Page 32 of Deceptive Desires (The Syndicate #2)

Roman

I can see the confusion in their eyes. Their wary gazes. The way they’re trying to piece it together.

They want to know more about Cecilia. They’ve all been welcoming, but they’re taken off guard. They didn’t expect this. They didn’t expect her. But neither did I. I didn’t expect her.

But sometimes life has plans for you. And it gave me Cecilia. The best thing to ever happen to me. So, they better get used to it because she’s not going anywhere.

“So, Celia, when did this start?” Dom asks bluntly.

Celia. Not Cecilia.

I see red. How fucking dare he? That’s my name for her! Only mine.

“It’s Cecilia to you,” I say calmly, struggling to keep my voice even for Cecilia’s sake. I don’t want her to hear the anger I’ve been able to hide from her for so long. I glare at Dom, who sits on the opposite end away from Cecilia, so she can’t see the murderous look in my eyes.

My beautiful sunshine giggles, thinking I’m joking.

I’m not.

But I don’t correct her. The ones who need to know now know.

“A few months ago,” my Cecilia answers him, her voice drawing me in.

I lock eyes with her and return her fond gaze.

“He saved me. He’s my personal hero. He’s rescued me more than once since then.

” She squeezes my hand, and my heart clenches.

“My life has been unexpectedly chaotic these past few months, and he’s always there for me when I need him. It’s like he just knows.”

“Of course. I’ll always be there to protect you, Celia. I’ll always be here to keep you safe.” I keep my voice light and warm, but my insides steel at the promise. “You’ll never get rid of me.”

“It makes sense. Since his job is saving people. It’s amazing that you guys run Syndicate Enterprise. You keep people safe. That’s incredible.” The pride in her voice amazes me. I preen at how high of a pedestal she has me on.

The room stills.

Margot drops her fork with a clank. Matthias’s mouth hangs open. Dom stiffens. Bash pales. Mom and Dad share a sharp glance.

But I glare at them.

I shoot them a silent warning. A threat. If they break this cover, if they expose my lie, if they reveal what I truly do…

I love my family, but I don’t care who I have to hurt to keep her.

And I will always keep her.

Even if she doesn’t want me to.

She’s mine.

“Yes,” Matthias replies in a clipped voice, heeding my threat. “It’s great to have him on the team.”

I nod indiscernibly at him in a silent thanks. I’d have hated to shoot them on my way out and escape with Cecilia thrown over my shoulder. I don’t want her to see that side of me.

The conversation carries on, but they’re all off kilter.

Cecilia’s oblivious to it, my sweet, na?ve girl. And that’s all that matters.

***

“Brothers, we need to discuss some business matters in the office,” Dom demands, staring into my soul. “Now.”

“We can talk tomorrow at the office,” I lie smoothly, knowing there’s no damn office. “Mom and Dad want to meet Cecilia properly.”

“It’s okay, héroe. I can talk to your parents and Margot while you talk to your brothers,” Cecilia offers generously, completely misunderstanding the situation.

It’s a bad idea for a number of reasons.

The first being, I don’t want to discuss my relationship with my brothers. I know there’s no business we need to discuss. They want to know what’s going on. Who she is. Why I’m lying to her. And I don’t want to delve into it with them.

The second being, I don’t want Cecilia around any members of my family unmonitored. Not because I don’t trust her, but because I don’t know what they’ll tell her. And God forbid one of them exposes my lies.

But Matthias grips my arm as he rounds the table in warning. They’re not letting this go. I don’t have an option.

I give Cecilia a quick kiss on the cheek and whisper, “I’ll be back in a bit, sunshine. I love you.” With that I turn and leave.

We enter the office, and I freeze.

What the fuck did I just do?

I just told Cecilia I love her.

For the first time.

As I’m being led out of the room by my furious brothers.

Fuck.