Page 83 of Forbidden Romeo

“How was I supposed to consult you? You barred me from your meetings.”

“You know damn well how this makes me look, and still, you seem to take joy in disrespecting me anyway.”

“I assure you, that wasn’t my intention.”

“No,” Padraic’s voice starts getting louder. “Your intention was to seek all the glory for yourself. Like you did that day, thinking you could take the Maguires on alone with Graham.”

“I was trying to win back your favor.”

“By leaving me in the dark!” Padraic roars.

There’s a moment of silence. The shock of everything I’ve overheard has kept me paralyzed—but now I barely trust myself to breathe in case they realize I’m still here.

Luckily, Padraic lets out a deep sigh, and I can sink to the floor. “There’s no use arguing about it now. These are the cards you’ve laid out for me, and now I have to play them. I want both of you on display tonight atLuckies, then again at the gala next week.”

“Of course,” Jack replies for the both of us.

“You will socialize, delight, and charm as many of our allies as you can. But most importantly, that girl needs to appear as if she’s in love with you. I don’t care how you do it. But, if even a sliver of doubt gets back to the Maguires, I will personally see to her interrogation and hoist whatever is left of her up on the mansion walls for Connor to collect. Are we clear?”

“Yes, sir.”

So this is how it’s going to be. Jack and Padraic are going to dress me up and flaunt me around to get under Connor’s skin. And I let this happen.

“You care for this girl, don’t you?”

“I care for this family more.”

I can’t linger a moment longer. The ache in my chest threatens to explode out of me, and I can’t cry here.Roisinwouldn’t cry here.

Roisin would pick her head up and keep moving.

So, I do.

I make it almost five steps down the corridor when I hear someone call out behind me.

“Hey, you! Stop.”

Shit. I turn around slowly to see two men approaching me. Neither looks like the guards we saw earlier, but both hold themselves like they would know how to do the job. The taller one with a buzzcut addresses me first.

“What’s a pretty thing like you doing down here?”

“Looking for Jack,” I say as if their interruption is merely an inconvenience.

But the buzz cut man booms a laugh and hits his sour-faced companion in the shoulder. “Aren’t we all, love.”

“Can I help you?” I try again.

This time the other man asks the question, “What’s your name?”

“Roisin…”

“Roisin what?”

A shiver of dread goes down my spine as he examines me head to toe. I’ve met men like this before. Cruel men who use the family as an excuse to do things no sane man would ever do. This man is apredator.

“Roisin! I’ve been looking for you everywhere!”

I turn to see a familiar face and almost sob in relief.

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