42. Liam

42

LIAM

T he O’Keefe’s headquarters had the dark, oppressive feel I had expected from Val’s home and his father’s. The artwork and accents contained skulls, ravens, and depictions of creatures being hunted, and I felt like anyone or anything could be hiding in the shadows. I didn’t want to stay any longer than I had to.

Val and I were led down a red-carpeted hall to a room where Vito and several other men sat on one side of a table facing people I assumed were members of the O’Keefe family.

A man old enough to be my grandfather sat at the head of the table. He was dressed in all black. His white hair was still thick and perfectly styled to sweep off of his face.

Even if he hadn’t been seated so prominently, I wouldn’t have needed anyone to tell me he was Cathal. He held himself in a way that exuded power.

I also knew the man at the other end of the table was Lucien. He was unbelievably gorgeous. He wore a red shirt with his charcoal gray suit and black tie. He looked like the perfect ideal of a seductive, dangerous man. I could imagine how his boyfriend fell for him easily.

The other men in the room also radiated strength and danger, but I kept my attention on Cathal.

Val and I remained standing as Lucien rose and moved toward us. He addressed Cathal. “This is Liam, Valentino’s fiancé.” Lucien acted as if he knew me well, even though we’ve never met. “Liam, this is Cathal O’Keefe, the head of your family.”

Cathal inclined his head toward me. “Come closer.”

I moved toward him, and Val followed as Lucien returned to his seat.

I was standing as close to his chair as I dared. I expected him to say something, but he wasn’t looking at me. He was looking over my shoulder at Valentino, his face hard and cold.

“Tell your dog to stand down.”

I bristled at him, speaking about Val that way, but I knew this was not the time to start a fight. I turned and looked into Val’s eyes. “I’ve got this. Trust me.”

I wasn’t sure how I’d developed such courage. Was it from coming face-to-face with Dom, from saving his life and being accepted? From the easy way Lucien introduced me? Or just from knowing how strong the bond between me and Val was? It didn’t really matter because I knew I had the strength to stand my ground and not agree to more than I was willing to give.

Val stepped back, and I faced Cathal again.

“That’s better. My apologies to you that you were not properly introduced to your family after your father’s death. There was a letter intended for you that would have explained your father’s true identity and given you information about how to claim your inheritance.”

What inheritance? Was that the money Val had mentioned?

“I never received a letter. I met with an attorney about my father’s and mother’s wills, but their cars and a small sum was all I received. I had no idea my father had been known by a different name.”

“You weren’t meant to know as long as he was alive and we weren’t in power. The letter that was meant for you was destroyed. The McConnells got to the attorney you spoke with, and he turned the paper over to them. He’s been dealt with.”

I wanted to protest that if they’d threatened him, he wasn’t really to blame, but I knew better. “So what about the inheritance? Did they take that as well as my father’s life?”

He shook his head. “No. Your father hid his safe deposit box key for you. The letter included a hint you would understand, but they couldn’t decipher it.”

“Is that why they are after me now? Are they still after the money?”

He paused as if considering the question. “That is possible, but you are well-protected. I have men tracking down the bastards who have come after you, and any other McConnells they can find. They will be eliminated.”

“Thank you, sir.” I had to try not to think about the total death count that I’d end up being partially responsible for.

“Now, it seems we have more things to discuss. I understand it is your intention to marry into the Marchesi family.”

I wouldn’t compromise with him over that. “Yes, sir. I am going to marry Valentino.”

“It would be proper for you to ask my permission first.”

“I already promised myself to him before I knew of you.”

He studied me for a moment. “That is true. If you will agree to the terms I’ve set, I will allow your breach of etiquette and approve the marriage.”

I wanted to yell at him and tell him that wasn’t his right, that I could marry anyone I wanted, that he had no hold over me, but I knew that as much as I wanted that to be true, it really wasn’t. “What are those terms, sir?”

“If there is any business we need to discuss with the Marchesis, I will call you, and you will come and speak with me about it. If they need to communicate with us, I will expect it to be you that they send.”

I didn’t like it, but so far it was exactly what Val had said.

“Also, you will come and spend time with us each week. I will get to know you, and you will get to know the prominent members of this family. I won’t have you living with another family and knowing nothing of your true roots.”

I liked that even less, but for Val, I could live with it. “Yes, sir.”

“Know this. If for one moment I think you’ve done anything to betray us, I will seek you out, and I will end you. And if the Marchesis go to war with us, and you do not immediately leave them and pledge your loyalty to me, you will be considered our enemy just as they will. You will not be able to play both sides.”

I heard footsteps behind me, and I was sure it was Val approaching, Cathal looked up at him and held up a hand. “Back away. This is family business.”

“Valentino is my family. He’s going to be my husband. I will be a liaison between you and the Marchesis. I will spend time with you. I will get to know you and anything you want to tell me about my history, but my loyalty lies with my husband.”

“I have killed family members for less than that,” he said.

I stood still, and I didn’t break eye contact with him. There had been so many chances for me to die over the last few weeks. I was getting really fucking tired of my life being on the line. “I’m sure you have, sir. But I won’t lie to you. I hope that you value honesty as much as I do.”

Lucien rose again. “I trust that is sufficient, O’Keefe. You have other business as you previously said, and so do we. We will inform you when the marriage has taken place, and I am certain Liam will honor his commitments to you. Do we have a deal?”

Cathal looked at Lucien, then back at me. “Yes, I give my blessing to this marriage and agree to the terms we have set.”

I almost sagged to the floor as relief hit me. I wasn’t sure I fully accepted that this was real yet, but I’d survived. I’d stood up to more mobsters in one day than I’d ever thought I’d meet.

“Before you leave, you need the key to your father’s safe deposit box.” Cathal snapped his fingers at one of the young men sitting on the O’Keefe side of the table. The man rose and hurried away. He returned a moment later, holding out the key and a folder to Cathal before returning to his seat.

Cathal looked over the objects, then addressed me. “The box number is on the key and the password the bank will ask for is your father’s birth name which you would have learned from the letter. It is Brian O’Malley.”

How had my father had two names I’d never know about? It was going to take me a long time to process all I’d learned about my family.

“In this folder, you will see statements about the accounts you have the right to. Further information about them is in the box.”

He handed me the folder, and I opened it. The first page showed the total amount of money I would have access to from different accounts. My eyes widened. “There must be a mistake.”

Cathal shook his head. “There’s no mistake. Your father was a very valuable associate.”

There was over four million dollars in the various accounts. All I had ever wanted was enough money for a reasonably comfortable life for me and my sister. A tenth of this amount, even far less would have been enough. This was more than I’ve ever dreamed of.

I closed the folder. “Thank you, sir.”

“It’s not a gift. Your father earned it.”

Was this really the life I had now? Was I going to marry Valentino Marchesi? Did I really have more money than I’d ever dreamed of? It was too much. It seemed like more than I deserved.

You’ve been a good person your whole life. You were cheated out of what you should’ve had when your parents died. They were taken from you by their enemies. You deserve everything good.

Maybe it was time I listened to that voice instead of the ones that wanted to drag me down.