Page 69 of Cassio (Belles & Mobsters 3)

He searched for words, and I couldn’t help but compare him to my biological dad. My father was never at loss for words and deceit came off his lips as smoothly as the truth. It was hard to tell when he was lying and when he wasn’t. I guess it was a necessary trait of a politician.

Being a head of the Irish mafia, I saw similar traits in Jack. Except, he was unable to lie to me.

“Not exactly normal?” I asked, raising my eyebrow. “Jack, I know exactly about the type of business you run.” I kept it short. I didn’t know if the guests knew the type of business he was into, and I wasn’t going to put him in a peculiar position. There was only one business I didn’t tolerate. Trading flesh.

Jack’s eyes went wide by the revelation, and for a moment his mouth actually hung open. Despite the tense situation, I chuckled softly.

I looked over his shoulder again and saw three pairs of eyes watching us. “I have some money saved up if you need-”

“No, I don’t need money,” he quickly cut me off.

“Let’s have Ms. Evans join our discussion, Callahan.” Hunter’s voice pulled my attention back to him. Over the last month, he has been in my dreams… a lot. But it was always the same thing. The entire dream was distorted, and I could only see glimpses of it through the fog. I could never see his face, but I definitely heard him. There was crying and screaming, blood, and then his hand reaching out.

We are here to help you,he murmured softly through the fog, but each time I extended my hand, he’d disappear and I’d wake up covered in sweat, with a throbbing headache. By now, the throbbing headache was just as normal as breathing. The weird part was that my admission to him a week ago… or was it two now… it didn’t seem to surprise him.

Hunter and I talked about a lot of things over the last six weeks, including my dreams and nightmares. Now, I prayed that my gut feeling wasn’t wrong in trusting him.

“No, that won’t be necessary,” Jack objected.

“Considering Margaret’s condition,” Hunter replied calmly, his whole demeanor commanding, “I believe it is necessary.”

“What condition?” I blurted out, my eyes on Margaret.

“I’m pregnant,” she muttered low, shame written all over her.

“Oh.” It wasn’t what I expected. Although to be honest, I didn’t know what to expect. The only thing I knew for certain was that I did not like how my stomach tied into a knot. I felt sick with the notion that Margaret had slept with Hunter and was now pregnant with his child.

“It’s not that big of a deal,” I muttered, though jealousy slithered through my veins like poison. “You’ll get married soon anyhow.” I felt flustered.I, Áine Evans, who killed criminals without a second thought.

My eyes flickered to Hunter. God, he was the only man to make my body burn. Couldn’t she marry anyone else?

Margaret’s mouth thinned, and for a moment I worried I said my thoughts out loud.

“It’s not his,” she gritted.

“His?” I asked in confusion.

She tilted her head towards Hunter and spluttered, “It is not his.”

It was stupid but the first thought in my mind that resonated was… Thank God. She wouldn’t marry Hunter. And a twinge of regret hit me instantly for being so selfish.

I walked over to the closest chair and flopped down. “It’s been a long day.” And Hunter has been invading my dreams, along with some disturbing nightmares. “Can someone summarize it for me?”

Jack sat down too and pushed his hand through his hair. “Your mother won’t be happy about this.”

“I’m sure she’ll forgive you,” I retorted dryly. She pretty much forgave him everything. My mother was crazy about Jack and vice versa. I learned that they were childhood sweethearts, but then my mother married my dad. She never explained why, and I didn’t ask. I figured she’d tell me if she wanted me to know. Although I suspected it had something to do with Jack’sbusiness.But Jack made her happy, and although I saw deep affection between my own parents, I never saw love. With my mother and Jack, I saw love in each glance and touch they shared, no matter how small.

“Margaret’s marriage to Cassio King would tie our two families together and make the alliance strong,” Jack explained exasperatedly. It was clear he didn’t want to pull me in.

Wait, what? She wasn’t marrying Hunter? Then the name pierced through my brain.Cassio King.I shot up to my feet and leaned over the desk that Jack sat behind, everyone else forgotten.

“King?” I growled. “Please tell me you did not arrange to have Margaret marry a fucking King,” I hissed, pissed off.

“Áine-” Margaret started but fury burned through my bloodstream. I didn’t even bother glancing behind me and kept my eyes on Jack.

“Might as well send her to the slaughter house,” I said, glaring at my stepfather. “How could you? Of all the damn men in this world! Fucking Kings!”

“Kiddo, Cassio-”

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