Page 133 of Sinful Sacrifice

“I don’t think there’s another Pippa Charlotte Elsher around here,” Damien says, fake looking around the room and cocking his head to the side. “You must’ve forgotten. We discussed it at Antonio Lombardi’s wedding when we ran into each other.”

Everyone’s eyes are on us.

Cernach clasps his hands, the noise loud. “I’m sure my Riona wants to select her own house. She and Pippa don’t know each other well enough for her to decide such a thing. Pippa, you’ll spend the day with Igor. Riona and Damien will go house-hunting.” His cold glare whips to Damien. “It’ll give the future newlyweds time to get to know each other.” He leans back in his chair, offering the table a self-satisfied smile. “Both sets of newlyweds.”

44

“I don’t appreciate the games you’re playing,” Cernach spits, seated behind his desk. “Pippa isn’t yours. Riona is. I expect you to keep your hands to yourself.”

After dinner, he requested I come to his house and speak to him in his office about my behavior tonight. The imbecile played right into my hands.

“We made a deal.” I flick open my Zippo. “You said you’d keep Pippa’s name out of marriage contracts, yet you introduced her to a possible husband tonight and called them newlyweds. I don’t appreciate the games you’re playing.”

He throws out his arms. “Have I married her off yet?”

“You paraded her around and called her a newlywed. Stop, or I’ll slit the throat of every man you introduce her to.”

“You don’t want to cross me.”

He waggles his finger toward me in warning. I want to rip it off his wrinkled hand and feed it through the paper shredder in the corner.

“No one is crossing you,” I say with a bored sigh. “We made a verbal agreement. No husbands for Pippa. I want that in writing now that you can’t be trusted.”

“On the terms of you giving me a grandchild. I want my Riona pregnant.”

I resist the urge to recoil at the thought of knocking Riona up. I’ll come up with a plan to get out of that. Possibly hire a sperm donor.

“I agreed to that end of the deal.”

“I’m very protective of my daughter. You remember that.”

I raise a brow. “So protective that you’re marrying her off to a man she hardly knows? A man you sold illegal weapons to, knowing his intention for them was to murder men?”

Cernach might care for his daughter, but he doesn’t love her.

A loving father would never do that.

“I chose you as her husband because I love her,” he fires back. “I witnessed how protective you were with Pippa. I expect Riona to receive the same treatment. She’s a good girl. You can learn to like her. She’ll be your wife and main priority.”

I slip my hands into my pockets. “Is your wife your main priority?”

He slams his mouth shut, at a loss for words.

I snap my fingers, scoffing.

I might not be a married man yet, but a husband who loves his wife would never hesitate when asked that question.

“You think on that.” I tap my knuckles against his desk. “You can answer it next time I see you.”

I turn to leave, but he speaks to my back.

“Riona will hate Pippa if she lets you touch her,” he states, full of himself. “Now, I’m not a fan of my niece, but I know she won’t let a married man touch her. This is the one time I appreciate her having morals.”

Not replying, I leave his office.

Odhrán, his underboss, stands in the doorway.

“Bathroom?” I ask.

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