Page 46 of Reckless Promises

My eyebrows pinch, and once more those nerves my father draws out skitter to the surface.

“Why would you do that?”

“To see where your loyalty is.” He leans forward, releasing my hand to cross his arms on the table in front of him.

“I already told you—”

“I know what you said. But I was curious what you’d do if you were given a different option. I wanted to know if you’d turn on me for them if your father asked you to.”

I tip my chin up. “How do you know that’s what he wants?”

“Because it’s what we all want.” Cillian smirks. “To know each other’s weaknesses.”

He leans closer and his body heat brings comfort in this cold, large room. His cologne kicks the butterflies to life. And his steely eyes gaze right into me.

Daring to scoot forward myself, I push my plate aside and drop my voice so no one can hear us—not even the guards perched at every entrance to the dining room.

“Why didn’t you then?” I ask him. “You could have listened in on our conversation to make sure I wouldn’t be able to go through with it. And then you’d know the truth.”

“Because you’re my wife, Odette. And like it or not, I know that means something to you too. So when I considered it, I realized it was pointless. I already know where your loyalties lie.”

He’s right. He knows he’s right.

My family did too good of a job training me. Cillian is my husband, and I won’t betray him now that I’ve gotten to see these other sides of him.

“Then tell me something.” I narrow my gaze, trying to read the man who turns all my thoughts murky. “If you really trust me, then what is your weakness, Cillian?”

He smirks. His gray eyes light with his amusement as he reaches up and tucks my hair behind my ear. “Pay attention, Clover. And you just might figure it out.”

Standing up, he walks out of the room with Daniel on his heels, while another security guard immediately takes Daniel’s place.

Figure it out.

I shove another awful bite of pancake in my mouth, but it does nothing to satisfy my craving. Because there’s only one thing that will, and I really shouldn’t want it.

17

Cillian

My wife wants medead.

But worse, she wants me to suffer.

I spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on her new wardrobe, yet she manages to find the smallest scraps of fabric to wear. At this rate, it won’t take much for her to be the end of me.

“What?” She pauses with her lipstick brushing her lower lip, glancing at me through the mirror. “You’re staring.”

I am.

I can’t fucking help it.

This woman is my enemy’s daughter, a pain in my ass, and barely the legal age to drink. But I can’t take my eyes off her.

“Are you ready for tonight?” I ask, ignoring herobservation.

Odette rolls her eyes and finishes her line of lipstick before setting it down on the counter and turning to face me. “You’re worried I won’t behave?”

I already know she won’t, which is why she chose a black beaded dress that cuts down to her navel and has a matching slit that goes all the way up one thigh.

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