Page 33 of Reckless Promises

“What makes you say that?”

I glance over at him and quirk my eyebrow. “You’re not exactly discrete about it.”

He shrugs. “I don’t have much of an opinion one way or another.”

“I get the impression that’s how you feel about most things.”

Cillian watches as I pet Birdie, his expression passive, even if I sense something working in his mind.

“I always wanted a dog,” I continue when he still doesn’t say anything. “Or any pet really. It didn’t matter because anything would have made being locked up feel less isolating.”

Cillian holds my gaze, and his eyes are a shock to the chest. “Guess she’ll keep you company then.”

“I guess.” I scratch behind Birdie’s ear. “And I appreciate it, so don’t get this wrong, but why do you keep doing things for me, Cillian? The dress. The dog.”

“Shane got you the dog.”

“He gotusthe dog,” I correct him. “And we both know you could have said no. I’m not naïve; I know how my father ran things—how yours probably did. You paid for me to marry you, so I’m not dumb enough to think this is romance.”

“That’s fair.” Cillian stretches an arm out across the couch, bringing us closer together. “I let you keep the dog because I knew you wanted to. And it doesn’t bother me enough to take on that battle. You’re my wife, and you’re entitled to things that make you happy given that title.”

“Title,” I huff. “How nice of you.”

“I’m not nice, so don’t start telling yourself that.” He narrows his gaze, and the moon shining in through the windows catches the sharp lines of his jaw. “We’re about to go to war, Clover. And you’re not going to like when this gets ugly. But you will help me take your father down.”

“I can’t help you,” I tell him. “I don’t know enough to. My dad didn’t exactly open the doors to my sister and me when he held his business meetings.”

“You don’t know your value.”

I can’t help but laugh. “Don’t I?One million dollars.”

“That’s just money.”

Birdie must sense the growing tension because she nuzzles her head against my stomach.

“Odette.” Cillian reaches out and places a finger under my chin, turning my face to his.

The softest touch of the cruelest man is impossible to interpret. His skin wakes my body up, no matter how much I hate him.

He brushes his thumb over my chin. “You know more than you realize. You just don’t see it yet.”

“Hence why I’m here?”

In Cillian’s prison with no escape.

When I still thought I was being sold to Sascha, I at least knew he’d get distracted with other things. I wouldn’t have his full attention, and when he was focused elsewhere, I’d figure out a plan to escape with my sister.

Cillian is smarter. He sees everything. He won’t let me out of his sight, whether I’m in the same room with him or not, which means running isn’t an option. The only way I’ll get out of this is if I play into whatever Cillian needs from me until he finally decides I no longer serve a purpose.

“It’s not your fault you’re in the middle of this, but it doesn’t change the fact that you are.” Cillian traces his thumb over my chin before dropping his hand. “And I know what you’re thinking right now, but believe mewhen I say, there’s no getting out of this. You’re going to help me even if you don’t like what I have to do.”

I press my lips tight and swallow hard, fighting back the burning behind my eyes.

Birdie hops off my lap and settles into a spot by the window, so I curl my knees up, trying to pull my black robe tighter to cover my bare legs as much as I can.

“You’re close with your siblings,” I say to Cillian, staring out into the dark winter night. “Right?”

“Close enough.”

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