Page 58 of Safe and Sound

“He wants to marry her, and she’s not ready.”

“Of course it would be him wanting to get ready. Jaysus, the boy is only twenty-two.”

“You know as well as I do that Kellan’s an old soul,” Callum replied.

“Even if she wanted to, would you let him marry Mabry?”

Growing up, we knew that our marriages would be arranged for alliances. It wasn’t the fact Mabry was a stripper that didn’t make her a good candidate for Kellan’s hand. Instead it was the fact she had no ties to the Irish clans or any mafia family.

Callum jerked a hand through dark hair. “We’re strong enough now that I could let him marry for love.” He gave me a pointed look. “But that’s only if you and Eamon are still given in alliances.”

In the past, I didn’t give two shits about a marriage contract. It was just an inevitable part of life. But for reasons that didn’t make any sense, Ava’s face popped in my mind.

Placing a hand on my shoulder, Callum gave me a cheeky grin. “Is this sudden avoidance of arranged marriages because of your new lady?”

Quinn’s brows shot up. “What new lady?”

Callum winked at me. “Our brother has fallen fast and hard.”

With a grunt, I started for the treadmill. Quinn grabbed my arm. “You’re not going to tell me about her?”

“I need to run off some steam.”

“Is there already trouble in paradise?” Callum teased.

I gave him the middle finger before climbing on the treadmill. Quinn came to stand in front of the machine. “You really found someone you like?”

“Yeah, I have.”

A genuine smile lit up his face. “I’m so happy for you.”

“Well, don’t get too excited. She ran out on me this morning.”

Quinn grimaced. “Really?”

“Smart woman,” Callum teased.

“Fuck you,” I muttered.

“I’m just slagging you.”

Wiping my hand over my face, I countered, “You should know I’m not in the mood for your bullshit this morning.”

“What did you do to make her run?”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Why is it automatically my fault?”

Callum snorted. “Because you’re a handsome, rich man who is an above average fuck. What woman would willingly leave?”

“Don’t flatter me. It makes me feel cheap.”

“I’m serious,” Callum replied. Jerking his chin at me, he said, “So, what did you do?”

“Besides giving her multiple orgasms, not a damn thing.”

Appearing thoughtful, Quinn said, “Did you love bomb her?”

“What the fuck is that?”

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