5. Cillian

I adjustmy suit jacket as Declan pulls the car around the front.

That's not what I intended. I didn't intend to lie about my name, nor put my hands up that tight little red dress.

If I'm being honest, I meant to go in there and throw her over my shoulder, dragging her back to my home, where she belongs. But the way she looked at me like she's searching for her place in the world had me stopping in my tracks, along with her scent. She might not recognize it for what it is, but I do.

She ran away instead of being bonded to me, and I need to know why. It's clear she doesn't know who I am or that she's been promised to me for a considerably long time, but I wasn't going to introduce myself as Cillian O'Brien and risk causing a scene.

I didn't know if she knew of my name, even just in passing, so I fucking lied. When I approached her, and her eyes widened, I thought for sure she would spin on those ridiculously high heels to run away from me.

Of all fucking places, she had to be working at The High Roller. Maybe Anthony underestimating her is working to our advantage because never in a million years would he think to look here. Plus, with our inside information, we would know right away if he was speculating about her whereabouts.

The only reason I haven't done anything too drastic is because I know she hasn't touched anyone else and that she won't while I figure this shit out. She's safe, as long as no one in this goddamn club touches her and her brother doesn't come sniffing around.

Finn is going to kill me. What's even worse is I'm not sure what will happen when he scents her for the first time. This is a cluster fuck.

"Not there?" Declan questions in his heavy brogue.

He'd only just moved back from Cork in anticipation of the deal that was supposed to happen. The Beta has been on a tight leash for quite some time, and I know it's only a matter of time before he does something rash. I consider lying, consider keeping Elena a secret until I figure out what to do with her.

She ran away for a reason, and I imagine it has to do with the idea of being forced onto a pack. Not to mention her brother seems like a real fucking shitehawk. I bet Matteo's body was still warm when the greedy prick decided he wanted to supersede his father.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure that everyone in our line of work has some form of daddy issues, but I'd never disrespect my da' the way he has.

"She was there."

"Aye? Then why the fuck ain't she in the car?" Declan queries, stopping traffic to look at me intently.

"She won't be touching anyone, not until I figure this out."

"You've got to be kidding me, Cillian. Seamus said you had a soft little heart, but fuck. I'm turning around."

"Wait."

He glares at me, his ice-blue eyes nearly boring into mine.

"What if she came of her own free will, and we didn't have to uphold any of our bargains with the Amantes? If she chose to be with us, we wouldn't have to agree to Anthony's terms. We could work with the Barbieris like we wanted to."

We're new to Vegas. Our ties ain't as strong here as they are in other places in the States. My father wanted to work with Matteo Amante, but with the way his son has been acting and the disappearance of the Omega we were promised, he's less than fucking pleased.

He clicks the phone on speaker, and I consider shooting myself in the head as my father answers.

"Aye?"

"Tell ‘em then," Declan demands.

"I found the Amante girl."

"Then my new daughter-in-law will be at your place for supper on Sunday, I presume?" my father drawls.

Declan looks at me like he's watching a train wreck, and I suppose he is.

"I think I have a better idea."

"It better be good."

I tell him my plan, and by some fucking miracle, he agrees.

"Anthony has proven to be difficult to work with. Salvatore will be better. He'll help us push the Russians out of the city."

"Go raibh maith agat, Da'."

"Don't thank me, Cillian. You have a month. Let's see how much we can make the Amantes sweat over breaking their end of the bargain. Have you told Fionn? Does Lorcán know you found her?" he asks, always using my brother's full name, much to his irritation.

"Not yet."

"Adh mór," my father sighs with a laugh. Good fucking luck indeed.

"How in the fuck do you plan on making sure no one touches her?" Declan asks, I nearly forgot that he's a part of this. I've had years to wrap my mind around sharing, and I still don't fucking like it, even if we're family.

"I paid her to make sure she doesn't touch anyone else," I answer Declan plainly. "I also might have threatened Travis' life via text if he doesn't keep me up to date with our Omega's comings and goings."

He barks out a laugh and shakes his head. "I swear your brother must have taken all the nutrients up in the womb."

"You haven't met her, you wouldn't understand."

"Aye, and whose fault is that?" he asks.

"Her brother's, and maybe Lorcán's. I'm considering not even telling the bastard I found her."

"You're a selfish arse."

"Never said I wasn't," I reply, and thankfully, with my father's approval and being higher station than Declan, he drives us home without any more interruptions.

Finn sits at the dining room table with a tumbler of whiskey, his Glock on the table as he spins it with his finger.

"Deartháir," he greets. Nothing is ever good when he calls me brother.

"Finn," I respond, taking off my suit jacket and tossing it over the chair. My brother's nostrils flare, and he stops spinning the weapon on the table.

"You've been busy. Where is she?"

"I've got it under control," I deadpan.

My twin brother looks to Declan, who shrugs and takes a seat, pouring his own glass of whiskey. He smirks against the glass as he waits for the drama between us to unfold.

"Do you know how many times Lorcán has complained about how sweet her scent is? How hard he's had to try to maintain his front when he's around her?" His voice is cool and calm. It makes everything much worse. I wonder if he's making the same connection I did when I met her or if he will do anything but admit what she truly is to us. "You smell like you just fucked a bakery."

"I didn't fuck her."

"Not with your langer, but your fingers still fucking count. What the fuck is wrong with you? You should have brought her back here immediately. This isn't a fucking game, Cillian."

"I didn't say it was a game," I sneer.

"You sure seem to like playing with your food before you eat. This is a transaction, nothing else."

"Da' agreed to my plan," I spit, and he raises his glass to his lips with irritation.

"Please, enlighten me."

"We make her ours outside of the deal and work with the Barbieri's since Matteo is no longer alive. Anthony can't even keep a handle on his own sister, let alone all the trade deals we want to make happen. The Omega was the prime reason we wanted to work with him, anyway."

My brother grabs a cigar, lighting it and bringing it to his lips. "Wrong. It's why you wanted to work with the Amantes," he amends.

"You know we have obligations, Finn," I retort. We need to keep the O'Brien line strong, and we can only do that with a pack and having our own Omega.

"You. You have obligations. I never wanted this."

"Then consider your hands clean of the fucking situation. Why do you even care?"

Finn glares at me as he sucks on his cigar. Declan is unnaturally quiet while watching the exchange.

Finn avoids answering my question and taps off the ash.

"It doesn't matter, the deal was made. She belongs to us whether Anthony Amante delivers her in a pretty white dress or we take her ourselves. It's a matter of principle and not allowing our family to look weak."

There's so much that he isn't saying, so much that Declan and I ignore, despite his shitty attitude, I don't feel like discussing all of my brother's darkest secrets at the moment.

"Where is she? Let's go collect our little prize," he says sardonically, and I really want to punch him, though it's a fight I know I won't win. But when it comes to Elena, I need him to understand my reasoning.

"I don't want to take her as a captive. I want her to come on her own accord. That's the only way this works."

He laughs at me like I'm stupid, and maybe I am.

"That tender heart of yours will get you killed, brother. Tell me where she is, and I'll collect her myself."

"If we take her, then neither of the families will want to work with us."

"I don't give a fuck."

I enter his space, but he doesn't even get up from his chair or act imposed by my presence. We may be twins, but we couldn't be more different.

"For someone who wants nothing to do with her, you seem to care a lot about her whereabouts, brother."

Finn slowly stands until we're eye to eye. Dark green eyes, the same as mine, looking back at me. He smacks me playfully against the face and smiles.

"Goodnight, deartháir."

He tucks his Glock back into his pants and walks upstairs to his bedroom. As soon as he's gone, Declan whistles.

"Aye, I was right. He stole all the nutrients along with all the brains, too."

"Shut the fuck up," I bark at him, and Declan raises his hands in mock surrender even though he clearly thinks it's hilarious. "Don't you dare tell him where she is. If he takes her, it could start a whole storm of shit we don't want."

"You think her brother gives a shite if she chooses to be with us or we choose for her?" he asks.

I'm left speechless, and Declan clicks his tongue.

"I see. You care if she chooses."

"You would too," I tell him, crossing my arms, and the Beta tilts his head at me.

"You should talk to Lorcán," he says, and I shake my head.

"No, fuck him. He was supposed to be keeping an eye on her, and he didn't do his fucking job. That's why we're in this whole mess."

"Cillian, I think I'm on Finn's side with this."

"Two weeks." He arches an eyebrow at my counter. "Give me two weeks to figure it out, and then we can go with Plan B."

"You really think you can get the little Omega to fall in love with you in two weeks?"

No, but I might at least get her to agree to some terms.

"Just give me some time to do things the right way. Wouldn't you rather her want to be here instead of feeling like a fucking captive?"

Declan shrugs his shoulders, and I feel hopeless.

Fuck, I really don't want to call Lorcán to get him on my side, but I just might have to.