Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 90211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
“He told me to give that to my dad. And he told me not to go to the Whelans with it.”
Liam’s frown deepens. “You know he meant me, right?”
“I had a feeling.”
“Shit.”
“I think… I’m pretty sure… that’s what Kieren stole.”
He holds my eyes and says nothing. I wish I could read what he’s thinking right now. My heart hammers and I don’t know where I stand with this man, my future husband, a total stranger I slept with twice in a fit of near-insanity, the exact kind of man I grew up all my life staying far away from, and now it feels like my life’s in his hands. Or maybe the life of my family.
Then he tucks the documents under his arm. “I’ll hold on to these.”
“What are you going to do with them?”
“I haven’t decided yet.”
“Shouldn’t your boss see it?”
“He will.” He weighs something in his head. “But if I do that and Finn reacts the way I think he’s going to react, our Russian friends will be very unhappy with you.”
I shiver and look down at the table, thinking about that cold, creepy asshole Max. “Pretty sure that doesn’t matter.”
“It matters to me.”
He puts the folder down and reaches across the table. It’s fast and firm. He grabs my wrist hard, tugging me forward, the table edge pressing into my midsection. My mouth opens in surprise and my heart staggers as he meets me halfway, his mouth crushing into mine.
I’m too surprised to pull away. His lips taste exactly like I remember. I stay there, edge painfully jutting into my ribs, his fingers digging into my wrist bones, his tongue in my mouth, and I’m thinking, I don’t want this to stop, and that’s terrifying. That’s worse than not wanting it at all.
It’s over too soon. He releases me and sweeps from the table, the folder shoved under his arm. I watch him go, dazed, not sure what the hell happened.
What am I doing, risking everything on a man like Liam?
I don’t know the guy. He could easily sell me out and destroy my father, all to further some agenda I don’t even know about.
But for some reason, a nagging part of me trusts him. Maybe it’s his unflinching honesty.
Maybe it’s the way he kisses me.
Can’t change anything now.
CHAPTER 14
REGAN
“Sit still.” My mother tugs at my hair and I grunt in response, nearly dropping my phone.
“Mom, could you not?”
“I could, but I’m going to if you keep on squirming. I’m almost finished.”
I grumble something but quickly shut my mouth at the look Noreen gives me in the mirror.
She’s in a mood today and I don’t know why. Not that I have the emotional space to deal with it at the moment.
I’m currently occupied with my own issues around today’s wedding.
It’s strange, sitting in a chair in front of a massive mirror, wearing a white dress, looking exactly like a bride’s supposed to look, but not feeling like one. I know, at an intellectual level, that I’m getting married in a little over an hour.
But my gut says this is all wrong.
Not that I can stop it. And even if I could, what would I do? Go back to being single? Hating myself for what Kieren did to me? That guy can go to hell for all I care.
Though hitching myself to Liam Lankshear probably isn’t a reasonable reaction to getting cheated on.
“There. Finished. Take a look.” Mom sits back and allows me the dignity of movement for the first time in twenty minutes. I turn sideways and inspect her work in the mirror: a long braid, wavy, loosely done, with several white flowers and a complicated pattern on the base of my skull.
Frankly… it’s beautiful.
“Mom…” I catch my lip between my teeth and have to take a deep breath to keep from crying. For whatever reason, my reality hits hard all of a sudden.
I’m getting married to a man I barely know… and don’t particularly like.
A dangerous, violent man.
All because I’m a useful chess piece.
“Yes, sweetie, I know, I’m quite good.” Mom stiffly pats my knee. That’s about as expressive as she gets. “There's no reason to cry over my skills, darling.”
I laugh despite myself and wipe my eyes. “God, I’m going to mess up my makeup.”
“I’ll fix it if you do.” She makes me turn to face her and dabs at my face with some tissues. “There, not bad at all. You’re fine, right?”
“Mom…” I trail off. What can I say to her? Tell her that I’m cracking up inside? That I want to scream and scream and hope someone would come to help me, but knowing that nobody would? I’m a victim of my own life. I’m a prisoner in my own wedding.
“I know, Regan.” Mom’s back straightens. She gives me her severe look, but for the first time in my life, I think I can see something else. Something new… and vulnerable.