Page 59 of Arranged Addiction

“You already are, brother. I’ll double the guards on your place and make sure Casey never leaves the apartment without an escort.”

“I’m afraid that’s not enough.”

“We’ll think of more security measures. For now, keep your head down.”

Seamus’s calm helps center me again. He’s right about bringing down the temperature. I can’t let my anger get the best of me. Dad taught us a thousand times that keeping our cool during a difficult situation is what sets a leader apart from a follower.

“Tell Cormac and Finn what’s going on for me, will you? I don’t feel like having this conversation again.”

“I’ll talk to them. By the way, where’d the hand end up?”

“Rian’s got it.”

“Good. I’m guessing Mrs. Doyle will want to bury it with her husband.”

I sigh and rub my forehead. I hadn’t been thinking about his family. I’ve been so lost in my own problems that I keep forgetting we aren’t the only victims here.

“Make sure we take care of them. Give the widow and his sons the full Whelan member treatment.”

“Already paid for the funeral expenses. Want to add them to the death payroll?”

“Make sure his widow’s set for life. His sons will find their own way.”

We hang up. I’m left in the quiet of my front hall. I stand there a moment and gather myself together. I have to go talk to Casey and try to make her feel better. I can almost taste her anxiety in the air.

She’s the center of everything now. Not just this Senesi bullshit, but my entire world too. It feels like suddenly the reality of what we just did comes crashing down.

I’ve been waiting for this moment for twenty-five years.

Ever since the day she was born.

I drift into the kitchen and stare at her. She’s watching one of those competitive cake baking shows on TV, but I can tell she’s barely seeing it. Her thumb swipes at videos on her phone. She looks absolutely stunning still in her wedding dress, sitting sprawled out on the couch like it’s no big deal.

Twenty-five years, I’ve dreamed of her. But it never felt real until she graduated from high school.

I kept her at a distance. It was the only way I could justify staying in her life after her parents were gone. But when she came of age and I realized she was an actual beautiful woman…

I never should have hired her. And I sure as hell shouldn’t have broken my most important rule that night we first slept together.

But this feels right.

It’s more than right; it’s like this was destiny.

I feel fucking crazy, thinking that way, but it’s the truth. When I think about her, when I look at her and touch her, I can’t help but feel like it was meant to be.

From the day she was born. Until the day we signed our names on the marriage certificate.

She’s been mine.

I don’t know how I can make her understand how important she is to me.

But I’ll start by making sure Senesi doesn’t get anywhere near her.

I open my mouth to ask if she wants anything to eat, but my phone starts ringing. I figure it’s Seamus and lift it up to my ear. “Yeah? You need something else?”

“Honey, it’s me.” My mother’s voice. She sounds shaken.

“Mom? What’s wrong?” Fear lances into my chest. “Don’t tell me you had a problem after the ceremony.”