Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
CORMACK
As I drive to the church, I hope she enjoyed the roses I had Shamus pick up before I left.
Of course, I didn’t let him into the room, but I took them and then wrote her a note.
Leaving her had nearly broken my will because she should always be at my side, but this isn’t the right moment.
My men will be scoping out the dangers and looking for enemies who feel emboldened by my father’s death.
It’s likely nothing will happen, but there’s no guarantee and I can’t risk Gloria’s safety.
When I pull into the churchyard and to the spots reserved for family, I see a small gathering.
It will soon be filled with mourners and acquaintances.
My brother is the first person I spot because he’s tall and lanky.
Although now the head of the Delaney Family, he looks like he fucking slept in his suit.
I don’t exit the back of my vehicle yet, telling my driver to stay put while I process this moment. My father has meant so much to me, so saying goodbye is harder than I can express, but I must remain strong. When the crowd out front disperses, I step out of my vehicle.
John scowls at me because it’s his job to assess the risks before I get out, but I’ve already done that. I’ve lived my life deciding and evaluating the lurking predators, and know who the real threat is.
“It’s fine. Stay outside for now. Watch who arrives. I’ll keep an eye on the vultures inside.”
“I think you should have added more men to the team.”
“They’re working at the estate, securing it for my arrival there.
” He understands that my biggest enemy is the one closest to me, Peter.
My brother and I don’t quite see eye-to-eye and now he possesses most of the Delaney Family assets and properties.
Not that I’m bothered by it or broke. I’m wealthy from my own endeavors and the parts I do retain.
Still, as the old adage says, keep your enemies closer.
I enter the church foyer and pull out my notes for my eulogy.
I run through the lines as I prepare the words that I will share with the crowd that is gathering at Kilkenny where my father will be laid to rest. My heart’s heavy.
The weight of his loss is compounded by the fact that he never got to meet Gloria.
“Are you well, Cormack?” I turn my head and give Siobhan a nod.
“Yes, dear Siobhan.” My sister-in-law looks up at me with profound sympathy.
My father and I were close, whereas my brother and he had constant rows, so the loss meant nothing to him and everything to me.
In fact, he gains everything by my father’s death, so he’s probably having parties left and right. “Where is my brother?”
“With Father Flanagan.” I’m sure he’s going to pay him off to write something nice for Peter to say.
He’s always been lazy, greedy, and angling for a bigger presence.
He’s the typical spoiled son with too much money and no fucking sense.
Not to mention he’s an asshole to boot, especially when it comes to his wife.
“Are you well?” I ask, pressing my hand to hers, giving it a squeeze. She’s a good woman and too good for my brother.
She smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes; it never does anymore. “Yes, soon we’ll be having this little one and then I will take you up on that offer.”
“Please do. Although I believe you shouldn’t wait.” I’d wish she’d take it now. It’s not like my brother would care if she actually left him. I promised to shelter her and help her escape Peter.
“He won’t hurt his heir, Cormack.” I pray that’s the case, but you can never trust a man who resents the mother of his child, and he most certainly resents her.
I hope not, but he’s a bit unstable. I answer with a half-smile. “Very well. I can’t wait to meet my nephew,” I reply, hearing steady footsteps behind me and knowing exactly who they belong to.
“So brother, when were you going to share the news that you have a woman of your own?” Peter asks, putting his arm around my shoulder.
I shrug it off and scowl. “It’s not the right time to discuss it.”
“Why not?” He raises his voice, pissing me off because we’re in the church and he thinks he can be tough with me.
Seeing my reaction, he lowers his tone. “Every person in Dublin saw you with her, including your arrival at her hotel… and your departure.” He finishes by wagging his brows as if Gloria’s just a fuck.
It pisses me off. Not only because that’s not who I am, but because who she is to me. “She’s special and don’t make it sound filthy. She’ll be my wife soon, so watch your mouth before I bust it.”
He throws his hands up, taking a step back and nearly bumping into his wife.
He doesn’t apologize to her, but he gives me one.
“I meant nothing by it. I just wonder why you didn’t bring her if she’s important.
Shouldn’t she meet the man you admired so much?
” He says with such animosity that I want to clock him.
Still, Peter has a point no matter how annoying he is, but I have my reasons that aren’t his concern.
“In life, maybe, but I don’t want my grief to mar our relationship,” I inform him. It’s not the only reason. With the chance that enemies are searching for opportunities to take us down, I want Gloria away from a potential bloodbath.
“Sound response, but I’m sure she will see it in the news or papers.
Have you told her?” Now that’s where I fucked up.
I didn’t know how to address the fact that I should be grieving instead of worshipping her.
Although Gloria took away all the hurt for a bit.
My father would have truly loved her and welcomed her with open arms.
“No, I haven’t. Please drop it. Focus on your own marriage. Soon I’ll be giving her my name.”
“Congratulations, Cormack,” Siobhan says, smiling sweetly.
“Yes, Mackie, congrats. I heard she’s a knockout. Does she have a sister?” Does he do this to intentionally upset Siobhan?
“Do you have to be a perverted prick with your wife right there?”
He scoffs and then takes a swig from his flask. “She knows her place.” God, I would love to wring his neck. He’s so fucking selfish. Siobhan is a good woman. She wasn’t his choice for a wife, but deals were struck, and he resents her for it as if she’s the one who got the better part of the deal.
“Enough. If you keep it up, you can’t be my best man,” I tell him, snatching the flask from his hand and closing it because the man has no respect for anyone.
“For real?” He grins proudly, and I feel like a dick that we never had a close relationship. It’s not my fault that he’s the fuck up in the family, especially because he owns that shit with pride.
“For real,” I repeat. My hope in offering that to him is he will be on his best behavior until I get Gloria tied to me.
Frankly, I don’t need anyone to stand up with me, but I’m sure I’ll need someone, and he is my brother and now the head of the Delaney family.
I can only see our ship sinking with him at the helm, but luckily I put my businesses out of reach for the family, so I had something left after he destroys what our family has built.
“Well then let’s get the services over so I can meet the unlucky woman.” Yes. This is how he treats my father’s memorial. What a prick.
I check my phone for any messages before I power it off. I love them so much- Gloria and there’s a picture attached.
Gloria’s upper body with the roses covering her breasts just barely. Fuck me. I reply, A masterpiece. I can’t wait to watch each petal fall. Be good. I will call tonight.
I power off my phone, knowing I’ll only be tempted to look again. Worry fills me as I do it, but I enlisted my men to be ready should Shamus call with any problems.
I make it through the service, holding back my tears because there are too many sharks in the water. They understand that I’m hurting, and everyone pays their respects as they pass Peter and me.
By the end of the night, I return to our family home in Kilkenny and to my private suite. I don’t want to do anything but talk to Gloria, so I finally power up my phone and give her a call.
“Hey, I didn’t think I’d hear from you,” she answers with bubbling hope in her voice.
“I’m sorry, love. How was your day?”
“Actually, I stayed in, but that’s not going to last because I won’t be in Dublin much longer. I’ll wait for you to return, but I have to head home soon, so I’m not missing out on what the city has to offer.”
A fire burns in my gut at the prospect of her leaving. I can’t and won’t let that happen. “What have we discussed?”
“Cormack, please. I’m not saying it’s over between us.” She huffs, pausing and then continues. “Let’s not do this now. I know where you are even though you didn’t tell me. I’m sincerely sorry about your father. I can’t imagine losing my papa.”
I breathe a sigh of relief at her lack of anger. “He was a good father to me and would have loved you.”
“Absolutely. Everyone loves me,” she says with an air of playful arrogance. “Well, except that girl at the bar. She was so filled with jealousy, I thought she was going to poison my wine,” she finishes.
“Is that why you didn’t drink it?” Anger builds in the pit of my stomach.
“Yes.” I seethe because I hadn’t even considered someone would do that to my future bride in my own place of business.
“I’ll deal with it.”
“Deal with it? She could have done nothing wrong, and it was my buzzed imagination. You’re a handsome man, it’s only natural for chicks to want you to pick them.”
“Fine, but she will be watched from now on.”
“Okay. I don’t want anyone fired for me.” Fired is the least I’d do to someone for something so egregious, especially to Gloria.
“So are you dressed?”
“Yes, in a pretty nightgown I brought from home. Although someone forgot those panties for me, but luckily, I just decided to forgo any tonight.
I groan, balls heavy with need for her wet pussy. “Sorry, I didn’t want to send Shamus to get you panties. I’d have to cut his hands off and I was in a hurry.” My phone beeps. “Hold on beautiful, I have to take this call.”
“Just call me back.”
She hangs up and I answer the other line. “What’s going on Shamus?”
“Sir, I wanted you to know that I saw some men scoping out Ms. Grasso today. She ran out to get some dinner an hour ago and two men spoke to her, but she wasn’t afraid of them.
I looked into it, and they work for her father.
They’re her personal guards who were supposed to keep an eye on her in London. ”
“Okay. Have they harassed her?”
“No, they haven’t bothered doing more than stand outside the building, keeping a distance but not too far.”
“That’s not great service.” I have Shamus outside her door and two others sitting in the lobby and rotating for breaks.
“It’s not just that. We dug a little deeper, and her father is the Don of the Grasso Family. She’s the daughter of a mob boss.” It strikes me what he’s trying to put gently, but my ears hear it loud and fucking clear.
“Are you saying you think she’s playing me?” I bite out, taking out my anger for my stupidity on him. I’d been so infatuated I hadn’t dug past her ID and the way she looks at me.
“I don’t know, sir. It’s just what I learned. I thought you should know.”
“You’re right. I needed that information. Goodnight. Don’t change anything. Keep everything as is.” There’s a pain in my chest, sending my temper to an uncontrollable state to speak at the moment.
I shoot her a text. Goodnight Gloria. I have to handle some things. I lie.
Okay. Goodnight, Cormack.
Can a heart fucking crack? Am I being foolish?
I have to look into this, but I can’t right now.
Searching up her father, I’m saddened to see Gloria standing there in a beautiful gown at a gala with a handsome prick at her side.
She’s smiling up at him and I want to gut the fucker.
What’s in it for her? She gave me the gift she can only give once, so maybe I’m making something out of nothing.
Either way, I need to clear my head. Getting out of bed, I head down to the gym and run ten miles on the treadmill.
Finally in the wee hours of the morning, fatigue hits me, so I shower and then sleep until it’s time to get ready for the funeral.
After the service, I speak to Father Flanagan and head back to deal with Gloria who refuses to answer her phone this morning.