Page 8 of Malicious Marriage (Mafia Lords of Sin #9)

CLOVER

T he guilt is overwhelming.

Dean invites me to his home, lays out the pain of his lying ex, the insane pressure he’s under from his family and how hard it’s been to live with people lying about his brother. How can I, in good conscience, continue with my plan?

While lying about the reason behind my financial difficulties doesn’t harm Dean directly, it’s still lying to him. I’m just like those people he hates because I’m sitting here hoping to use his money and power for my own agenda.

Then again, maybe it will harm him directly.

Lying and telling him my financial troubles from bad decisions is one thing, but if he were to learn the truth, that I’ve been disowned?

I can’t imagine the damage that would do to his reputation inside and outside of his family.

From the sounds of it, they care deeply about the tradition of marriage between eligible, powerful families.

I don’t fit the criteria. Discovery of my lies would surely force Dean into a terrible future with a woman he hates just to save the reputation I’ll destroy.

Why did I think I had the strength for this?

When Dean was a picture on a table and a name in a book, the thought of reaching this part of the plan was exciting.

Ultimately, I had no idea how to pop the question to Dean and hoped I’d find a way to make him fall madly in love with me before the end of May.

Reality has been very different and it’s much harder to navigate.

“You can’t?” Dean’s surprise is obvious. “I know it’s a very forward proposal and I’m not trying to buy you to be my wife or anything like that. It just seems we’re both in a bit of a tight spot and I really think we can help each other out.”

Fuck. He speaks so earnestly and it makes my heart ache.

Why do I care? I’m not supposed to care.

He’s supposed to be a means to an end, but something about his kindness makes this feel wrong.

I didn’t expect to feel so guilty this quickly, but the hopeful look in his eyes and the soft way he talks while offering such a desperately needed lifeline are overwhelming.

“Uhm—” I try to speak, but my throat closes and words fail.

“If you’re concerned about what would be expected of you, I swear it would be purely a business deal.

I don’t care how deep your debts are because I understand how tricky that can be, and keeping your family afloat is important.

Whatever you need to pay back, I will help you.

However much help your family businesses or employees need, then I will help.

And I will draw up specific contracts so you won’t ever be tricked into paying any of it back. There’s no price on my freedom.”

His smile brightens and he leans across the table, placing his warm hand on my arm.

“I will even ensure there are clauses in the marriage contract so you personally won’t owe me anything and you will be protected. There will be no expectations other than helping me sell the wedding to my family. You need money and I need freedom. I really think we can help each other.”

I pull away from him and stand after setting my glass down, then I take a few steps away just to breathe. The air around us is hot and my heart is racing painfully fast.

Fuck.

This is exactly what I want. This is what Bobby and I planned and it’s happening faster and smoother than we ever could have dreamed. So why am I hesitating? Why do I feel so guilty over a man I barely know?

So what if I affect his reputation? Will any of that really matter once I get my sister back? It will surely help to have someone like Dean looking into her disappearance. I can only imagine the doors he’ll be able to open with just his name. So what if I need to lie to get there?

“If there’s someone else,” Dean says as he slowly approaches me, “then that’s okay. I don’t want to get in the way of your love life. I’m just offering you a solution.”

“No,” I say quickly, turning to face him as a cooling breeze washes over me. “There’s no one else. That’s not it. It’s just… I’m sorry. I can’t find the words.”

“Is it my age?” Dean’s head tilts slightly to the side.

Under the fierce gaze of the sun, his hair almost looks copper and his beard glitters silver.

“Because I assure you that I would want nothing more than your help. And I will not judge the cause of your difficulties. We don’t even have to tell your uncle if you don’t want to.

The ball is entirely in your court. You’d just…

you’d be doing me a huge favor, and I’m aware it’s kind of insane to ask this of a woman I barely know.

But business deals have been formed over much less. ”

He has a point. This is just a business deal. It’s a stroke of sheer luck that Dean’s in a position where he even needs help. It eliminates the need to seduce him or, as a last resort, blackmail him. It being his idea should make this so happy.

So why don’t I want to disappoint him? Is it because when he looks at me, I feel like he really sees me? Or because he’s been so kind to me when, as he says, he barely knows me?

I can’t pinpoint it. Maybe Bobby’s right. Maybe I do have a crush.

“Please say something,” Dean says as my silence drags on.

Untangling my thoughts is tough, so I force a smile and gently clear my throat.

“I… I don’t know what to say. You’re way out of my league in terms of family and reputation.

You’re one of the biggest names in the city and I’m a Byrne.

We might be big in Ireland, but New York?

Families like yours roll over families like mine. ”

“I’m not trying to roll over you,” Dean says, making me quickly shake my head.

“No, no, you’ve been very kind and considerate. I didn’t mean that it feels like you are. Only that this offer feels too good to be true. Or that there’s some hidden agenda.” I’m projecting my guilt onto Dean, but he merely smiles once more and turns his attention toward the vast garden before us.

“I understand. There’s nothing I can say to calm that fear, only time. I can assure you that all I am looking for is some breathing room, and an engagement will give me that. And afterward, we can part as amicably and as soon as you desire. No one will ever have to know.”

His words appeal to another thought forming in the back of my mind.

If I’m caught lying, then Dean will not only be shamed for marrying into a broken family and tying the knot with a disowned woman, but the embarrassment would be detrimental to his family’s reputation.

And God knows what will happen to my family’s business and assets.

If the wrong person finds out I’m penniless and no longer in control, then everything my family and parents worked toward for decades will be snatched up and stolen by countless other greedy organizations until there’s nothing left to the Byrne name.

But only if I’m caught.

Dean’s money and influence can surely get me the information I need on Hailey, and once she’s rescued, we’ll be able to reclaim the family estate from my uncle and unlock the fortune that belongs to us. Then I will have the money to pay Dean back and no one will ever find out.

“At the very least, take some time.” Dean turns back to me. “I’m not trying to ignore your decisions and I’m not entitled to know your reasons. But please think it over. We can help each other, and that’s all that matters.”

“Okay,” I say breathlessly. “I’ll do it.” If Dean is this eager to help me, then maybe I can have Hailey found before my uncle even comes back, and then I won’t have to lie for much longer.

“Good. Think it over and get back to me when you can.” Dean flashes his brilliant smile, and my heart melts slightly as nerves pull down my spine and cause me to shiver.

“No, I mean I’ll marry you.”

“What?” His brows fly upward. “Are you sure?”

“You’re right.” It’s impossible to fight the smile that forms at his excitement. “We can help each other, and I’m not ready to give up on myself quite yet.”

“Oh, Clover, that’s fantastic! Thank you!”

To my surprise, Dean steps forward and sweeps me up into his strong arms in a large bear hug.

I’m flooded by the sweet peppermint of his aftershave and the overwhelming warmth radiating through his white shirt.

He squeezes me against his body as if he doesn’t want to let me go, and for a few brief seconds, we simply stand in each other’s embrace.

Then he steps back and grins at me with his eyes positively sparkling, leaving me so breathless that I can’t even speak. I’m hot all over, and a different type of flutter swiftly replaces the churning guilt in my gut.

Anticipation.

It’s just business and that’s how it’ll stay.

Right?