Chapter 14
Daniela couldn’t help the tension that had taken up residence in her shoulders, and it wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
And she couldn’t fight the blush at Cormac’s appreciative look as she stepped into her foyer.
She’d opted to wear a long, velvet maxi-style dress a rich burgundy color overlaid with a coppery floral pattern that shimmered in the right light.
She swore it made her skin almost glow and loved how it draped around her.
Clearly he liked what he saw—and she hated that she actually cared, but she was only human.
He was trying so hard to help her. She still wasn’t sure she trusted him, wondered if there was an angle she wasn’t seeing. But she wasn’t sure she had any choice but to trust him at this point.
With Greg gone… Oh god, she needed to find out about his funeral. It wouldn’t be smart to go, but she could at least send something to his family.
“What?” Cormac asked, going still.
Damn it, she needed to school her expression better. “I was just thinking that I can’t go to Greg’s funeral. But maybe I can send flowers or something?”
“I haven’t seen any announcements about it but my brothers are keeping an eye on things. For the record, Connor doesn’t have any family,” he added.
She nodded, because she understood. Today he was Connor, not Cormac. “I remember everything you told me before.” She’d remembered every scrap of information he’d told her—a lot of lies, she now realized—had replayed them in her head far too often.
Back then she’d wondered what she’d done to scare him off, if it had been her or her family or a combination. Or maybe he’d met someone else. A tale as old as time. “I used to blame myself for you leaving,” she blurted even though it was the last thing she’d meant to say.
He stood there, looking a little like that proverbial deer caught in headlights. But then he nodded in a sort of resignation. “I know words aren’t enough—”
“I’m not looking for another apology,” she snapped. “I just wanted to tell you.”
“Well I’m still fucking sorry,” he practically snarled, the anger directed at himself, not her. “And I don’t care how stupid it sounds but I hate myself for the way I left you.”
The self-recrimination in his voice scraped over her skin. She didn’t say anything, just watched him for a long moment. She hated that she believed him, that it actually bothered her that he was so affected by it.
Because that meant she’d been real to him, what they’d shared had been real. And she couldn’t handle that right now. If she held on to her anger, it would make her stupid, chaotic emotions more manageable.
Turning away from him, she plucked her coat from the rack by the door, but he took the caramel-colored pea coat and held it out so she could slip into it.
Then he helped pull her hair from where it got tucked under it and she fought a shiver as his knuckles grazed the back of her neck. So much for managing her emotions and reactions.
She had to shut down these feelings, this buried need. She knew what it would get her in the end. More heartbreak.
“You look nice,” she said, then inwardly cursed herself for the stupid small talk. But she needed to get things back on an even keel.
And he looked way more than nice—the man looked good enough to eat, but that wasn’t appropriate to say out loud.
He’d fit in at the party, not that she’d ever doubted it, but his dark slacks, blazer and a forest green button-down that matched his eyes made him stand out.
Though maybe she was biased because she could never seem to take her eyes off him when he was in the vicinity.
“Thank you. And because I don’t think I said it, you look stunning.”
His words wrapped around her and she filed the compliment away so she could revisit it later. “Thanks.”
As they stepped outside, she was glad for the coat. It was colder than she’d thought it would be with a gray, overcast sky.
Seemed appropriate for the engagement party they were going to—her cousin was marrying an awful man who worked for Julian. He had a wandering eye that everyone knew about, including her cousin, but the marriage was more of a business deal than anything.
“Pretty sure my brother has someone following us,” she murmured as she glanced in the sideview mirror.
“He does.” Cormac didn’t sound surprised. “There were two people sitting on your house last night. One left a couple hours ago.”
“I guess it’s good he at least cares about me,” she murmured. Her brother was so damn hard to read. He’d never hurt her, was nothing like their father in terms of cruelty. If anything, he’d looked out for her in small ways she was grateful for.
Cormac glanced at her but she didn’t look in his direction. He saw too much as it was.
“I think your brother loves you. At least in the only way he knows how,” Cormac said a few moments later into the quiet. “I always thought that.”
“I know.” That made it even harder for her to collect evidence against him.
She wasn’t under the impression that Julian was a good man, but he wasn’t cruel.
And it was clear that he wanted to keep her safe, given the protective detail he’d set up.
Of course, that could just be him showing strength by keeping his family safe but she didn’t think that was all there was to it.
“Have you ever asked him if you could just get out of the family business?” He stopped at the red light, the little click click click from the turning signal sounding overpronounced.
“He would never let me leave. Not while my dad is alive anyway,” she added. But then she paused. “I guess I never thought about asking him. Because I know better.” Her father had made it clear that she wasn’t allowed to leave in more ways than one.
She’d tried once, had made big plans right after college. And her friend had paid the price—with her life. Although the police and coroner had ruled it an accident.
Daniela had never recovered from that. And hadn’t tried to leave since.
She shut that thought down, couldn’t let the grief she’d buried escape if she wanted to get through the day. She had to keep her mask on at this engagement party and that meant showing zero real emotions.
“It’s not too late to back out,” she muttered.
But he was already turning down the wide street of the exclusive neighborhood that her brother and father both owned houses in. The party was at one of their cousins’ estates, and if she knew her aunt, it would be a grand affair.
Expensive vehicles lined the driveway with only a couple spots still open even though the party officially started in ten minutes.
In the entryway there was a round table with a champagne tower, pale pink and gold balloons, a poster-sized picture of the engaged couple on a stand and an area to take pictures. When the photographer motioned them over, she waved the guy off and slipped her hand into the crook of Cormac’s arm.
He’d said that his cover was solid, but she didn’t relish the idea of people getting photographs of him. Especially not her family members.
Though she was sure that if someone wanted any, they could easily get them today.
“If you want a drink, I’m driving,” he murmured as they slowly made their way through the house.
The living room and kitchen were all open and connected to the backyard and pool area with huge sliding glass doors. There were balloons and flowers everywhere in the same pale color scheme.
“I’m good, but thank you.” She was actually glad for his presence, she realized. Normally she came to these things alone, but having someone so intimidating next to her was…keeping everyone at bay.
Usually her cousins descended on her, wanting to set her up with someone they swore was a catch. For the most part she thought they meant well but she never knew if it was just to keep an eye on her. And she hated that she had to be so cynical.
“Actually, I will have one.” She smiled up at him when she realized her brother was outside with a cluster of his men, including their father.
Ugh, she’d hoped she would get lucky and he’d miss today.
She started to guide them toward the kitchen area where there was another champagne and mimosa tower as well as a bunch of finger foods.
“Daniela.” Maeve stepped in front of her and Cormac, a big smile on her face.
Maeve was one of her favorite cousins and someone she kept her distance from. But only because she was terrified that someone would use Maeve against her if Daniela ever decided to run again.
“Maeve.” She smiled politely and stepped into the other woman’s brief embrace.
“And who is this?” She looked up at Cormac with pure curiosity.
“I’m Connor.” He gave a polite smile as he held out a hand.
Maeve grinned up at him. “You’re a brave man, coming here,” she said as she took his hand, but she was smiling.
He just lifted a shoulder, seemingly unconcerned, which made Maeve smile even wider. She’d never met him years ago, had been living in California at the time.
She looked at Daniela and lowered her voice. “Your brother’s little bitch boy is in a mood and now I know why.” She nodded at Cormac and waggled her eyebrows only a little obnoxiously before she said, “Find me before you leave?”
“I will.”
After another quick hug and kiss on the cheek, Maeve disappeared back into the house.
“Little bitch boy?” Cormac murmured, laughter in his voice as he placed a hand at the small of her back.
She snickered. “There’s a reason Maeve is my favorite.” She hated Logan as much as Daniela did.
“Let’s get drinks outside and I’ll say hi to your brother,” he said as he leaned down to murmur in her ear. “You can get some face time and he can grill me or whatever and then we’ll leave.”
Some of the tightness in her shoulders eased and she found herself smiling. “Sounds like a plan.”
As they stepped outside, her brother broke away from the cluster of men he’d been talking to. He nodded almost respectfully at Cormac.
Well that was weird. Her brother hadn’t been a jerk to him or anything before, but Daniela knew Julian well enough that he didn’t kiss anyone’s ass.
“Glad you could make it,” he said as he shook Cormac’s hand. Then he gave Daniela a quick hug. “You mind if I steal your boyfriend for a while?”
She knew he wasn’t asking though, because come on. He expected an easy yes. Before she could respond, Cormac slid an arm around her, tightened it.
“We just got here,” he said. “And I haven’t even gotten Dani a drink yet.”
Julian looked at him in surprise, but then nodded. “Right.”
“It’s fine,” Daniela said, placing her hand on Cormac’s chest as she turned into him.
Then she went up on her toes and brushed her mouth over his.
It was meant to be casual, but she felt the electric shock to all her nerve endings.
Shit. She’d miscalculated. “Go talk, do your guy thing. I’m going to go congratulate the bride-to-be anyway,” she whispered. “And you’ll be bored.”
She thought he might argue or push back, but he nodded and kissed her again, just another brush of lips that left her totally off-balance.
“I won’t be too long,” he practically growled.
And she realized she stood no chance getting over him. Even if he was faking things, god, the way he made her feel…
She managed a light smile before she turned away and headed toward the huge table by the pool where most of her cousins were currently drinking and laughing.
Some days she wished she could be just like them. To not care about where all the money came from, where this lifestyle came from. That she could just let shit go.
But after seeing her father shoot someone right in the face, it had imprinted on her brain. She still saw the images occasionally when the nightmares wouldn’t leave her alone. The scene played out like a video and now it was part of her.
So no, she could never just let things go or pretend she didn’t know that dirty money had bought this house and so many others.