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‘Tommy!’ Katie gasped, her cheeks flushing red.
I watched from my chair as Cameron’s jaw twitched and Maeve placed a hand on his thigh to stay his reaction. He was clearly as pleased that she was with Tommy as I was. Could I sow intervention there? Perhaps I would need to up my antics with her to the next level, show her what she’s missing out on by staying with a man who doesn’t give two fucks about her.
‘I do,’ Logan said, his words stiff as he sat down heavily.
‘We’re just going to go for a little walk around,’ Katie said, practically pulling Tommy from the room as she averted her eyes in embarrassment. Tommy pulled roughly back from her arm as they left the library. My body tensed, ready to pounce into action when he lifted a hand. But he pulled her roughly to him and kissed her. A furious bubbling envy filled me to bursting, leaving me feeling sick to my stomach.
Mine.
I shook off the possessive voice in my head that claimed her. She wasn’t mine. She would never be mine. But I had to make sure she wasn’t his either.
The atmosphere in the room had grown heavier after their departure until Logan’s voice cracked through the silence.
‘I’m getting married.’
‘What?’ Came at least four voices, including mine.
‘I’m engaged. Not officially. I’ll make that happen publicly soon.’
Maeve sprung to her feet as she rounded on her eldest brother. ‘You don’t even have a girlfriend. How can you be getting married?’
‘It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement.’
‘Who the fuck to?’ I asked.
‘Nicole Veletti.’
‘You are getting embroiled with the Velettis? Are you insane?’ Ewen topped his whisky up to the top of his glass and downed it.
‘They have a stronghold in Europe. It will be an excellent opportunity for us,’ Logan answered.
Esther spoke up, her voice still tender as she held her daughter. ‘Have you learned nothing, Logan? Don’t waste your life on an opportunity. You deserve love. Deserve to have someone who is with you because they wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.’
Logan stood up and ran a hand through his hair. ‘Listen, I am in charge of furthering our family and our syndicate. I need connections, and I need heirs. It’s not the same for me as it is for you guys. My decision isn’t up for debate. I was just informing you before things go official. Nicole is an accomplished woman. She’s beautiful, and she understands this lifestyle. She will make a perfect mafia wife who understands the responsibilities of the role. And I expect you all to get on board real fast.’
People had mostly drifted home a few hours later once they had consumed the food, and we’d all exhausted stories of my father’s life. The staff worked to clean up behind the guests as I made my way through my home, trying to figure out what would change next. If Logan married, would Ewen and I move out? It wasn’t odd us brothers living together in the spacious mansion, but if Logan was married would they want their space? Hell, would she even live here if it was only for business’ sake?
As I walked through the snug off of one of the kitchens, I saw movement outside of the window.
It was my Katie.
With him.
My fingers went to the knife in my pocket as I watched them argue. It would be so easy to take him out. To just end him before he could cause her any more anguish. I itched to see him bleed out. I’d never been particularly blood thirsty, despite our line of business having put me in the killing seat plenty of times before. It had always been on a needs-must basis. Kill or be killed. But coils of pleasure unfurled in me at the thought of permanently removing Tommy from the face of the earth. Killing a celebrity wasn’t as simple as some drug runner, though. The police stayed out of our business, but murdering someone who graces the front of the newspaper regularly was risky. They would hunt for the killer. Or for him if they couldn’t find a body. And then the police would be all up in my, and Katie’s, business. Her masked stalker would be pretty high up there on the suspect list.
More than anything, she’d feel guilty. And she didn’t need that. She needed to walk away with her head held high.
I saw Tommy push Katie against the wall and my hand tightened around the knife in my pocket. When he used his other hand to unbuckle his belt, I hit the floor running. I might not kill him, but I could save her from another assault.
Taking a steadying breath to calm myself, I hauled open the outer door closest to them. Tommy startled and stepped back as I walked out into the space they were in.
With as little interest in my voice as possible, I said, ‘You guys should know there is CCTV out here.’
‘Who cares?’ Tommy said.
‘I mean, if you guys want to make me a little home video for me to watch later, who am I to complain?’
‘Fuck off.’ Tommy fastened his trousers as he stumbled backward.
