Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 52260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
“What’s with us and falling for virgins?” Nic murmured, shaking his head, as though disappointed. The possessive look in his eyes and half-smile on his face said otherwise. His attention returned to us. “If she isn’t a virgin any longer, that may negate his plans to sell her to the highest bidder,” he said, displaying the level of cunning and ruthlessness that had gained him a fearsome reputation as the head of the DeLuca family. “I’m sure I can depend on you to take care of that little problem, right Bran?”
“Shut the fuck up before I shut you up myself.”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” Nic chuckled. “Unfortunately, I’m sure Pat will decide his only other choice is to kill her.” Brandon practically snarled at Nic, who held up his hand to indicate that he wasn’t done. “Which is all the more reason to agree with Carly. Pat O’Reilly needs to be taken out.”
“After he’s spent a few hours in my company,” Brandon muttered with grim determination. There was an air of deadly intent in his words. He clearly wanted my da to suffer, and I was surprised when I didn’t feel a single ounce of compassion for the man who’d fathered me. Truth was, I wanted him to suffer, to pay for his sins in this life and the next.
Nic nodded. “How you handle it is up to you.” He looked at Brandon meaningfully. “I’d also suggest you marry her sooner rather than later. It would solidify your place in her life, and you’ll be thankful for it later when she takes over.”
Marry me? Take over? What the fuck? I didn’t know which to respond to first. I decided the whole—I mentally cringed—marriage thing could wait and be dealt with when I was alone with Brandon.
“Takes over?” I repeated. He couldn’t possibly mean... “What am I taking over?”
“You’re going to be the new head of the O’Reillys, Carly.”
I reached out blindly to grab Brandon’s free hand and squeeze it. “What? No! That’s impossible!” Being with Brandon meant being a part of this life, and I accepted that. I didn’t want anything to do with my family’s organization though. “No one would follow me, they are all loyal to my da.”
“Anything’s possible with the DeLucas behind you,” he informed me with unwavering confidence. “We’ll make sure your father eats a bullet, and soon. In return, you’re going to step into his shoes and fill the void he’ll leave behind, keeping my town safe from the assholes who might otherwise think it’s the perfect opportunity to grab power.”
SEVEN
Brandon
Carly looked shell-shocked, and though she was putting on a strong front, I could see she was on the precipice of falling apart. Using the hand on her neck, I tucked her in close to my side. It was a testament to her emotional state that she allowed herself to be vulnerable in front anyone, much less Nic.
“Let’s put this discussion on hold while we concentrate on tracking down her dad,” I suggested.
Nic studied Carly for a moment and seemed to come to the same conclusion. She needed time to process. He looked to me. “You know it has to be this way.” I jerked my head in the affirmative. “I’ll let you deal with helping her understand that.”
Lifting my chin in farewell, I started to guide Carly from the office when Nic called my name. I stopped and glanced back over my shoulder with a raised brow.
“You’ll take care of the other...?” He trailed off, well aware I knew what he was referring to. I glared at him, the thought of him even thinking about my woman and sex, no matter how platonic and well intentioned, pissed me the fuck off. Not to mention, our relationship was nobody else’s business. Understanding my expression, he held up his hands in surrender, but the smirk on his face still made me want to rearrange it into a grimace of pain. I pushed my violent intentions away, knowing my focus needed to remain on Carly, and took her home.
She was quiet on the short drive back to the house. I circled the block twice, then found a spot on the street to parallel park but waited to get out until I saw Paul, one of my guys, give the all clear from his vehicle across the street. Carly started to open her door, but I held her back with my hand on her bicep.
She looked at me with surprise, then narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “I know you’ll protect me Bran, but I’m not an infant, I can open my own damn door.”
I slowly perused her body, my eyes lingering on her chest and lips, before meeting her gaze. “Trust me, kitten. There is no possibility of me mistaking you for anything other than a woman.” She was fighting to keep her indignation, but the spark in her green eyes and the subtle flush of her skin, told me how my words truly affected her. “Also, my mother taught all of her boys to respect women, so how about you let me be the gentleman my mother raised me to be?”