Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 64362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 322(@200wpm)___ 257(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 322(@200wpm)___ 257(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
In any other circumstance, I believed we could be friends. But seeing as she, along with the others, were so loyal to Brady, I trusted no one. They knew I’d not come on my own free will and I was basically being held captive. If I didn’t stay here, then Brady would kill Rome.
“Mr. Murphy is having a dinner tonight with guests. He requires yer attendance. He has also chosen what ye are to wear and instructed me on how to fix yer hair. Ye are to be in the parlor for predinner drinks at seven. What time would ye like to begin gettin’ ready?”
I was required to eat dinner with his guests? Was he serious? Yes. Yes, he was. He was the world’s biggest asshole. Correction: he was the world’s biggest criminal asshole.
Rolling my eyes, I turned to look back out the window. I could argue with him and refuse to go, but I was here because he held all the power. If he demanded I do something, then I’d have to do it. And I didn’t have the energy to fight him. I was too tired.
“Five thirty will be fine,” I replied with complete lack of emotion in my tone. My voice sounded as dead as I felt.
“Very well. I’ll meet ye in yer dressin’ room at five thirty,” she replied.
I didn’t turn around and say anything more, sitting in silence while the door clicked shut behind her.
Music played lightly in the background throughout the house as I descended the staircase. Glancing down at my dress, I thought again of how similar Brady’s tastes were to his brother’s. This was a dress that Eamon would have liked. He’d have chosen it, too, if it had been among the choices. But Eamon hadn’t dressed me. Our marriage wasn’t like that. He’d treated me as his equal. Brady would make a terrible husband. It was a good thing the man wasn’t planning on getting married.
Maeve appeared at the bottom of the stairs, beaming up at me. “Yer a beauty, Mrs. Murphy. Why, ye take my breath away,” she said, placing a hand on her chest. “No wonder Master Rí was so completely taken with ye. His eyes never wandered. I’ve never known a more devoted man.”
I didn’t need to hear about Eamon’s values. I’d heard enough.
This entire household had literally worshipped him, it seemed. None of them had thought it was wrong that he hadn’t shared this part of his life with me. The excuse that I’d never have accepted it was correct. I wouldn’t have married Eamon had I known. His lying to me to get what he wanted was unforgivable. And because of it, I was here. With his horrid brother.
“Thank you,” I replied.
She waited until I reached the bottom, then told me to follow her. I could hear the voices and Brady’s laughter as we neared the room I was supposed to have been in ten minutes ago. I did not care. I wasn’t his puppet. I had to draw a line somewhere. He had taken away all my control over my own life.
When I entered, I realized it was mostly men and only two other women. The room went silent, and Brady turned to see me. He stood up from the armrest of the sofa where he had been perched, listening to a story that another man had told.
“Ah, there she is,” he said brightly.
I didn’t mask my displeasure with him as he walked over to me.
“She hates me, but we’re hopin’ that fades. After all, my face is the better version of Rí’s,” he said, and the room chuckled.
“I wouldn’t go that far, Brady. But you always had the biggest ego,” a blonde said as she looked from him to me.
I could see the challenge in her eyes, as if there was some competition I wasn’t aware of. She was in her thirties and stunning. Tall and willowy, dressed in a gold dress that shimmered when she moved. Her accent wasn’t like the others. There was a slight one there but she pronounced her words more like an American.
“Tsk-tsk, Orla,” said the other woman with a smug grin. She had dark brown locks that hung in loose curls, draped around her right shoulder, and was wearing a black cocktail dress.
I could see they were just lovely. Not.
“Orla, everyone knows ye love me, but had to settle for Conan because I like my many flavors,” Brady told her with a smirk, then plucked a glass of champagne from a tray that Shara had carried to him. He turned to me and held it out. “Drink, sister. Perhaps it’ll loosen ye up.”
I glared at the glass but took it, not wanting to make a scene. Just get this over with.
Brady waved out toward the rest of the room. “This is the family and those closest to us that are a part of our circle. Let’s start over here with Emmett, who ye have already met. With him is Devin, my first cousin, and his wife, Ciara. Then we have—”