Page 43 of Still Burning

“She hates me, but we’re hopin’ that fades. After all, my face is the better version of Rí’s,” he said, and the room chuckled.

“I wouldn’t go that far, Brady. But you always had the biggest ego,” a blonde said as she looked from him to me.

I could see the challenge in her eyes, as if there was some competition I wasn’t aware of. She was in her thirties and stunning. Tall and willowy, dressed in a gold dress that shimmered when she moved. Her accent wasn’t like the others. There was a slight one there but she pronounced her words more like an American.

“Tsk-tsk, Orla,” said the other woman with a smug grin. She had dark brown locks that hung in loose curls, draped around her right shoulder, and was wearing a black cocktail dress.

I could see they were just lovely. Not.

“Orla, everyone knows ye love me, but had to settle for Conan because I like my many flavors,” Brady told her with a smirk, then plucked a glass of champagne from a tray that Shara had carried to him. He turned to me and held it out. “Drink, sister. Perhaps it’ll loosen ye up.”

I glared at the glass but took it, not wanting to make a scene. Just get this over with.

Brady waved out toward the rest of the room. “This is the family and those closest to us that are a part of our circle. Let’s start over here with Emmett, who ye have already met. With him is Devin, my first cousin, and his wife, Ciara. Then we have—”

“Brady, we’ve had an update,” a male voice interrupted him.

Turning back to look at the door, I recognized Tiernan, dressed much like he’d been on the day he helped abduct me. I’d not seen him since.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, but this is urgent.” His fair skin was a splotchy red, as if he’d been running.

Brady’s normally amused expression was tense as he nodded his head. “I’ll be right there,” he replied. “If ye will excuse me,” he told the rest of the room before following Tiernan out.

“That doesn’t sound good,” an older man with silver in his temples said as he frowned at the door.

“He’ll handle it,” the man across from him said. “He always does.”

I was in a room with the people who supplied illegal drugs to Europe. I couldn’t say that I’d ever considered what those who did this sort of thing looked like. I’d watchedWeeds, and I had an idea of what the Mexican cartel looked like, but I hadn’t thought about one in Europe. Regardless, I’d have expected a rougher, less polished group.

A man approached me. I suspected he was around my age, and he had blond hair, blue eyes, and a deep golden tan, as if he lived in the sun—which I thought would be difficult to achieve here in Ireland. It had rained almost every day since my arrival. As if the sky were crying with me.

He smiled and looked somewhat nervous.

“I wanted to introduce myself,” he said. “I feel as if I know ye, yet ye haven’t an idea of who I am.”

He was right. I didn’t. And the reminder that he knew me was not going to help my mood.

I gave him a tight smile, not even attempting to be friendly.

“My name is Seán Walsh, I was Ea—Rí’s best friend. We grew up together,” he informed me. “I’m sure this is a lot for ye to take in. This life of his that ye did not know about.” A sympathetic smile curled his lips. “If’n he’s lookin’ on, he’s feelin’ brutal about all this.”

Shifting my eyes over toward the rest of the room, not looking at anyone really, I raised my eyebrows, feeling my temper rise. I was tired of hearing how great Eamon had been.

“That doesn’t make the betrayal any less painful, does it?” Ireplied in a clipped tone.

I hadn’t even known he had a best friend. One since childhood.

“Aye,” he said quietly.

What more could he say?

“Salem,” Brady’s voice barked, and I spun around to see him taking long, purposeful strides toward me. “Come with me.”

His order was followed by him grabbing my wrist and all but pulling me out of the room.

“What is wrong with you?” I hissed angrily, trying to tug my arm back.

“We have a situation of sorts,” he replied, then led me into a room I hadn’t been in yet.

---