Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 99191 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 496(@200wpm)___ 397(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99191 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 496(@200wpm)___ 397(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
Aiden froze and did his damnedest to smother the instinctive fear that had been drilled into his head from the time he was a kid. Fear wasn’t driving him. He refused to allow it.
He dropped into the seat and stared his father down, keeping his words clipped. “You want to throw around accusations? Fine. We’ll do that. I’ve been the one running this family for the last year and a half while you were out licking your wounds. You handed over the reins. You don’t get to come take them back because you don’t like how I do things. I’m the head of the O’Malley family now.”
“Watch your tone, boy.”
Aiden kept his tone contained and calm even though all he wanted to do was throw something. “If you’d stopped to talk to me instead of coming in here behind my back—which just proves that you know coming back here like this was bullshit—you would know that I have no intention of letting Keira marry Romanov. It’s a stalling tactic while I get the rest of the game into play.”
Seamus sat back. “I’m listening.”
Aiden couldn’t help feeling like he was delivering a closing speech and his father would act as judge, jury, and executioner if he fucked it up. “Taking out Dmitri Romanov would split New York wide open and create a power vacuum. We have no control of who steps into the hole Romanov would leave.”
His father made a noncommittal noise, so he kept going. “But if I take his power before we remove him, it lessens the impact of his absence—and allows for us to gain a stronger foothold in his territory.”
“And how, exactly, is this ploy about marrying off your sister part of the plan?”
Seamus was taking an awfully high horse considering that three years ago, he had tried to force Carrigan into marrying the same damn man.
“Romanov came to me for help, which indicates that he’s in a precarious place at the moment. He wants Keira. He has for some time now, if I’m not guessing wrong. While he’s distracted with her, he’s not going to be looking for a knife in the back from one of his allies.”
“You’re underestimating him.”
“I can’t afford to.” Romanov wasn’t a fool. He’d expect some kind of betrayal, but he needed Aiden’s help badly enough to risk it. What was more, the fact that he was willing to negotiate about Keira meant that he really wanted her. His actions at the party last night had only driven that home.
His baby sister was nothing but bait. They might be temporary allies with the Russian, but one wrong move would put it all in jeopardy. Romanov said he’d give her a choice, but that was shit-all of a guarantee that he wouldn’t cart her off to New York the first chance he got.
Not going to happen.
Seamus shook his head. “It’s too much risk for too little payoff.”
“Bullshit. Romanov is going to take us out. He’s got the ability to do it, and we both know it. The only reason he hasn’t is because we keep Olivia and her daughter safe—and because he wants Keira.” When it came right down to it, that was the tipping point to the man offering the alliance in the first place. He had to know Aiden would fight him every step of the way if he tried to force his hand.
More flies with honey and all that bullshit.
“You’re right. He could have taken us out—and he damn well fucking will if he finds out you’re planning on going back on your word and crossing him.” Seamus shoved to his feet. “I don’t care if you’ve been running things for a day or a year—you’re out. It’s over.”
Nothing his father said made any sense. He shook his head. “So, what? You’re going to renounce the engagement and have him come after us for blood? You just said that he could take us all out.”
“There’s only one option—thanks to you. You will honor the alliance and do whatever the Russian says. Your sister has to marry Romanov. No schemes. No knives in the back.” Seamus strode for the door. “You made your bed. Now Keira has to sleep in it.”
* * *
Charlie had just finished getting ready when a knock at the bedroom door drew her out. She opened it to find Keira there, the very picture of nervous energy. “Hey.”
“You want to get out of here for a little bit?” She shot a look down the hall like she was afraid someone would catch them and drag them back to their rooms.
Charlie followed her gaze. “Looking for someone?”
“My parents came back into Boston last night unexpectedly.” She made a face. “The very last thing I need is to be cornered by either of them.”
Aiden’s parents were back? Was that why she’d woken up alone?