Page 92 of Reign of Psychos

“A nap would be good,” I conceded.

“Hey, she’s my wife too, so don’t be stealing her away!” Landon hustled over, having escaped his admirer.

“Is it too soon to file for divorce?” I muttered.

“Yeah. Not happening,” Kyril grunted. “Go round up the husbands. Our wife is tired,” he instructed. Landon nodded and smirked, probably concluding sleep wouldn’t be on the menu.

Well it sucked to be him because I definitely needed a nap. I could barely keep my eyes open after talking to what felt like ten million people and smiling so hard my jaw ached. Socializing drained me. I was an introvert at heart. A bit like Milo, who stood a few feet away under a tree, watching me.

I threw him a smile, and he smiled back.

Verity scampered over, a glass of OJ in her hand. “Hey, sis, can I go back to the hotel with Saoirse and Aoife tonight? We’re going to have a Twilight movie marathon.”

“Sure, as long as Declan’s guys are with you.” Knowing she’d heard me being intimate with the guys gave me the ick. I’d be happier if she wasn’t around this evening. At least half of the guests, notably the Irish and Russian contingent, would be wasted by sundown.

Verity didn’t need to see a bunch of drunk Irishmen and Russians challenging each other to duals or playing Russian roulette with loaded guns. Conal and Ronan were idiots at the best of times, even with Declan curbing their worst excesses.

“Ronan said he’d come back with us.” From the hearts in her eyes, my sister had a crush on the handsome Irishman. Thank God she was much too young for him. By the time she hit 16, he’d be well out of her orbit.

“Good. Make sure you don’t leave the hotel room unless Ronan is with you, OK?”

She kissed me on the cheek and ran off to find her friends.

Epilogue 1

Landon

7 years later

“AG&T, please.”

“Ah, you’re English. Cute.” The blond half-turned toward me, her gaze sliding down my chest and lingering inappropriately on my crotch for a moment. Pushing past the instinctive grimace that threatened to ruin our meet-cute, I smiled.

“You’re very observant…” I pretended to focus on her laminated name tag. “Melissa.” My smile widened as shefluttered her eyelashes at me. Like most heterosexual women, Melissa Fennel was not immune to my looks and natural charm.

The bartender slid my gin and tonic over the bar and lingered to see if I wanted anything else.

“Can I buy you a drink, Melissa?”

“That would be lovely, thank you. Another chardonnay, please.”

The barman quickly fetched her drink and then took my Black Amex, nodding in thanks at the additional tip. It never hurt to treat service staff with respect. There but for the grace of God it could have been me after my father disinherited me shortly before his sad end.

RIP Dad.

Thank fuck I’d found a path in life that suited my special skills. One I enjoyed. Well, most of the time.

“So…what do I call you?” Melissa was at least 10 years my senior, but clearly a practiced seductress, just as her poor husband suspected. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Or in this case, in Palm Springs, where Melissa was staying while attending a dental conference.

“Landon.” I stepped closer.

She hummed in approval, looking at me like I was a tall drink of cold water in the desert.

“Cute name for a cute guy.” God, was this her usual pickup line? It fucking sucked.

Thea laughed in my ear. “The bitch has zero game,” she muttered in disgust, having seen and heard everything from the tiny camera fixed to my jacket. “Let’s move things on fast so we can get the evidence and nail her ass. I don’t like her touching what’s mine.”

I fully agreed with my wife. The way Melissa kept feeling my leg as she leaned in gave me the creeps. Getting up close and personal with cheating wives and girlfriends to test theircommitment to their partners was all part of the job, but at times like this, I fucking hated it.

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