Page 25 of Scandalous Kingpin

“It would seem our last meeting in the dark hallway wasn’t enough for you, angel.”

My world started to spin, his eyes following me everywhere. Blue. Cold. Destructive.

Chapter Eleven

PRIEST

“All clear,” I said to the empty corridor, and before long, Basilio, Emory, and Dante appeared. After learning of the marriage contract, I worked faster than I ever had, hacking into the Callahan network—the idiots only had a single firewall up—and digging until I found the contract. I found it suspicious that he had only one copy, but I wasted no time. I changed the names and sent myself the file, then moved on to the second part of my plan.

Stealing my bride-to-be.

After all, it wasn’t too long ago that my papà wanted me to consider an alliance to keep the Corsican mafia at bay. I was just going along with his recommendation. The Murphy alliance could prove useful after the Irish pricks get over the initial anger when they learn I kidnapped their sister.

“Well, that went smoothly,” Basilio declared, his hands in his pockets and his gaze landing briefly on Ivy before returning to me. “She give you any trouble?”

“No.”

“I bet she will when she wakes up,” Emory muttered. “Better figure out some way to pacify her.”

“And what would you recommend, cousin?” I deadpanned. “Cakes and chocolates?”

Emory narrowed her eyes. “Maybe five centuries ago. You’ll have to come up with something good enough to make her forget you just tranq’d her in a grimy club.” This club was brand new, but I wasn’t sure this was the time to correct her.

“Maybe let her rob you?” Dante suggested.

I shot him a glare. “Maybe let your wife burn down your house?”

“That happenedonetime,” he muttered.

The sound of footsteps approached, distracting us from our childish bickering. “Baby, let’s just go home and?—”

The footsteps came to a stop and Liam Brennan, my uncle, stood there with a storm brewing in his eyes. His gaze traveled over us, lowering only when he arrived at the unconscious body in my arms.

“What the fuck is going on?” he hissed. “Please tell me that’s not Ivy Murphy. What kind of sick game are you all playing at?”

The silence that hovered was thick.

“Honey—” Davina started.

“Is this the reason wehadto come to this club?” Liam cut her off.

Her shoulders slumped and her hands came up to cradle her protruding stomach. “She can’t marry Aiden Callahan. He’s too old for her.”

My uncle shot her a dry look. “He’s younger than me, céile.”

Davina flashed him a sweet smile. “Yeah, but I love you, so it’s different.”

Liam locked eyes with his wife, his expression softening. He was silent for a moment, then he turned his attention to us.

“I’m going to pretend I didn’t see this, but you better call Ivy’s brothers and assure them nothing—and I meannothing—will happen to their sister.” When I didn’t acknowledge him, Liam’s tone turned dark. “Priest, tell me nothing will happen to Ivy.”

“Of course,” I lied, looking my uncle straight in the eyes and hoping he wouldn’t detect it. Nothingbadwould happen to her, so I didn’t feel any guilt about lying.

He grumbled. “And you’re calling her brothers.”

My brother and Basilio rolled their eyes. “There’s no reasoning with those Irish pricks. You know how they get with their tempers.”

Emory mimed a bomb exploding.