Page 56 of Líadan's Code

“Tyler, sit back,” I say softly as he leans forward. “Stop staring at the sharks. They bite back.”

Líadan has transformed into the perfect Irish mafia daughter, pointing out the women in barely there outfits made of pearls as they walk through the room.

“They’re mostly harmless if you throw them a treat here and there,” she murmurs languidly. “This should keep them happy until it doesn’t. I suggested it to Daddy.”

I can read between the lines, knowing that she suggested willing people service the room to take the heat off of Layla. Even when she’s in the thick of mafia bullshit, Líadan is trying to keep people safe.

The girls move through the room, smiling seductively to entice those without their own sexual slaves with them, while Seán takes a deep breath. Ohhh, so he’s using these girls as a distraction. That’s funny.

Standing, Seán clears his throat. The room immediately quiets outside of the occasional gag as a man shoves his cock down his plaything’s throat. Yep, this is a classy event alright.

“Thank you everyone for coming tonight. I know you’ve all been anxiously waiting for me to announce my heir, and I am proud to tell you. Directly after this, we will have a private performance by The Midnight Lights. Layla is bound to me by a debt, so she was more than willing to attend tonight,” Seán begins.

The words draw attention to Layla as she disappears behind the curtain, forcing me to hold back a snarl. I hate the idea that she’s being objectified like this, and even though I’m not a violent man naturally, my fingers itch for a weapon. I know that blood will flow tonight. One way or another, the king will fall.

Seán goes on a long diatribe about the future of the Irish Families in the criminal organization, naming Líadan as his heir on the contingency that she marry someone of his choosing.

I can barely hold back the eye roll I want to give, because one of the biggest things my surveillance showed me was that the families wanted a man in charge.

Líadan is one of the strongest people in the room, and the deadliest. She doesn’t need a man to prove that. The reasons she needs Brendan and I are to ground her emotionally to the present. Unchecked, I can see her losing herself to death and destruction. She has a conscience, she’s just very subjective about the things she cares about.

Some people yell at the news, others are quiet as they assess the woman who stands slowly to address them. Líadan is keeping secrets from these people, which means her predatory smile has merit as she steps closer to stand near her father.

Since she’s playing her part so well, I keep up my side by giving anyone who glances at me absolutely no emotion.

“My father has been careful to have me avoid parties since I was a little girl and someone tried to assassinate me,” she says, meeting the eyes of what I assume are key players in the room. As people snarl at her, Líadan simply blows them a kiss.

“While I have been training in the wake of my brothers’ deaths, I know I will need to take a husband to help me navigate this world. It is not because I am weak, but because this is how you all believe it should be done, so I will bow to our traditions. It is the only time I’ll bow, so don’t get used to it.”

As Líadan flips her hair and flounces off to sit down beside me, I catalog every person’s reaction so I can go over it with Brendan and the heir to the mafia families. I’m less worried about the outwardly aggressive people, because the ones who are glaring calculatedly are the ones who will attempt to push her buttons.

It’s going to get messy very soon.

Tyler stiffens as Seán announces the auction, and I reach over to squeeze his arm, shaking my head. It won’t get much further than an announcement. Layla won’t be leaving with anyone she doesn’t want to. Tyler is the mafia boss’ insurance that she’ll perform, but that’s all Seán will get her to do.

The terms are clear that Tyler is collateral, Seán just doesn’t realize he’s writing bigger checks than he can cash.

“The blonde will make a beautiful addition to anyone’s human menagerie as their personal songbird and fill my coffers with the money from the blood debt she owes me. Your bids will be collected by the men on the ends of each row,” Seán crows as men walk down the aisles to collect the silent bids.

Tyler’s breaths come faster as he panics, watching how excited everyone is as the noise around him gets louder. They all saw Layla disappear backstage, and he can’t help her. Fuck, he’s going to do something stupid or pass out if I can’t get through to him.

Knowing Layla and Lennon, they didn’t tell him anything about their plans. I don’t know the details, but I have faith in my girls and their ability to make a plan happen. Layla doesn’t get stage fright, and I doubt she will now.

“Keep it together, man,” I hiss in his ear. “Layla knows exactly what a blood debt means thanks to her sister when I caught her earlier. Seán needs a diversion and to show that he still maintains the old ways. Unfortunately, this will probably be the last thing that he ever does. No matter what happens, tell my nieces I love them.”

Tyler glances at me with a million questions in his eyes, but I lean back as the curtains open to reveal the band. Mav, Draven, and Atlas look angry as they pick up their instruments with jerky motions, and I can immediately see why. Layla is staring out at the faceless sea of people as if checked out.

My lips purse as I search her for bruises, but I’m too far away. Her clothes are intact, yet something still scared her.

“Bruin,” Líadan whispers in my ear, drawing my attention to the side entrance as I watch him step outside.

Fucker.

I can’t wait for him to die. I meant what I said earlier: there’s no reason to draw shit out. Kill the fucker and be done with it.

“I see him, Princess,” I breathe, shuddering. The room is completely dark as Layla pulls herself together and begins to speak.

“Congratulations, Líadan, on your debut. There’s nothing I love more than a little girl power, wouldn’t you say?” Layla winks in the direction where she would be.

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