Page 23 of Bound Lies

Ronan looks at her and nods. “Very well, you have our protection.”

“You’re joking! You’re going to whore us out just like that?” I slam my fist down on the table so hard it rattles.

Riley flinches, but I don’t look at her. My attention is solely focused on Ronan right now.

Brennan leans back in his chair, lifting his feet up to rest on the table. “Don’t be so dramatic. We were planning on going after Sean anyway.”

“Yes, but now we will have the Walshes on our backs too.”

“I think we already did, considering Ronan shot Declan between the eyes.” Brennan grimaces as he looks at Riley. “No offense,”

“None taken. The asshole deserved it.”

Ronan frowns. “That’s not the reaction I was expecting from you if I’m completely honest.”

“I mean, if I had some fireworks, I would be setting them off right now if that’s what you mean.”

Despite myself, I snort.

Riley glances sidelong at me, and the corner of her lips twitches.

Ronan braces his hands on the table. “So, it’s settled. I expect the pair of you to play nice. We’ve got a war coming and like it or not, Kieran, Riley just joined our side.”

“Great,” I mutter.

Brennan smirks. “You’re going to have to work on your hospitality skills.”

I sit up straighter. “Wait, hang on. This doesn’t mean she’s staying with me indefinitely, right? I mean, surely we can put her up in a hotel.”

“And again, I’m right here…” Riley mutters.

When Ronan doesn’t say anything, I almost choke on a laugh.

“You can’t be serious.”

Ronan gets to his feet. “Let’s talk outside.”

I don’t want to talk. I especially don’t want to talk to Ronan. But when he jerks his head toward the hallway, I follow like I always do. Mostly because if I stay in the same room as Riley Walsh for another second, I’m going to say something I’ll regret.

“So, are you studying at Columbia?” Brennan asks as I walk over to the door.

“Yeah, I’m almost done with my Sophomore year.”

“What are you studying?” Cormac’s voice now.

“Business analysis. I’m hoping to get a job at a fortune 500 company after graduation…”

I grind my teeth.

This is business, not a fucking tea party.

Riley Walsh has barely been in our lives twenty-four hours, but it seems she has each of my brothers wrapped around her little finger.

Unlucky for her, I’m not so easily swayed by the big puppy eyes.

The ass and thighs, on the other hand…

I clear my throat as I force the image of Riley’s bare thighs wrapped around my waist out of my mind. “Let’s go down here.”