Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

FIONN

I can’t get her crushed expression out of my head.

Her disappointment burns through me.

She would’ve let me fuck her. Right there in that hallway. But damn, I knew it was wrong.

There’s nothing I want more than to stalk right through the adjoining door and see her. To tell her how badly I want her.

Maybe once she’s back home, I can take her out. Get to know her better. Let her get to know me.

Who the hell knows why I’m so damn drawn to her? There’s something there, though. Something I want to explore.

“Fuck.” I laugh.

She’s just a kid. What the hell am I even thinking? But she seems way more grown up than any of the twentysomethings I’ve fucked.

Jesus. I’ve gotta get this girl out of my head before I rip off her clothes and bury myself so deep inside her, she’ll never be able to get away.

As soon as she asked me about her dress, I knew she was embarrassed because she had nothing to wear. It wasn’t hard to get her something she’d hopefully like. Don’t know her well enough to know her style, but when the sales associate showed me those two dresses, I knew she’d look incredible in either.

Grabbing my cell, I head out of the room and knock on hers.

She opens immediately. And when I see her…

I didn’t know my heart could do that. Beat so fucking loud, I hear it like a drum in my head.

“Holy shit…” My tone drops, and she smiles sweetly, batting those long lashes.

She’s all made up, but I don’t care much about that. She was beautiful without any makeup on too. But this dress…it leaves nothing to the imagination, yet is also just right for a black-tie event.

As I let my gaze wander down her curves, my hands burn to touch her, to feel every soft inch of her. Soon, I’ll be forgetting all the reasons why I shouldn’t make her mine.

My cock throbs the more I stare, and I groan low in my chest, barely holding on to my control.

How the hell am I supposed to be with her all night and not kiss her?

Or fuck her.

Or do anything.

“Is it too much?” She appears unsure, and I grab her hand and kiss the top of it.

“It’s perfect.” Can’t get the thought of you up against the wall with that dress around your hips out of my damn mind. “You’re breathtaking, Emily.”

Something passes in her eyes when I say her name, though it disappears quickly.

“You really didn’t have to go through all this trouble for me.” She glances down at her feet, like she’s not worthy of a man doing something nice for her. “But I really appreciate it.”

Her attention returns to me, and my need to get her naked and in my bed all night long plays on a loop.

I cup her cheek, my gaze boring deeper. “I enjoy making you smile, and the way you smiled when you opened the door said it all.”

Her face practically glows.

Gonna find out if that shithead is the only reason you’re so damn sad, and if there’s anyone else hurting you, they won’t live long enough to do it again.

“Are you ready to go?” I slide my fingers through hers. “My brother needs us at the ceremony in ten. Will you be okay sitting by yourself for a bit?”

“Yeah, of course.” She’s nervous, I can tell.

“I’ll have you sitting next to my father’s wife, Fernanda. She’s nice. You’ll like her.”

We start toward the elevator, entering it as it arrives.

“Don’t fuss over me. This is your brother’s wedding. I’ll be fine.”

I have no doubt that she will be, but she has no idea that she’s about to walk into a room full of some of the most dangerous people in the world.

AMARA

We head down to the lobby and past check-in, looping around toward the back and into the outdoor area where the ceremony and reception will take place.

“There you bloody are.”

An older man with a heavy Irish accent approaches as soon as we step in, his thick gray brows tugged in concern. Pale green eyes bounce between us, and I start to wonder if this is Fionn’s father.

“And who might you be?” An easy smile forms on his face.

“I’m Emily.”

“Hmm.” His eyes narrow at Fionn. “Is she your date?”

“Maybe.” He glances down at me with a smirk. “Don’t pester her, Dad.”

Dad. I was right. I can definitely see a resemblance.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.”

“Sir,” he scoffs. “No need for formalities, darling. Let’s get you seated at the front with my wife, Fernanda.”

It’s like he read his son’s mind.

We head to the first row, where an older woman fingers her shoulder-length brown hair before rising to greet us.

“Hey, sweetheart,” his father says. “Want to introduce you to Fionn’s date, Emily.”

“Emily.” The woman’s face is warm and kind as she looks me up and down. “It’s so nice to meet you, and you look exceptional.”

Her arms wrap around me and my eyes close, feeling the warmth of the embrace everywhere. I bet she’s a good mother.

I brush those thoughts away as Fionn says, “I’ll be back soon.”

“Don’t worry about her.” Fernanda grins. “Us girls will be just fine.”

He gives me one last glance before he’s heading toward the men I saw with him earlier, when he was ready to kill Xander.

“So…” Fernanda settles back down and pats the seat beside her. “How did you two meet?”

I’m not sure how much to tell her, but then again, why not? What difference would it make? I have no plans of seeing her or Fionn ever again after I head back home.

“Well…” I play with my nails, nerves hitting my gut. “We just met a few hours ago.”

“Oh! I have to hear this story.” She swings toward me, eagerly waiting for me to start.

My body tenses. “I was here with my boyfriend until…well…”

My pulse beats louder in my ears.

Just say it. It’s okay.

Her features tighten.

“Until Fionn saw him grabbing me, and he…he intercepted and kicked him out. And here we are.” A nervous laugh bubbles out.

Her face grows concerned. “That boy usually hurt you?”

My eyes close for a moment while she drags in a long, shallow breath.

“I know I don’t know you and you don’t know me, but I understand.” She places a comforting hand on my forearm. “Before I married Pat, I was married to a cruel man who hurt me any chance he got.”

Tears form as I concentrate on her, mouth pinched, clearly trying to mask her own pain.

“I never wanted to marry him. My mother forced me into it and I had no choice. Divorcing wasn’t an option, either. I couldn’t get away from him, and every day I prayed I could. The point is, if you have a chance to escape, take it from me, do it before it’s too late. Don’t go back to him. Ever.” She takes my hand and squeezes it. “You’re young. Beautiful. You have your whole life to look forward to. Don’t let this guy take it all from you, you hear me?”

With the backs of my fingers, I wipe under my eyes, nodding.

I know she’s right. Of course she is. But hearing her say it out loud… It really brought out all this festering pain to the surface.

I wish I had a mother like her. Someone I could talk to. Someone who could give me advice or even just listen.

“Let me.” She removes a handkerchief from her handbag and gently pats under my eyes. “Wouldn’t want you smudging this beautiful makeup. Did you do it yourself?”

“Oh God, no.” I grimace. “Fionn arranged it.”

“Did he now?” Her brows rise with a smirk.

“Yeah.” I let out a nervous giggle. “He was just being nice.”

“Right.” She nods. “Nice. Except I just never knew him to care this much about a woman before.”

As soon as I try to respond, the ceremony begins.

When I look out, Fionn’s eyes catch mine, and I start to hope that there’s some truth to what Fernanda just said.