Page 26 of Savage Promises (Quinlan Empire #2)

Shane

M y tinted bulletproof window of the Sentinel crackles faintly from the early February cold as I lower it. The private investigator I’ve known forever leans against the rear quarter panel, his lips set in a grim slash. These guys have seen it all.

Like my brothers and me when we did investigations, collections, and hits for the O’Rourkes. It’s hard to get a rise out of PIs. Or surprise them.

But the envelope in his hand brings a look of concern to his face. “You sure you want this?”

“One hundred percent.” I take it from him and slide the contents out, my gut tightening even before I see the images.

A series of glossy photos fall into my lap. Neve, naked in bed with her volleyball coach doesn’t exactly surprise me. But Christ, the bastard coach is at least twenty years her senior. And what balls on him, fucking a mob boss’s fiancée.

Neve likes it in several different positions, apparently. The PI got the whole show. Thanks to his zoom lens, there can be no It’s not what it looks like , because there’s his cock, and there’s her pussy. All in sharp clarity.

Virgin, my ass.

Everything in my chest loosens as I flip through them. Each one should stoke a dangerous fire in my gut, but it’s a soothing balm. I have all my answers. And a plan.

I shove the photos back into the envelope.

“Where are they now?” I ask the PI, my voice low but with an edge that can cut diamonds.

“In his apartment,” he replies, professional and detached .

I nod and reach out to shake his hand. “The money is already in your account.”

“Lovely doing business with you again, Mr. Quinlan.” He taps the roof of my car. “Good luck.”

“I’m already lucky.” I slide the window back up and turn to Connor, seated next to me.

I hand him the photos. His eyes widen as he takes in what should be my shame.

“Jesus,” he grouses, looking at me with an edge of panic. “Am I killing them?”

I laugh and slap my knee. “No fucking way. And ruin seeing the look on Neve’s face? Creed,” I say to my guard in a steady voice and hand him a slip of paper. “Take us to this address.”

“Yes, boss,” he agrees with a little too much enthusiasm.

We pull up to a run-down apartment building. I step out of the SUV, my hands balled into fists.

Neve’s bodyguard Lars exits a double-parked car and smells of weed. “Boss? Is there a problem?”

I glare at him. “Did you know my fiancée is fucking another man in there?”

His eyes bulge out of his head. “What? She told me her coach is...tutoring her.”

“And you fucking believed that?”

Connor gets out of my Sentinel and Lars steps back, knowing he’s in trouble.

I consider how to handle this. Guards protect, they’re not paid to ask questions. But I still see this as some kind of betrayal since it’s obvious that this coach isn’t tutoring Neve about volleyball .

“Take care of this,” I say, waving to Connor.

I don’t look back, and I don’t care what happens to Lars. In five minutes, Neve will no longer be my fiancée and won’t be entitled to a guard .

Someone leaves the building and I dash inside. I trek up to the second floor. Even if I didn’t know the apartment number, the sound of grunting would give them away.

Creed jogs up the stairs and gets behind me. I smoothly open the apartment door using a Mac tool to pick the lock. Following the sounds and smell of sex, I skulk down a narrow hallway to a bedroom with the door ajar.

Neve is naked, grunting, and dripping with sweat, riding her coach’s cock.

I kick open the door and lean against the frame. When I do, it’s as though time freezes.

The coach meets my eyes, his hips going still, but his face pales as he recognizes me. It’s the only reason I went to Neve’s last match. So he’d see my face and know who I am.

What I am.

Cursing, he pushes Neve away and she tumbles off the bed.

“You thought you could fuck my fiancée, Coach ?” I bark.

“Oh God, Shane!” Neve’s mouth opens and closes like a fish out of water. “No. It’s not... I’m sorry. We just...”

I hold up a hand, cutting her off. “You, shut the fuck up.”

I don’t say anything else. I just stare. At her, at him, at the disgusting image of the life that was supposed to be built around this marriage.

My emotions churn with anger, betrayal, and something else I can’t quite name. Shit... It’s relief. A sweeping weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

Creed steps closer, his gun drawn at the coach. “Want me to handle him?”

“No. He’s not worth a bullet. But Neve, your father is, if you don’t show up later.” Leaving the stunned lovers gaping, I turn and Creed follows me out.

“You sure, boss?” he says, scrubbing his jaw.

“After tonight, when I reveal what’s been going on, her father will disown her. She’s going to need someone’s shoulder to cry on.”

On the street, Connor asks the burning question, “What about the marriage deal?”

I glance back at the building, grateful I listened to my heart on this one. “You’ll see.”

HOURS LATER, I STRUT into Club Echelon for the scheduled proposal event.

The club is buzzing as usual. The VIP balcony Lennox set up for me is decked out with white roses, sparkling lights, and expensive champagne in tall flutes.

A small gathering of guests is waiting for me to get on one knee.

Flash a big diamond and claim my mob bride.

Trace and Rhys keep their eyes on Richard Donnelly because Connor told them what is about to go down. Old man Donnelly might snap and try to shoot me.

Lennox works stiffly and stoically, lighting candles and arranging loose flowers on a table with a cake. She’s dressed in a body-hugging strapless lavender dress with a sheer overlay.

Neve walks into the club a few minutes later her eyes scanning every inch of the place. For me? For her sister? For her father? She looks beautiful in a pale blue dress, her hair in a twist. But underneath the sweet facade, her cunt is filled with another’s man’s cum.

I feel nothing. No anger. No hate. Just fucking relief. And a rush of excitement that I’m about to blow everyone’s mind.

When Neve reaches the VIP floor, she blushes, seeing me.

I approach her, my face even. She looks terrified, and I’m glad.

She showed zero interest in this marriage, but she’s not na?ve about the mafia world.

If she’s been remotely paying attention to her father, she knows what a mafia man is capable of.

She may have him wrapped around her finger at the expense of her sister, but her bullshit train never left my station. I knew something was off all along.

I step forward, grabbing her gently but firmly by the arm. “Come with me.”

Her face crumples and she starts to cry. “Shane, I—”

“Don’t,” I say, cutting her off. “Do yourself a favor and keep quiet.”

Sobbing, she utters, “I didn’t mean for it to happen.”

Griffin appears in front of me, his eyes trained on Neve, who looks like she’s ready to throw up. “What’s going on, brother?”

Before I can answer, Richard Donnelly storms over, his face red with anger. “Why is my daughter crying?”

I glance at Griffin and release Neve. “Go stand with your father.”

From my jacket, I take out the photos and hand them to Griffin.

He flips through them, his expression hardening. “Fuck.”

Richard looks between us, his voice dark with anger. “What the hell is going on?”

“Daddy,” Neve whines. “I’m sorry.”

Griffin passes back the photos to me and rubs his eyes. “Everyone, stay calm.”

“What are you looking at?” Richard says, taking Neve into his arms.

“Photos of Neve,” I say sharply. “You don’t want to see them.”

Richard freezes, his hand trembling around Neve’s shoulders. “Someone tell me what is happening?”

I fold my arms. “Care to tell your father, Neve?”

“I... I’m seeing someone else,” Neve says, looking terrified.

I want to feel sympathy for her. She’s eighteen and forced into a marriage with a man she doesn’t know and clearly doesn’t want. But she was adult enough to sleep with her coach.

“Seeing?” Richard snaps. “What do you mean by seeing ?”

I wave the photos. “She’s fucking her volleyball coach. This engagement is off.”

I stalk off in the other direction, but Richard grabs me and yanks me around. “Now you wait a minute, Shane.”

A faint click of Connor’s gun stops everything. “Remove your hand from my brother if you want to see tomorrow.”

Richard’s face twists in panic and lets me go. Speaking calmer, he says, “We can fix this. I’ll talk to her. We had a deal! ”

I let the silence stretch before speaking, making him squirm. He thinks if I don’t marry Neve, we’ll kill Garrett. The old man is so blind he doesn’t even see I have a choice .

“Oh, our families are still uniting,” I say evenly, my gaze flicking to Lennox, who’s standing on the edge of the balcony watching the scene unfold with her jaw dropped. “But I’m not marrying Neve.”

Richard barks, “What?”

“I’m marrying Lennox.”

The room falls silent. Lennox’s eyes widen, her face paling.

I grab the nearest glass of champagne and raise it high, a small smile tugging the corner of my lips. “To family, loyalty, and new beginnings.” I turn to Lennox. “So, love, will you marry me?”