Chapter 10 #2
“Not really. That’s your job, isn’t it?”
“Unfortunately.” Liam doesn’t look happy. This might be the first time I’ve ever seen him without his customary cocky smirk. I like it. “You know what I keep wondering? Why that Vera girl?”
“Seriously? You’ve seen her, right?”
“Blond. Prim. Too fucking skinny.”
I snort an undignified laugh. “She’s gorgeous. Tall, willowy, with that hot Russian figure.”
His nose wrinkles. “You sound like you want to fuck her too.”
“I’d rather fuck her with a knife.”
“Wow, didn’t know you were into the blade play.”
“Just saying, I hate her guts, but at least I can admit she’s beautiful.”
Liam waves that away. “She’s not my type. I’d break a woman like that in half.”
“What is your type then? Oh god, don’t look at me that way. I swear, if you say it’s you, I’ll dump this wine down your shirt.”
He shrugs and wags his eyebrows. “I won’t say it then.”
“Idiot.” I lean into him and decide to take his question seriously for a second.
Why Vera is something I’ve wondered a lot since it all happened.
Yes, she’s pretty, but there are a lot of pretty women in New York.
Kieren could’ve cheated on me with any of them but somehow he ended up in bed with Vera Baranov.
It can’t just be a coincidence. There’s no way they bumped into each other at a coffee shop and somehow ended up fucking like sweaty animals over tea. They reconnected for a reason.
“You’re thinking,” Liam notes, leaning in close. “I can see the data crunching.”
“Stop that.”
“You get this look, your mouth goes all—“ His lips pull down comically.
“I do not! Are you always like this?”
“I am what I am, love.”
“Annoying and wise, what a great combination.” I talk quickly before he can say anything else. “I’m trying to figure out the Vera angle too. It’s been bugging me. I mean, we knew her back in the day, but I don’t think they were ever close. I doubt he had her number from high school.”
“You guys were in the same class?”
“Same private school, same year, but not always the same classes. Vera was popular and everyone liked her, but we were in different social circles.”
“You and Kieren go back a while.”
“Yeah, we do.” I still remember Kieren in high school with his cute, shaggy hair and his goofy smirks, the way he wore his uniform off-kilter and got away with it because he was so damn charming.
Everyone loved him, from the students to the teachers, and he was mine, always mine.
I don’t know what happened over the years, but the Kieren I fell for when I was a teenager changed into someone else, or maybe we both did, and these new versions of ourselves grew up, turned jaded, and weren’t compatible anymore.
I thought he was my forever, my perfection, but now—
Just another asshole.
“The Baranovs have been a problem lately,” Liam muses, more to himself than to me as we linger in front of another painting.
I hardly notice it. I’m busy studying my future husband’s face, the sharp line of his jaw, the stubble on his cheeks.
I fight back a sudden spike of adrenaline as I remember what it feels like to kiss him.
“I bet they are,” I mumble and force myself to turn away, down a side hallway. Only to catch a glimpse of Luke pushing open an emergency exit and disappearing into an alley. What the heck is he up to?
“If your ex did what I think he did, they might get even worse. Have you noticed anything lately? Your father said anything about the Baranovs? Has he been acting more stressed than usual?”
“More stressed?” I turn back to him, but my mind’s still on Luke. “I don’t know. He’s always bad. He mentioned something about Russians on the phone earlier, but…” I trail off and slip my hand from his arm. “Would you excuse me?”
“Where are you going?”
“I need to freshen up.”
“You’re perfectly fresh from my perspective.”
“I need to pee, Liam. It’s impolite to make a lady spell it out.”
“And it’s impolite not to invite your future husband.”
“Into the bathroom with me?! We’re not going to have that kind of relationship.”
“But we could if you wanted!”
I walk off, shaking my head. I swear to fuck he can’t be serious about anything at all.
But Liam’s not my problem right now. Why is Luke disappearing out a side door at this stupid charity art gala? He should be with Dad shaking hands and doing business stuff. Networking and all that. Isn’t that why he’s here tonight?
It feels wrong, him slipping out like that. I always worry, probably too much, but it won’t hurt to make sure he’s not doing something stupid.
I pause at the exit and look over my shoulder before pushing through.
The door spills me into an alleyway. I take a moment to get my bearing. There’s a dumpster to my left, overflowing with garbage bags. It stinks like rotting meat. I cover my face with my hand and look left, further down, as voices drift toward me.
Several men are gathered in a loose circle at the far end of the alley.
I lean against the dumpster, ignoring the stench.
Luke’s with them, smoking a cigarette and gesturing with both hands.
I don’t recognize the other two, but they’re both in suits, and neither looks like he’s good news.
Luke takes out his phone, types on it, turns the screen and shows them something.
The bigger of the two men frowns and nods, his face pinched and vibrating as he says something, and I’m about to get closer so I can maybe hear what’s going on when a hand grabs me from behind.
Another hand presses hard over my mouth. I gasp, twitch and try to pull away. Liam’s voice against my ear. “Relax, love, it’s me. I’m going to let you go, but don’t make a big fuss or they’ll hear.”
I crane my neck and meet his gaze. I dip my chin.
His hand moves away.
I stomp on his feet.
“Jesus fuck,” he hisses, backing away toward the door. “You’re a fucking monster.”
“Don’t scare me like that.” We’re whispering furtively and my heart’s acting like it desperately wants to escape my ribs.
“I wanted to make sure you didn’t interrupt your brother’s meeting.”
“Who are those guys?”
“Nobody nice.”
“Seriously, is Luke doing some kind of deal right now?”
Liam glances over my shoulder. “I’m guessing not the kind of deal you think.”
“What’s that mean? Is my brother selling drugs or not?”
“No, love, your brother doesn’t sell drugs. What kind of guy do you think he is?”
I clench my jaw. I think Luke is clever, charming, outgoing, and brave. I think he’s sweet and deeply kind. I also think he’s desperate for Dad’s approval and willing to do risky, stupid things to show the world that he’s not some soft, spoiled rich kid. Even though that’s what he is.
“What deal then? Don’t tell me this is about our actual job.”
“If I had to guess, it’s guns.”
“Guns?! What the fuck is Luke doing selling guns?!”
Liam looks genuinely confused. “You do know what kind of family he works for, don’t you?”
“Yes, asshole.” I push him lightly, head spinning. “But come on… selling guns…” I feel dizzy and weak. “That’s wild.”
“I don’t lie to you, love. Even if you won’t like the answer.”
“Great. Super great. Amazing. You’re so honest it’s a miracle.”
“Come on.” He gently pulls me away from the alley and back to the gallery door. “We should go inside.”
“Why is Luke selling guns at a charity event for a children’s hospital?”
“Because this is where the rich and powerful tend to congregate, and it’s the rich and powerful who can afford what he’s got.”
Liam steers me back inside. I feel weak and stupid.
Why didn’t I know about this sooner? Luke’s been getting progressively shadier over the years, but I never in a million years thought he was a literal fucking arms dealer, at least according to Liam.
How did this happen? My little brother’s involved in a business I don’t know anything about, and here I am thinking I can protect him.
I stop and grip Liam’s forearm tightly. My fingers dig in. “I need you to find out more for me.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Please. I’m begging you.” I look up, fighting off panic and an inch away from failing. “That’s my brother.”
I don’t know what it is. Maybe it’s the animalistic fear running through me, or maybe Liam’s shit faced from all that bourbon, but he exhales hard and holds up a hand.
“I’ll ask around, alright? That’s the best I can do.”
“Thank you.”
“Yeah, if you really want to thank me, you can let me take you into the women’s room so I can—“
“I’m not that thankful.”
“You should be.” He rubs his face with his hand as we step back into the crowd. “I don’t know what’s fucking wrong with me. Agreeing to this shit with you…”
He doesn’t get to complain more. Dad materializes through the crowd. “Did you two have a productive conversation?”
Liam recovers more quickly than I do. “Yes we did, Mr. Corrigan. Your daughter and I seem to be relatively compatible.”
I snort. Dad ignores it. “That’s good to hear. And call me Martin. Since you’ll be my son-in-law shortly, I suppose it’s only normal.”
“Thank you, Marty.”
“I said, Martin.”
“Right.” Liam steps away from me. “Regan, it was a pleasure. I’ll see you at the wedding.”
Bile fills my throat. God, the wedding. I’d been able to disassociate from that, but it’s really happening. “See you then,” I say and it comes out a manic croak.
Dad looks at me like I’ve lost my mind, and honestly, I’m pretty sure I have. “Don’t lose it here, Regan.”
“I’m fine.”
He turns and walks off, leaving me alone in a sea of faces I wish I could never see again, thinking about my gun-selling brother and my future husband and all the ways my life has shockingly, and aggressively, turned for the worse.