Page 42 of Vengeful Reign

Squealing, I freak and remember that the doors here are made of the best wood, but still I go to check on John and see how he’s doing. He’d just gone down for a nap while I was doing my wedding planning, but when I entered his playroom, both brothers were sitting on the floor with him as he played. They look up and smile. Although they’re siblings, they hardly look anything alike. You wouldn’t know they’re related if you weren’t told.

“Hey, everything okay?” Connor asks me.

“Yep. Any news from Jack yet?”

“No, not yet, but he’s probably still up in the air,” Ian answers as he builds a plastic set of train tracks.

“How long are you guys sticking around?”

“Until he comes back,” Connor answers, and Ian nods in agreement.

“Okay. I’m going to take a nap. Let me know if you need anything.”

“Sure. You enjoy the rest while you can,” Connor says.

I head back into the bedroom and lie on the bed, missing Jack. It’s silly since he hasn’t been gone long. Maybe it’s becausehe went to Philly without me. It’s technically my hometown. I could have gathered more of my things, seen Rebecca while he did his business. Stupid big jerk left me here, and I miss him. That’s just the simple answer, and I hate myself for it. We’ve only known each other for a couple of days, and I’ve gotten used to him and his demanding and domineering ways.

I try to fall asleep when my phone rings. Assuming it’s Jack, I answer without thinking. “Hello.”

“Piccolina,” my father’s deceptively smooth voice answers. I pale and sit straight up.

“How did you get this number?” I question, my voice even tempered, almost annoyed. I stand up and walk straight to the guys. Without Jack here, I’m sure they’ll want to hear this.

“A friend gave it to me. I hear congratulations are in order and you have finally agreed to the arrangement.” The rat bastard.

As I enter the playroom, I wave my hand, and they come toward me. “I never agreed to it. Jack and I met by chance,” I answer while the two giant MacNamara brothers gather around me.

I hold it out but don’t put it on speaker so he doesn’t get suspicious. They listen in closely. “Oh, my sweet girl. How did you make it all those years by yourself, and yet you are so naïve. That’s what he wants you to believe.”

“Why would I believe anything you have to say?” I challenged. Ian’s hands flex.

“I didn’t do anything any father in our organization wouldn’t do. It’s tradition, and even Jack will do it with your children. Do you think he suddenly just fell in love with you?” No, because we’re not in love with each other. Lust, maybe.Goodness, we’re definitely in lust, but he’s almost forty and needs a wife. “I see I have my answer.”

I roll my eyes. “What do you want?”

“You don’t have to marry him. I have someone better for you.” Connor purses his lips, holding back a scoff.

“I didn’t fall for it the first time. What makes you think I’m going to fall for it a second time?”

“He’s the one who killed your Julia, and he’s the one who sent Jeremy to be your boyfriend and spy on you. Then our men just witnessed the killing.”

“How do you know about Jeremy?”

“You think I stayed out of your life because I let you believe it. Your brother slipped up, and I found out where you were.”

“I don’t know what your end game is.”

“I want their fortune. I want their surrender. You should be helping me, not them. So far, all these assholes have failed me. Espinosa had one shot after his sister failed me, and now if you disappoint me, I might have to kill your brother’s new wife.”

“Are you crazy?”

“The choice is yours. You have a day to think about it.” He ends the call, and both brothers look at me.

“Don’t even think about meeting with him. He’s going to try holding you hostage, and no offense—my brother might enjoy screwing you, but it’s only been a few days and he’s not going to toss away his family empire for you,” Connor says, and Ian nods.

“No shit, Sherlock.” I slap him in the chest. “I don’t even know what the old prick wants. He wants to kill me for defyinghim. Honestly, I think he wants revenge on everyone he can find. What I need to do is get ahold of my brother.”

“He’s going to be wise to it,” Connor says, trying to warn me, but I know my brother and he and my father aren’t tight.

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