Page 26 of Vicious Seduction

“You’re getting old if the weather’s starting to bother you that bad.”

Casper was closing in on fifty. His real name was Bryan Fahey, but his extreme pallor and less-than-athletic physique had earned him the nickname Casper when he was a kid. The name had stuck.

“I was getting old ten years ago,” he grumbled. “I’ve arrived. And being out in the cold makes me grumpy as fuck, so why don’t you tell me what I’m doin’ out here.”

“Fair enough.” I outlined my plan, including his role. As I explained, his gait slowed until he finally came to a stop.

“You’re asking too much, Oran.” All humor was lost—his voice now as harsh as the December night air. “It’s too risky.”

“It’s not. This doesn’t have to go beyond you and me.”

“This is my fucking life we’re talking about here.” He got in my face like he meant to intimidate me.

I had his coat clenched in my fists and his back to a wall in two seconds flat. “You forget who you’re talking to, Fahey.”

“I didn’t forgetshit,” he shot back at me. “What you’re planning wouldn’t just ruin my reputation—I could end up in prison, and my family would lose my pension. You’re asking me to risk their entire livelihood.”

“It’s already at risk. If word got around about what happened to that kid…”

His lip arced in a sneer. “The fuck is wrong with you, Byrne? You’re not the man you used to be.”

Jesus, he was right. I’d lost my goddamn mind.

I released Casper and paced for a second, letting the cold air clear my head.

“Look, I wouldn’t have asked if it wasn’t important. Iswear on my life none of this will ever come back to haunt you. In fact, you do this, and I’ll owe you.”

He straightened his coat and scowled at me. “Fuckin’ pain in the ass. It’s too fuckin’ cold for this,” he muttered, then barked, “When?”

“About two weeks.”

“You’ll owe me. Big.” He pointed at me, brows raised for emphasis.

“Yeah, Cas. I’ll definitely owe you.” Finally, I could breathe.

“I’m outta here. I’m sure you’ll be in touch.” He shoved his hands in his pockets and marched down the sidewalk away from me, muttering under his breath about “fucking family” and “shoulda known better.”

I didn’t care so long as he held up his end of the bargain.

Tomorrow, I’d strategize the rest of my attack. I’d devised this plan as a backup, hoping it wouldn’t be necessary, so I hadn’t worked out all the details yet. It would be a busy two weeks between my new plans for Lina and my ongoing efforts to destroy Wellington. Hopefully too busy to second-guess myself because what I was about to do had the potential to backfire in my face.

Certain gambles were worth the risk, and Lina was one of them.

I didn’t see Lina for five more days—an entire week since our kiss. During that time, I’d embraced a cool resolve to see my plans through. I’d done nothing but work on my plans because anything less left me with time to think about what she might be doing with Wellington.

I couldn’t bear to dwell on those thoughts. I refused to even pull up her GPS. It would drive me insane.

I’d even debated showing up to Wednesday dinner at the club. In the end, I couldn’t stay away. I needed to see her, but something dark and scaly slithered beneath my skin when I did. It wasn’t seeing her that bothered me; it was seeing the way Wellington hovered near her at all times. Touching her. Claiming her.

Something had changed.

I didn’t know what had gone on between them, but something was different, and I fuckinghatedit.

When dinner ended and people gathered in the gaming room, I went straight to the bar and got a whiskey neat. I wanted to down it in one go, but the drink wasn’t for me.

Smiling, I joined Lina and her psychotic date. “You up for a game tonight?” I asked Wellington.

“Not tonight. I’ve been out of town for several days and want to spend some quality time with Lina. We’re just staying for a drink before we go.”

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