Page 41

CHAPTER 41

The objection came from an unexpected source.

“You are not going to make it that easy for—” Owen pointed at Dante “—him! Make the bastard court you. Lead him around by the balls. Seize your chance to be bridezilla!”

Dante said nothing. He was too busy watching Maarja with an expression that indicated…something. Desire, probably. Affection, maybe. Possession, for sure.

“I will,” she assured Owen. “Later. Now we need to end this before someone gets dead.”

“In a weird sort of way, it’s a good idea.” Connor stood, got a bottle of champagne out of the refrigerator, and went to work on the foil. “A wedding between the Arundel boss and the one remaining Daire will bring out the bastards.”

“Ha!” Maarja got an adrenaline rush that almost felt like affection for Connor.

Dante remained silent and enigmatic.

Connor continued, “We have to have it some place where we control the venue.”

Maarja sat up straighter. “My mother’s house in Oakland.”

“Would that work?” Connor asked Dante, and popped the cork.

Dante nodded slowly. “Octavia and Alex are in Sacramento while Alex works on her physical therapy and prepares for her next surgery. That will keep them out of the line of fire. Those people I saw in Oakland are dangerous in their own way. Octavia is loved—”

Maarja interrupted. “Mostly. She’s made a few enemies of some of the less savory characters who populate the neighborhood.”

Dante nodded his acknowledgment. “Our people will be invaders, isolated by that community. It’s a good idea.”

“The event will bring everyone out to see, and complain, and fake smile, and give some kind of inappropriate gift, and in the middle of the solemnity, before the vows can be finalized, somebody’s going to try and take control of the business via a coup.” Connor poured champagne into flutes.

“And kill Maarja,” Dante said.

“They can try.” Connor might be an accountant, but he obviously relished the chance to outwit their enemy.

Maarja felt Connor was a little too blithe. “I’d as soon skip that part.”

“What do you think’s going to happen if we go through with this plan? Some of the family support me no matter what I choose to do with the business. They follow me out of long-held loyalty. Tradition!” Dante thumped his own chest as if providing a drumbeat for the word. “But those same family who treasure tradition consider it an abomination that I would do anything more than use Maarja before I slit her throat. Maarja, killing you will be their goal, their endgame. The Arundel family is so close to eradicating your family. Only one Daire left…”

“Don’t sugarcoat it!” she warned.

“Who are you going to use for security? Everyone we would normally employ we no longer trust.” Owen made a good point.

The answer came easily to Maarja. “We’ll use Saint Rees Fine Arts Movers. Those of us who pack and drive are scary folks, mostly women, who excel at blending into a crowd. It’s natural.” Maarja took the flute Connor handed her. “Besides, Saint Rees needs the creds to get the business rolling again. This robbery was devastating, and we could use an endorsement from somebody wealthy and important. Like Dante, here.”

Connor distributed the flutes, put his hand on Owen’s shoulder and lifted his flute. “To a long and happy marriage for Dante and Maarja.”

Maarja lifted her glass, took a sip of champagne, and put it down. “Thank you, that’s lovely, but if the bride doesn’t get some sleep soon, she’s going to fall on her face out of sheer exhaustion.”

Owen leaped to his feet. “Come with me, dear. We’ll put you in Connor’s office over the garage, and we won’t disturb you while we plan your future.” As they left the kitchen, he said more quietly, “When I get done with those boys, they’re going to make sure you have the wedding of your dreams.”

“I don’t want the wedding of my dreams. I never had those dreams.” She climbed a flight of stairs. “I want to be safe, and I want Dante to be safe, and I want to make decisions about my life not influenced by fear. Can we just do that?” Her voice rose with each word.

Owen held her arm and patted her hand. “Then you’ll have the wedding of my dreams, and when it’s over, all the choices of the world will be yours.”