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“That will never be an option. She and I already have an arrangement,” I reply.

Hughes laughs at me and lifts a brow. “I’m sure Freddie would have been amused. You were on his short list.”

“Short list of what?”

“He knew his niece. She would never agree to an arranged marriage, but he had planned to introduce her to a few men he thought she might gravitate to. Your name came up a few times.

“His biggest concerns were the age gap and the fact that he knew you both had been through things he wouldn’t make either of you relive for his understanding.”

“Leave the past in the past,” I mutter.

“Yes, you remember his mantra. Unfortunately, he died just before he planned to introduce the two of you.”

“I don’t believe it, I don’t.”

“This is the truth, and it can’t leave this room. There are still some things I need to clarify about certain situations and this needs to remain confidential until then.”

“Ya have my word. If there’s anything I can do, ya let me know. Freddie was a friend, and Dean means something to me.”

I’m not willing to tell him why or how much. I’m still reeling that I showed my hand about my feelings toward her being off limits. The woman is sucking me in deeper and deeper and she doesn’t even know it.

CHAPTER10

Pains and Fears

Ronan

“Where are we going?”Dean asks as we ride in the car to our date.

“Ach, it will be a surprise.”

“I don’t like surprises, Ronan,” she says with a smile in her voice.

I can’t help but smile myself. I wanted to make up for the date I had to cancel and have a chance to observe her to see if I can spy out any of the things I’ve learned.

Never in a million years did I think I would find the answers I came across in New York. When I finished the business Dayton had called on me for, I went back to one of my apartments and ordered a copy of every book of Dean’s for the second time.

The first copies I purchased were back home in Ireland. I needed answers before I got back. I paid to get the books same day and devoured them.

Dayton had been right. I, too, had thought Demarco was Freddie in real life. However, I later realized the more reserved, levelheaded character in the book, Zavier, was Freddie. Demarco, the ruthless, unhinged killer’s mentor.

Once I finished the books, there were a number of things that stood out and made me think of Dean. Yet I still don’t think I’m ready to believe she’s Demarco. However, when I think about the things her uncle used to say about his son, it all makes sense if she’s the son he never had.

“Is everything okay? You seem so distant,” Dean says as I get lost in my thoughts.

I glance over at her and smile. She looks amazing. I’m having a hard time seeing her as the ruthless individual her uncle and her books painted her as.

I lick my lips as I drop my gaze to her full breasts and the sweater she has on. It falls from one shoulder and is cropped a few inches under her chest.

The jeans she has on are snug and ride low on her waist. When I picked her up for the date, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her ass and hips. I know the lass is taunting me.

I’ve been tempted to let her know I know who she is. I want her to show me her crazy. I want to meet the real Danny face to face.

I’ve questioned a million times if she truly used a nail gun on a worker who tried to steal from her and her family. I shake the thought off as I start to grow hard.

If anything I’ve learned is remotely true, she’s become ten times sexier to me. I want to fuck the shit out of her and make her scream my name. Knowing what I know now, I don’t think anyone else will do.

“I just have a lot on my mind,” I reply as I turn back to the road and push down all thoughts of taking her body until she can’t take anymore.