Page 34 of Shattered Hearts

“Maybe she got cold feet.”

“Maybe.” His fingers curl into a fist as he drops his hand hard on the tabletop in anger, grumbling to himself. “If I find out the little bitch stepped out on us with some Italian scum…”

Good thing Thomas isn’t in the running for Father of the Year, because he would’ve just blown it.

On that morbid note, I take my leave.

Back outside in the hallway, anger seeps through my blood like poison. The words of Thomas Brennan brought to mind other disgusting things people have said over the years, words I’ve tried to forget.

Did you hear about Shane Gallagher’s son? He’s marrying a Diamond girl. One of those whores.

I ball my fingers into a fist and squeeze until my knuckles ache.

Out of habit, I stride to the end of the hallway and duck into an alcove by the high window overlooking the garden grounds.

This used to be her favorite spot in the whole house…

My world once revolved around Brianne Vandercluft, and I still remember everything about her. When we met, she was a Columbia medical student by day and a private dancer by night, working odd hours at The Diamond Club.

Back then, Thomas loaned me out as a bodyguard for big clients, and I ran into her often. She wasn’t like the other women who worked there. Her goals in life, and the places she truly belonged, were worlds awayfrom the glitzy debauchery of the Manhattan strip club scene. Anyone with eyes could see that.

I stumbled upon the secret of her double life entirely by chance.

From the moment I learned who she was, I couldn’t keep her off my mind. She was the runaway daughter of a soul-killing, old money, New York socialite family. As soon as she could, she cut ties with them and tried to fend for herself. After struggling for a while, she fell into escorting in order to support herself.

By the time we met, she had started the process of putting herself through school.

She captivated me. For both of us, despite our different backgrounds, growing up entailed so much suffering. Having someone as wonderful as her walking a path in life that intersected with mine made me feel like I’d hit the jackpot.

And yet, so many others just saw another dumb enforcer mixing business with pleasure by fulfilling some sex-fueled fantasy of marrying a stripper. How many times had I almost broken my knuckles on the faces of the motherfuckers who insulted her with their two-bit assumptions?

Visions of the life we lived together stalk me down the corridor toward the grand staircase.

I’ve only met Bri’s parents twice in my life, and on both occasions, they treated me like a disease that would—and eventually did—kill their daughter. They never approved of me. What loving parent could? Brianne was too special for a person like me. And if I hadn’t been such a prick…

The more my thoughts snowball, the heavier my feet fall on these oversized steps. If I’d just accepted from the beginning that we didn’t belong together, if I’d just listened to the protests of everyone around us, Bri would be alive.

Butno.Because of the godforsaken chemical imbalance known as love,I thought I knew better, that no one understood what we shared. I actually believed there was something different about us. But we were just like every other couple who gets married thinking,love will keep our marriage alive.

And look what happened. Not only could love not save our marriage…for all the so-called love I had for Bri, I couldn’t even save her life.

No, I’ll never love anyone again. No woman deserves the death sentence of my affections. Most days, I keep her wedding band in my pocket to remind myself of that. A small, devastating memento of everything that can be lost if I’m not careful.

Bri was the best person I’ve ever known. She had grit and courage. Her strength and adaptability had seen her through countless dark times. If anyone could love me or fit themselves into the craziness of the Gallagher world, it would have been her. She gave us her best shot, but she never fit in here. And even if she loved me at first, by the end, all of that was gone.

Riley’s face flashes in my mind.Shit.She and I need to make our exit soon so I can ensure she gets to work on time.

I’ve reached the first floor. When we arrived, I think she headed toward the kitchen. Laughter stops me in my tracks.

It’s coming from the dining room. And it sounds like my friends.

Another voice is layered in among theirs. I don’t recognize the speaker until I drift into the room and see her for myself.

Wading into the room, surprise and irritation needle me. All my conversations with her devolve into silent nothing or a fight, yet Riley’s fallen into an easy rhythm with Rory and Darren.

My jaw goes rigid, teeth clamping together.

What the hell are Darren and Rory doing with those easy smiles on their faces, making eyes at someone else’s fake wife? Someone needs to teach them some fucking manners.

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