Page 13 of Declan

Her chin lifts, stubborn and defiant, both infuriating and exciting me. “I never noticed your accent was so strong. Does being upset make it come out more?”

Is it bad to lock up your wife in the basement on the wedding night?

I lean in, my voice dropping to a low whisper, thick with warning. “Careful now, Viviana. Push me again, and you’ll see just how far I’ll go to prove a point. I’m not your fuckin’ father.”

I press her harder against the wall, letting her feel every inch of me—the strength she’s testing.

But that damn smirk stays on her face, her eyes locked on mine, daring me, defiant as ever.Bloody hell.

She leans closer, her lips brushing my ear as she whispers, “Careful, Declan. You seem to be enjoying this more than I do.”

Before I can respond, she pulls back, slipping out of my grasp with a sly smile. Her gaze flicks to the terrified employee now plastered against the wall, then back to me. Her eyes drop pointedly to the bulge in my suit pants, and there it is—that goddamn smirk of hers.

I’m going to need to have a serious talk with my cock after this.

“See you later, baby,” she says sweetly, her tone dripping with mockery as she saunters past me, leaving the hallway—and the party—without so much as a backward glance.

I stand there for a moment, the adrenaline still coursing through my veins. She’s good at this—better than I expected.

“Get the fuck out of here,” I snarl at the employee, who looks like he’s on the verge of a stroke.

“Need cuffs for the wedding night?” Flynn Brady’s voice cuts through the tension as he strides into the hallway with a chuckle. “Or maybe a bulletproof vest?”

“Very fucking funny,” I muttered, running a hand through my hair.I wanted this, right?

Chapter 4

Viviana

The chilly air brushes against my skin, sending a shiver down my spine. I glance around the estate’s vast garden, the trees forming dark silhouettes that fade into the night, blurring the boundaries of the property. It feels endless and overwhelming—a place where shadows and secrets hide.

This is my home now,I whisper to myself, the disbelief still sinking in. How did it come to this?

I stare at my hand, the weight of the wedding ring heavier than it should be. The band is simple—white gold with a delicate line of diamonds. It’s elegant, tasteful even, but it feels like it’s burning into my skin.

The engagement ring, which Declan slipped on right after the wedding band, glistens in the low light. Another whitegold band, this one with a round diamond. It’s not excessive, morerefined than I expected, but there’s no way I’ll be wearing this rock all day. The thought of it feels suffocating.

A rustling sound catches my attention from the left, near a massive stone column. I move closer, curiosity pulling me in, and spot Connor, Declan’s younger brother, leaning against the column with a glass of whisky in hand.

His eyes are closed, his dark golden hair ruffling slightly in the breeze. He looks peaceful, unaware. I wonder if, like Declan, his Irish accent becomes stronger when he’s nervous. Maybe I should test the theory.

“Taking a break, brother-in-law?” I purr, amusement curling in my voice.

Connor flinches, almost spilling his drink, his eyes snapping open. His face flushes bright red as I lean in, catching his gaze darting—desperately trying not to focus on my cleavage. I smirk. Oh, this is going to be fun.

At 24, Connor is nothing like his brothers, or so they say. Shy, reserved, especially around women. I’d always thought it was an exaggeration, but the way his cheeks flame tells me everything I need to know.

I let my body brush against his arm, feeling the way his muscles tense beneath his shirt. He’s nearly as tall as Declan, though less broad, but firm enough that I can feel the strength in him.

“Am I making you uncomfortable, Connor?” I tease, my voice dripping with playful cruelty.

“No,” he snaps back—too quickly. His voice wavers just enough to betray him. He tries to cover it with a snarl, taking a step away from me. “Don’t be playing’ your games, Viviana.”

“You know,” I chuckle, “youaremy favourite Callaghan brother.” I watch as his face burns a deeper red.

“Viviana, don’t even try,” he mutters, turning to face me. “You won’t break us, you know that, right?”

“Who said anything about breaking anyone?” I ask, caressing a lock of his hair. This time, he doesn’t flinch. “I just want to get to know all of you,” I say, biting my lip.

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