Page 84 of Sweet Deception

Never in my life did I imagine I’d be headed to mafia headquarters. What Darren calls the Gallagherestate—as if it belongs to a wealthy character in a Jane Austen novel rather than a notorious crime family—is back in the city.

I’m shocked to discover that he’s capable of driving the speed limit. He’s never done it before. It’s a little eerie.

I mean, if he’s afraid to get back to the estate, then how on earth am I supposed to be feeling? And not just because of those terrifying mafia cousins, Shane and Donal. But, damn, we just had one hell of a moment.

“I’m alone, Darren. Ever since I was thirteen years old, I’ve been utterly and completely alone. Just me.”

Ugh, I want to throw myself from the window of this sports car.

He was being ridiculous, so I finally just spilled the ugly truth.

Now I regret it. I want Darren’s help, not his pity.

Would he have kissed me like that, though, if I hadn’t told him?

Focus, Nika!

Petting Piro to calm my nerves is all I can manage for the first half hour of the car ride.

Darren’s sneaking glances at me again. But after the misery his abandonment put me through, I’m not eager to reattach myself to the man in any sense of the word.

However, that kiss back there is making it difficult. Very difficult.

Bozhe moy,that was intense.

If he hadn’t pulled away first, I don’t know how long I would’ve stood there, tasting the mouth of the world’s most infuriating male.

As if he can sense my mental strife, Darren’s deep voice cuts through the quiet. “Are you all right?”

I ignore his question. “So what is it your uncle has more questions about?”

“You’ve had contact with women who were part of rival families.”

“So?”

“Shane wants to make sure you aren’t a covert operative sent by an enemy to compromise us.”

Wow. That’s probably the most transparent Darren’s ever been with me. “If I’m able to prove my innocence to him, will the Kings help save Lucy?”

He doesn’t comment on that. So much for newfound transparency.

We return to uneasy silence, unsaid words choking the air for the duration of our drive.

Soon, the quiet upstate roads give way to the round-the-clock bustle of the city, and far quicker than I’d hoped, we find ourselves outside yet another imposing gate.

“What is this, Wayne Manor?” I smother a scoff in my palm.

Darren greets the man in a nearby security spire, and the gate splits apart before us. “Not quite.” He drives through a short tunnel, and then…

Holy…“This is where you live?”

“Impressed?” He almost sounds amused as he breaks right toward a barn-shaped building off to the side of the old-money monstrosity rising before us.

“It really is an estate.” I can’t keep the surprise out of my voice. “Honestly, it looks more like a small palace.”

“Hold your breath.” He navigates his car through a set of high-tech barn doors and into the shade of an enormous garage before whipping us into a parking space. “You haven’t seen the inside yet.”

This place is nicer than that crazy-beautiful suite he had in Vegas.