Page 18 of While You Sleep

I grabbed for the chair in front of me. “Why? Because of you?”

“Sit down, Sophia.”

“No, I don’t want any part of this—”

“Sit down.”

I shook my head and took another step back, my mind spinning. I knew our world was fucked up, but I’d stupidly assumed it couldn’t touch me, that despite his faults, my father would protect me. “I need air…I need to get the hell out of here.” I yanked the door open and sprinted for the front door.

I only managed a few steps before a strong, unyielding arm locked around my waist, lifting me off my feet. Cillian. He carried me back to my father’s office as I struggled and cursed against his hold.

Dad hadn’t moved. He knew there was no escape for me.

Cillian put me down but didn’t leave us alone. He shut the door and stood in front of it, his cold green gaze locked on my father. “You’ve told her?”

“Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to?” Dad said, his voice raised.

Cillian didn’t flinch. “While I’m here, I speak for Seamus. A slight to me, is a slight to him. So watch your mouth, old man.”

“I’m head of the Brennan family. You will show me respect.”

“When you earn it, I’ll show it. It’s happening tomorrow.”

My father paled. “Tomorrow?”

“What the hell is going on?” I bit out.

Cillian’s gaze sliced back to me. “Your father fucked up. He owes us, and with the Italians possibly readying for war against your family as we speak, he needs us even more. We need to maintain a united front.”

I didn’t like what he was saying, but at least he was telling me something. “What does that have to do with me?”

“Brian’s real name is Paolo Amato. He’s Alto’s nephew. My guess, he was sent in to seduce you, to try to forge some kind of alliance with your father, but you turned him down, so Paolo moved to plan B, take you by force. As a result, I had to take out several of their men to get you here. They’ll assume it was one of your father’s men who killed them, which means you’re all in serious danger. Your father’s second fuckup? He didn’t protect you. He left you exposed and vulnerable, and now he finds himself in a very tenuous situation.”

My father stared at Cillian like he wanted to murder him, but he didn’t correct him.

“Our alliance was with your uncle, and your father’s actions have caused us to lose all trust in him.”

“What actions? What did he do?”

Dad straightened. “That’s none of your concern—”

“He was doing deals in our territory without telling us, and without offering Seamus his dues,” Cillian said, talking over my father. “He’s lucky Seamus didn’t order me to put a bullet in his brain for the insult. I’ve done a lot worse, for a lot less.”

I believed it. I tried to hide the shiver of fear that washed through me. He would have killed my father without a second thought or a lost night of sleep if Seamus ordered him to.

“Now this mess with the Italians.” Cillian shook his head. “He’s put your family in a very dangerous position.” His gaze didn’t falter from me. “And if your father wants the O’Rourkes’ considerable manpower behind him when Leone comes for you and your family, we’ll need to cement our alliance another way, and quickly.”

I looked between them, ice trickling through my veins. “How?”

Cillian’s gaze bore into mine. “You’ll marry an O’Rourke, tomorrow, uniting the families by marriage, and then by blood when you have children.”

A laugh of disbelief burst from me, and I turned to my father. But he said nothing, standing completely still and silent, watching the exchange between me and Cillian, and the truth of what the monster in front of me said was in my father’s eyes.

“You’ve lost your damn minds,” I said.

Cillian nodded slowly. “I understand your reservation,” he said as if this was some normal everyday conversation, “but it is necessary.”

I spun to my father, pointing at Cillian. “You can’t make me marry that psycho. I won’t do it.”

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