Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 108926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
“Sláinte!” she called again and took one more swallow of whiskey. The response was wary, but they followed her example. She turned toward the bar, dismissing them and after a few minutes, the room filled with music and conversation once more.
I was so fucking turned on, I almost threw her over my shoulder and dragged her to the back to fuck her in the darkest available corner. I faced the bar to hide my condition and drank my own shot, taking the minute to try and think about anything but how fucking hot my woman was, especially when she showed her strength.
I felt my dick start to soften a little and blew out a breath of relief. Carly was staring down at her glass of amber liquid, almost studying it. I knew her better than anyone and I could see she was barely holding it together. Placing one of my hands atop of hers, I leaned in and whispered, “I’m so fucking proud of you, kitten. Remember, you’re not doing this alone.” She met my gaze and smiled, clearly feeling the intended comfort. “What were those toasts?” I asked. I only barely knew Irish tradition. “Sláinte” was definitely the extent of my knowledge.
She laughed and smiled ruefully. “May you enjoy your new life and blessings on your posterity.”
I laughed with her for a minute before leaning down and stealing a lingering kiss.
“Who the feck are you? Get your fecking lips off of my fiancée!”
Chapter Ten
CARLY
“Fiancée?” My question started as a whisper but ended on a yelp when Brandon shoved me behind him to face-off with the stranger who’d claimed to be engaged to me.
“The better question is who the fuck do you think you are?” Brandon’s voice was deceptively soft, the stare he leveled at the guy was lethal. “Because you sure as shit aren’t her fiancé.”
The guy’s chest puffed out as he turned red in the face. “Her da promised her to me.”
“Too bad for you, her father is six feet under, and his word doesn’t mean a damn anymore.”
I felt the warmth of a body behind me and a hand being pressed onto my shoulder to hold me in place when I tried to get past Brandon. “Jaysus, Sean. You’re a fecking embarrassment, harassing Carly like this at her da’s wake.”
Oh, thank fuck! Tommy was here to help. Then again, seeing the glare Brandon sent over his shoulder when he saw where Tommy’s hand was, maybe it wasn’t a good thing. And here I was, stuck between a rock, a hard place, and an even harder place. I had Brandon in front of me, Tommy behind me, and the bar to one side. Neither man seemed in a rush to let me out, but I wasn’t about to let them handle this for me. My da had made this mess, and I was determined to clean it up. Shoving Tommy’s hand off my shoulder, I eased around Brandon and to his side. I took comfort in having both men standing with me, but as the head of the O’Reilly family, I needed to show everyone I could handle this on my own. I couldn’t afford to show any signs of weakness. Not here at least.
“My da is no longer the head of this family. I am.” I raised my voice so it rang through the bar, wanting everyone present to hear what I had to say.
“He made the deal when he was in charge o’ the O’Reillys, and you’re bound ta honor it now that ya stepped inta his shoes.”
“My da had no honor.” I looked him up and down in distaste, wrinkling my nose. “I’m thinkin’ my da musta been drunk or worse to agree to marry me off to the likes of you. But even if he was stone cold sober, it wouldn’t matter. I’m my own woman, not a slave. I wasn’t his to trade. Therefore, the deal, whatever it was, is null and void.”
I swiveled my head, locking eyes with every member of the O’Reilly organization in the room before returning my gaze to the man claiming to be my fiancé. “It would do you well to remember that I put my own da in his grave. I could easily do the same to you.”
Then I walked over to Nic, snagging two full shots of the finest Irish whiskey from the bar top on my way. I handed one to him, raising my own high in the air. “And don’t forget I’ve accomplished something my da never would have been able to do, an alliance with the DeLucas.”
“Salute,” Nic offered, his gaze filled with satisfaction as he lifted his glass to his lips and tossed the contents back.
“Sláinte,” I replied, following suit. With that, I marched out the door towards the limo, Brandon right behind me. The driver jumped out and hurried around the car to open the back, passenger door. My back stiffened when I heard Brandon tell the driver to take the long way home. I’d just pulled off a powerful exit, and here I was melting at his bossiness. I wished I could say it didn’t turn me on so damn much, but I wouldn’t be telling the truth. He must have felt the resistance in my body because the hand he’d kept on my lower back tightened. “Get in the fucking car, kitten.”