The Pit.”
“There was nothing you could do. Nothing either of us could do.”
She tilts her chin up at me defiantly. “I don’t like you keeping secrets.”
I take her hands in mine, and she doesn’t pull away. “I’m sorry. I won’t keep them anymore.”
“You promise?”
“I promise.”
I lean down to kiss her softly.
She doesn’t part her lips, but she doesn’t shove me, at least.
“We should get back. We have to pick out some clothes for the gala.”
She frowns. “I don’t think you bought me anything black-tie.”
“We’ll look through Bree’s clothes.”
She nods. I’m not sure what Bree’s size, but maybe we can make something work.
Lara’s silent on the way back to the mansion, and I feel terrible for keeping any information from her.
I want to make it up to her, but instead, I have to take her to this gala full of enemies.
I lead her to Bree’s old room, which has remained untouched since she was taken. Dad won’t even allow the staff to clean it, so dust stands on the wardrobe.
Lara opens it up, peering inside, and takes out a few dresses to throw on the bed.
There’s one that matches her eyes, and as she picks it up to look at it, I head to the closet to look at the heels.
When I find a pair of black stilettos that I think will look nice, I turn to see Lara standing in the dress, zipping it up at the hip.
My breath catches in my throat.
It fits her like a dream.
“Should I wear my hair up?" She looks up at me uncertainly, and I can’t stop myself from rushing over to her, grabbing the back of her head, and crushing her lips to mine.
Chapter Twenty-Three