Page 47 of While You Sleep

Chapter Fifteen

Sophia

“Look at me!” Tommy called and jumped into the pool.

I laughed and held up both hands. “Ten!” He beamed at me and swam to the side of the pool to do it again. When we’d arrived, Cillian and Dad had immediately closed themselves in my father’s office. He said he needed to speak with Dad after what happened last night. Paolo was back in Italy, but Cillian was still concerned.

I shifted on my seat, still sore from what we’d done, then shivered. Despite the ache, I’d been wet all morning just thinking about it. I felt guilty, and obscene, like there was something very wrong with me. Cillian had still had blood on his clothes, and I’d wanted him so badly, I’d leaned into him, telling him without the shame of asking for what I wanted out loud. Cillian hadn’t missed it.

Dean had been nowhere in sight when he’d taken me to bed. He’d been all Cillian, and he’d wanted me to know it.

Celeste walked out and plonked into the chair beside me. “So how’s married life treating you?” She sipped her wine, watching me over the rim, eyes glittering.

Usually, I’d make polite conversation, do what I could to try to keep the peace, even when she said shitty things. She’d treated me like crap since the first day she walked into this house, had made my life hell. Celeste had relished the thought of me being married to a man who kills without conscience. She’d also known the kind of man Adam was, that he hurt women, and she hadn’t cared about that either. No, she’d taken pleasure in scaring me right before my wedding.

Cillian hadn’t hurt me, though, and somehow I knew he never would, but for some reason Celeste hated me and was hoping for the opposite. I turned in my seat and did something I rarely did. I held her sharp gaze, not looking away, not backing down or excusing myself to avoid her venom. “What do you want me to say?” I said to her. “What would make your black heart happy, Celeste? I’d hate to disappoint you.”

She gripped her glass tighter and forced a shrill, ugly laugh. “Not going that well, then, Soph?”

I smiled. “On the contrary. My husband likes me very much.” I sat forward in my seat and lowered my voice so only she would hear me. “He came home last night covered in someone else’s blood, then fucked me while it was still on his skin.”

She jerked back, and I grabbed her hand, stopping her retreat. “He’s obsessed with me, you know. I think he’d do anything I asked.” I held her gaze another beat, then released her and sat back, not taking my eyes off hers.

Celeste’s glass trembled in her hand, and she quickly set it down on the table, but her eyes were still filled with hatred. “Are you threatening me?”

Tommy called for me to watch him, and I stood, but turned back to her before I walked away. “Yes, that’s exactly what I’m doing.”

Then I walked over to Tommy and sat on the edge of the pool and hung out with my baby brother.

Fifteen minutes later, the door to my father’s office opened and Cillian strode out. My father followed, red-faced and obviously furious, but he was keeping his mouth shut. He’d barely greeted me when we arrived and didn’t really look at me now. Cillian came straight to me and took my hand before he took hold of my chin and kissed me. My heart instantly burst into flutters, and I felt Celeste’s eyes burning into me, watching the whole thing.

Cillian’s eyes scorched into me, and when he lifted his head, he didn’t tamp it down. This was a show for my father, for some reason, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. I didn’t like being lied to about who he was, or manipulated, but then the truth of who he was, was also terrifying.

He turned to Dad, giving him a hard look. “I’ll be in touch.”

Dad nodded, and then we left.

“What was that about?” I asked, feeling uneasy.

Cillian opened the car door for me. “Our families are tied together more so now than ever before. We’re also in business together, and I needed to remind your father of that.”

I frowned, but he ushered me into the car and strode around to the driver’s side. He wasn’t going to elaborate, I knew that, but he still shared more with me than my father ever had. “Where’s Danny this morning?”

He glanced my way as he started the car. “He got shot last night. I gave him the day off.”

“What?” I spun to face him. “Is he okay?”

“He’s fine.” We drove out onto the street.

“But he was shot, Cillian. Oh my god. He could have been seriously injured.” I stared at Cillian’s unconcerned profile. “He could have died.”

Cillian was quiet several seconds. “You seem awfully concerned about Danny’s well-being.”

“Of course I am. He’s one of your men. I like him, and he’s nice to me.”

“You didn’t seem to want nice last night, pet. Nice was the last thing you wanted.” His gaze slid to me.

I stilled at what I saw. What the hell was going on here?

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