Page 14 of Fearless Sinner

“I’ll do the same.”

“That sounds like some sort of plan,” Seamus cuts in. “Sorry to add to the load, but we need to talk about your succession.”

“Then I’ll take my leave.” Virgo nods. He never feels comfortable sitting around while we talk about Irish mafia business. I guess I would feel the same if he was talking Bratva business. “I’m sure that wife of mine needs me.”

“Talk later.” Virgo leaves us and I straighten to hear why Seamus feels he needs to add to my load. “Why, Uncle?”

“Because you need to find a wife in six weeks.”

God in heaven, I don’t know how many more shocks I can take in one day. “What the hell are you saying to me?”

“I told you about this several months ago. You automatically became the leader of the clan after your father died but you won’t receive everything until you get married.”

“I know. But six weeks?”

“Yes, six weeks. The full legal transfer of your position in the clan and your father’s final assets demand that you find a wife in six weeks.”

I bite down hard on my back teeth. “This is not the time to find a fucking wife. I’m trying to find the psycho who murdered my family. The man is trying to ruin me, Uncle.”

“I know, but it is what it is. You know how the Gallaghers would love to take your position.”

Those motherfuckers are our biggest investors at the bank, but if given the chance they would kick me into an open grave and cover me with acid.

They’ve been after the leadership position for years. They’re second in power to our family so if anything were to happen to me or I couldn’t fulfil my duties for some reason they’d take over.

“The Gallaghers can keep dreaming.”

“With that said, I think you should meet with Jessica Riley. I have spoken to her and her father.”

I try to stifle a groan but fail. For a moment all I can do is stare at Seamus. I love my uncle to death. Family means everything to me but, fuck, he didn’t need to meddle like that.

The subject of marriage is a difficult one for me anyway because I’ve only ever known one girl I would have considered marrying. One of the reasons I believe she killed herself was because she thought I cheated on her with Jessica Riley. Her twin sister. Jessica set me up.

“I hate that woman.” The venom in my tone is as unmistakable as the moon in the fucking sky.

“Cillian. It’s time to put the past behind you. That was ten years ago, and Erika was sick.”

Just the mention of Erika’s name fills me with guilt and despair. Yes, she was sick. She had an inoperable brain tumor that became unresponsive to treatment and the doctors gave her a year to live, but that didn’t excuse Jessica’s evil actions.

Her goal was to break up my relationship with her sister. She always had her eye on me, but she wanted to be the wife of the new leader. AKA me.

“Not her.” I won’t give her what she's always wanted. She made sure her sister was out of the way, but she never got me. She won’t get me this way.

“Cillian. The two of you make sense. Her family is part of the clan. They also have their hedge fund company. You own the bank. That’s a match made in heaven. Sometimes you just have to do things for business.”

“I understand that.”

“Then listen to me and consider her as an option. Just an option. Meaning that if you find a suitable choice in the timeframe, then go with your choice. Also bear in mind that you only need to be married for six months. You can consider that in whatever way you want.” He sits forward to rest his elbows on his knees. “I think that given the circumstances with this Lance Polinsky, you should do whatever you can to make things easier for these sorts of matters.”

“Just let me live through this week, please.”

“Alright. It’s my job to advise you in the best way I can. I don’t want to see you lose your position.”

“That’s not going to happen.”

“Good, because your father would never forgive me if I allowed such a thing to happen for something so small. The O’Ridians have been in charge of the clan for over a hundred years.”

“And they won’t stop now.”

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