Page 4 of Illicit Temptation

“You remembered.” He gives me a once-over thatCormac doesn’t catch because he’s looking at Paige’s forgotten bridesmaids, who’ve poured into the lobby in burgundy satin gowns.

With their unexpected free night, they eye my brother like he’s some Vegas stripper who arrived for the bachelorette party a day late.

“You two studs go have fun,” I say, inching away from them.

“I’ll drive you back to the villa,” Cormac offers graciously while winking at a blonde bridesmaid at the lobby bar.

“No, that’s fine. I feel like walking the strip.” I wave him off.

With the wedding blown apart, I’m not passing up a few hours to be free.Reallyfree.

Cormac squints behind me. “Where’s your guard?”

My eyes slip closed. “I gave him the night off. I thought I’d be here until midnight.” I don’t mention that Archer was supposed to fly here and meet me. He’s a secret I’m keeping. “This hotel’s security—”

“This place is run by the Borgias,” Cormac interrupts, tension in his voice. “It’s absolutely secure. But if they find out an Irish Mob princess is here...”

I cackle in laughter. “Please. No one knows me. No one cares about me.” I lock eyes with Trace, who’s tilted his head. “I doubt the Borgias ever heard of Astoria and have zero plans to visit.”

I grew up in a city on the outskirts of Manhattan where my oldest brother, Kieran, rules as king. Myotherbrothers, Riordan his underboss, Lachlan his enforcer, Eoghan his consigliere, and Balor, who’s eighteen months younger than me and does all their cyber security and hacking, round out our crime family.

“Get Soren back here right now.” Cormac tries to boss me around, getting even for how I used to play gameswith him and Darragh when we were kids.

I pretended to be a teacher and made them sit on the floor and act like students. I pretended to be a teller and gave them slips I’d taken from the bank and had them act like customers. They were grateful to be busy with me and not dragged off to church with our ma who went every morning and every afternoon.

“I’ll walk her back to the villa,” Trace offers.

He noticed I said I wanted to walk. Perceptive, I like that.

Cormac’s brows furrow. “You agreed to be my wingman, Quinlan.”

“You’re an O’Rourke. You’re a surgeon. You don’t need a wingman,” Trace replies in a commanding tone.

“You two are still...best friends?” I ask, seeing their close dynamic a little clearer now.

“A Quinlan never gets rid of an O’Rourke.” Trace punches Cormac in the arm.

“Call me after she’s tucked in.” Cormac wags a finger at Trace.

“Tucked in? It’s only five o’clock!” I argue and feel a second wind coming on.

With no annoying guard hovering, I was hoping to do a little gambling, window shopping, and sipping martinis at a fancy bar. Alone. Ineeda night to enjoy being invisible and free.

“I’m not letting you leave here without Trace.” Cormac tugs my wrist when I try to slip away.

I scoff, knowing it’s pointless to argue. “Fine.”

Cormac checks his wallet, gold condom wrappers peeking out.Great.“If I’m striking out, Quinlan, I’ll come looking for you two and take you back.”

“Yeah, okay,” Trace snorts and steers me to the hotel’s exit, his hand on the small of my back. “He’s not striking out.”

“That’s my brother.” I cringe and try not to think about him using those condoms.

“Andhe’s my best friend.” Trace winks. “Oh, the scandal.”

Just what I need.

Right now, the only trouble I can get into is with this Quinlan guy. A man my brother trusts to walk me around town, but would likely break his legs if he made a move on me.

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