Page 58 of Vicious Seduction

Conner was five years younger than me, but I’d always felt like I could relate to him better than some of my other cousins. He ran the Bastion Club, which I often found myself at as part of my role of schmoozing the city’s elite. I was the face of the Byrne family, and it was my job to foster connections with every possible individual of influence and power. Something about Conner gave me the sense that he knew what it was like to play a part. Keir and Torin and Shae—they were all perfectly comfortable being exactly who they were. Conner and I were different, and I appreciated our friendship.

I’d been a tad envious of him when he married Noemi. I could tell by the way he watched her that I’d never had withCaitlin what he felt for his wife. I’d thought at the time that that particular experience was out of my reach, but as I helped Lina into the car on our way to the restaurant, I mulled over the unpredictability of life.

I’d thought after Caitlin, I’d never open myself up to another woman again. Now, I had the strangest feeling that things were unfolding exactly as they were meant to be. It felt fucking cliché to even think it, but it was true. The whole “things have a way of working out for the best” always felt like utter bullshit. It wasn’t something you could understand until you’d lived it and experienced the feeling of all the pieces magically clicking into place.

I understood now, but it was all worthless if I couldn’t convince Lina she felt the same.

CHAPTER 30

LINA

Luck wasn’t just subjective,it was a perspective. With a few murmured words, Oran had drawn back the curtains and helped me see my life in a whole new light.

There I sat in a beautiful restaurant with people who genuinely made me laugh. I was wearing a dress of my own creation, supporting myself in a career that was my passion, and falling more every day for a man who had literallykilledon my behalf. But it had taken Oran’s comment for me to see that my life wasn’t just a series of misfortunes.

Of course, he was responsible for a good portion of my current circumstances. A month ago, I would have said he was to blame, but now I wondered if I’d look back and give him credit as the one to thank instead.

There was only one glaring problem. My heart was still in tatters.

I had a gaping chasm in my chest that needed to be closed, and that wouldn’t happen until I had my sister back home with me or knew for certain that she wasn’t ever coming home.

Did I trust Oran enough to risk telling him the truth? The fact that I was even considering it spoke volumes. I even genuinely liked his family, and I was generally highly suspicious of everyone. Sitting with Noemi on my right and Oran on my left, I’d been amazed at the ease of our conversation. Conner was a bit reserved, but Noemi seemed kind and surprisingly down-to-earth. I wasn’t sure she could be hurtful to another human being if her life depended upon it. I didn’t know people that pure existed.

“I think I may try the monkfish this time,” Noemi mused half to herself.

“Have you been here before?” I asked, hoping she might have a recommendation.

She closed her menu and shot a challenging glare at her husband. “I came with afriendonce. Conner threw a tantrum about it. Strangest thing—my friend ended up with a slashed tire that night.”

Conner remained perfectly stoic. “She wasn’t afriend, she was my very bisexualcousinwho was practically salivating over you.”

“Exactly. Yourcousin, who had to deal with a flat tire out in the cold.”

“That could have been any thug on the street out vandalizing cars.” He sipped from his wineglass, his coy tone completely refuting his assertion.

Noemi snorted, making me like her even more. She leaned in conspiratorially, though she spoke loud enough for theguys to hear. “These Byrne men don’t handle jealousy well. Just a heads-up.”

My gaze collided with Oran’s heated stare as I thought about the lengths he’d gone to to get me away from Lawrence.

Would it be so fucking hard to believe that I was doing it for you?

Oran’s words whispered through my mind, causing a warm blush to kiss my cheeks.

“I’ve noticed a certain single-mindedness, that’s for sure.”

She winked and clinked her wineglass with mine. “I want to know all about your wedding plans! Have you decided on a date?”

“Sometime in the spring, but we haven’t chosen a location,” Oran cut in. He spoke so confidently, I wondered if he’d already thought about his answer to that line of questioning. I’d been too consumed with everything else to even play out the pretend scenario in my head. There wasn’t going to be a wedding, but if there were…

“The Chinese Scholar Garden over at Snug Harbor—it’s on Staten Island. I went years ago, but I remember feeling like I was in a whole other world there. It was the most serene and peaceful I think I’ve ever felt. If I could, that’s where I’d get married.”

“Oh! Do they have cherry blossoms? That would be so incredible to time the wedding for blooming season.” Noemi’s hand rested on her chest as though she could already see the ceremony play out and was overcome with its beauty. I had to admit, the image it conjured was breathtaking. So much so that my chest was left aching.

“I believe they did at the time. But like I said, it’s been a while.” I smiled and had a feeling Oran had seen through to the sadness beneath because he stared at me with such intensity,I had to look away. Fortunately, the server arrived at that time and began to list the specials of the evening.

The rest of dinner flowed with remarkable ease. I had a wonderful time—probably because I allowed myself to live in the moment for once. No reminders to stay on my guard or remember that the relationship was fake. I simply enjoyed dinner with good company, and it felt incredible.

When we stood from the table to leave, Conner cursed at his phone, causing us to pause. “Looks like I need to run by Bastion and open the safe.”

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