Page 5 of Royal Deception (Royals of the Underworld #2)

RORY

A s I lean back in my chair, the phone pressed to my ear, my fingers tap a rhythm on my desk. The muffled voice on the other end of the phone is barely a distraction as my mind wanders, mentally arranging yet another meeting.

It’s a step toward putting the mess of the past year behind us, proving the Russians wrong, and a step toward taking the Brannagan name to new heights.

Senator Burns was right. This security venture was a good idea.

It’s going to give us a fresh start. This’ll be the kind of work that’ll get us out of the shadows and back into the good graces of Thornville's elite. It’s the perfect way to erase the stain of the past, and I’m not about to let it slip through my fingers.

“Sure, we can meet tomorrow,” I say into the phone. “Let’s iron out the details then. I’ll have my team ready to move forward.”

I hang up, letting out a breath just as a knock on the door pulls me out of my thoughts.

“Come in,” I call out, leaning forward as Kellan steps inside. He’s composed, his blue eyes sizing me up as he takes in the sight of me.

“How’s the security firm set-up going?” he asks, his voice low.

“Not too bad,” I tell him, drawing a knee up to place one leg across the other. “We should be up and running in no time.”

He sits down in the chair across from me. “I’ve got something for you. Darcy has a client at her work, a big-name author over there who might need our services.”

My mind starts turning at the news. A client in publishing? It’s not exactly the type of business I was expecting, but it’s a start.

“Anything else?”

“Darcy didn’t get all the details yet, but I figured it’s worth looking into. If they need protection, we can set up an initial meeting.”

I rub my jaw, thinking it over. “I’ll get in contact with Darcy, get the client’s info, set up a meeting. If this goes well and we land a big name like that, it could be our ticket to getting others on board.”

Kellan stands to leave but pauses at the door, turning back to me. "You sure about this? This whole new start, clean slate thing?"

I let out a small chuckle, the sound ringing hollow to my ears. No, I’m not sure at all, but I can’t let Kellan know I have any doubts. “Trust me. It's the only way forward.”

Kellan doesn’t say anything else, just nods and walks out.

I watch Kellan leave, the door clicking shut behind him, and for a moment, I’m left with nothing but the quiet weight of what lies ahead. Setting up a legitimate business after everything we’ve done… It’s a hell of a shift.

I grab my phone from the desk, dialing Darcy’s number without a second thought. The line rings a few times before she picks up, her voice warm but businesslike.

"Hey, Rory. What’s up?"

"Hey, Darcy," I reply, leaning back in my chair. "Kellan mentioned you might have a client for us.”

“I do,” she says, sounding pleased. “Her name is Callie Fitzgerald. She’s the author of the Travelers of the Stars series.”

I hum, recalling the way those books had been making waves in the news lately. “I’m familiar with it.”

“She’s gotten pretty popular since she signed with us and there’ve been a few incidents. Nothing serious, but I can tell she’s looking for some peace of mind.”

“Perfect,” I say. “Let me know the time and place and I’ll have a meeting with her.”

“Absolutely. I’ll get in touch with her and see when she’s free. How about tomorrow afternoon?” she suggests. “I think she’s in town, but I’ll confirm.”

“Thank you, Darce," I say, infusing my tone with warm appreciation. “Be in touch soon.”

I hang up, feeling the weight of everything start to settle in. Setting up a meeting with Callie Fitzgerald could be the opportunity we need to make a name for ourselves in this new venture.

A few days later, I settle down at the head of the sleek, glass table in our conference room, glancing over to watch as Clary sets out a tray of coffee and tea for us.

There’s a tension in her shoulders, and I open my mouth, unsure of what I’m going to say, but just then, the door opens and a woman steps inside, her presence filling the room immediately.

Callie Fitzgerald is striking, with jet-black hair pulled into a tight bun and sharp, brown eyes that rove the room before settling on me.

She’s tall, wearing a tailored black dress that hugs her curves perfectly, and she moves with a natural grace, giving me the impression she’d be at ease in any situation.

“Mr. Brannagan,” she greets, offering a firm handshake. “Thanks for making time for me today."

“Call me Rory, Miss Fitzgerald,” I insist, gesturing for her to take a seat.

“Only if you call me Callie,” she says, giving me a playful wink.

She sits across from me, pulling a small notebook from her bag and setting it on the table. Her eyes meet mine, assessing me with an intensity I’m not unfamiliar with.

“You and I are both business-minded people, Rory,” she says, “and I’m not here to waste time. I wanted to meet you in person before making any decisions, but I have a feeling that we’ll be able to come to an agreement quickly.”

I nod. “You’re right,” I say, enjoying the way she takes charge. “ Travelers of the Stars is a great series. I’m impressed at how much of a following you’ve gained since joining my sister-in-law’s firm.”

She smiles, a gleam of pride in her eyes. “It’s been a wild ride, but with any success come complications, as you know.”

I tilt my head, raising an eyebrow. “Oh? What kind of complications?”

She leans forward. “Ever since my second book, The Lost Hourglass , came out last year, I’ve been getting some… unwanted attention. The kind that makes me realize that I’m not just an average citizen anymore.”

I nod, a hand on my chin. “I understand. That kind of attention can be problematic. You’re right to be cautious.”

“I didn’t want to make a big deal of it, but I think I need to take steps before it gets worse,” she continues. “I’ve been looking into options. When Darcy suggested meeting with you, I was intrigued. I’ve heard rumors about the Brannagan family and the kind of business they do.”

“Anyone successful will have rumors following them,” I say with a shrug. “But what’s important here is that we can offer you top-notch protection, and we handle it discreetly.”

“That sounds like the kind of protection I’m looking for, but I hear you haven’t been around very long, so how can I trust that you’ll do a good job?”

I don’t hesitate. "Because we’re the best in the business. I’ll personally see to it that you’re taken care of. I’ll even have Finn Leahy assigned to you."

She raises an eyebrow at the name. "Finn Leahy?"

“Yes. He’s the top man for this kind of job. Once upon a time, he was my father’s bodyguard, and he’s the one I’d trust the most to keep you safe. He’s got the experience, and he knows how to handle delicate situations."

“What happened to your father?” she asks. It’s a valid question, but I feel a flicker of something in my chest, remembering the day I found him.

“He had a heart attack,” I say, keeping it brief. “But he was kept safe until the day he passed.”

“I’m so sorry,” she says, a flicker of sympathy on her face.

“Thank you. And you can trust us. I will personally make sure you feel comfortable with him. We’ll get this all set up for you, Callie.”

We’re in the middle of negotiating the terms of Callie’s contract when the door opens without a knock and Clary steps inside. She looks at me, her expression a mixture of urgency and reluctance, her arms wrapped around her waist.

“You have a call on line one,” she says, her voice soft.

“Clary, what is it?” I demand, dragging a hand through my hair as I try to keep my voice even. “Couldn’t this have waited? You know I’m in the middle of an important meeting, Clary. You should learn your place,” I hiss.

She hesitates, stumbling through her words. “I’m sorry, Mr. Brannagan, but the police are on the phone. They’re at O’Shaughnessy’s. They’re evicting the place on behalf of the property managers.”

The words hit me like a brick. “Evicting? Why the hell would they be evicting?”

Clary shifts uncomfortably, eyes darting to Callie and then back to me. “They said the rent hasn’t been paid in months.”

I’m already leaning forward, my hand on my chin, the anger rising in me. “And you’re telling me this now? You knew Gibbs had been… dealt with. Why didn’t you step up and take care of it?”

The words spill out before I can stop them. It’s louder than I meant it to be, and I feel a flicker of discomfort, but I push it aside. I’m angry, and that’s all that matters right now.

Clary’s face pales, her gaze flickering nervously between me and Callie, who’s sitting across the table, no doubt witnessing this whole exchange. I don’t care. I need her to understand that this is a mess.

“I thought you didn’t want me to handle it,” she says softly, almost apologetically.

“You should have stepped up anyway,” I snap, crossing my arms. “You’re my assistant. You’re supposed to handle things like that.”

Clary’s eyes drop to the floor, her hands twisting together, and she just nods meekly. “I’ll take care of it,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper. “I promise.”

I stare at her for a long moment, my jaw clenched, and the weight of the situation hangs between us. I should apologize, but I don’t. Instead, I take another deep breath, trying to hold onto the last thread of control.

“You’d better,” I mutter. “Don’t make me come back here for this again.”

Clary nods quickly, and I catch a flash of hurt and humiliation in her eyes before she leaves the room without another word.

I let out a frustrated sigh, running my hand over my face, and finally turn back to Callie. I’m aware of how that all played out, but I’m not about to admit I lost it in front of her. Not now. Not ever.

I clear my throat, forcing myself to relax. “Sorry about that. Let’s get back to business.”

Callie nods, her demeanor professional, but there's a flicker of something in her eyes.

“Sounds good,” she says, rising from her seat. “I’ll be in touch about the details.” She walks toward the door, her movements fluid and deliberate. But just before she steps out, she pauses and looks back at me.

“If you need anything else, Rory,” she offers, giving me a pointed smile, “I’m sure we can work something out.”

I nod, a tight smile on my lips. “I’ll be in touch, Callie.”

Once the door shuts behind her, the room feels almost too quiet. The space between us now feels like it’s filled with something unspoken. I swallow, shifting in my seat. My thoughts drift back to Clary and the way I spoke to her.

It’s not like I don’t know how to treat people. I can be polite. I can be professional. It just seems like there’s something about Clary that always pushes me to the edge. I always go straight for her throat even when I know she’s doing her best.

I clench my jaw, trying to push the thought aside. I’m not about to apologize to her. Apologizing shows weakness. But the guilt lingers in the back of my mind.

I lean back in my chair, staring at the empty seat across from me. The silence is deafening. I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve been pushing Clary too far.

But why?

Why do I always want to push her until she breaks?