Page 102 of The Apprentice

“More than that,” Sloan said from the driver’s seat, glancing in the rearview mirror. “You will torture him, make it hurt.”

“Sloan.” Conall touched his elbow, eyebrows furrowed. “You’re asking too much of him.”

“Am I, Fionn?” Sloan stared at me pointedly. “Am I asking too much of you?”

I raised my chin. “No. I will do whatever the Company needs from me. This is my legacy and I won’t let you down.”

Sloan nodded, short and sharp, before he focused on the road ahead of him again.

I closed my eyes and settled farther into Daire’s warmth. He was my strength, and with him at my side, I felt like I could take on the world—or torture a man I’d admired.

“How long have you really been together?” Sloan asked, keeping his eyes on the road this time.

Conall glanced at us over his shoulder, eyebrows raised in question.Were we going to tell Sloan the truth?The tension between Daire and Sloan was already at an all-time high and I didn’t want to make it worse, but I didn’t have time to come up with a suitable answer before Daire spoke.

“About eight years.” Daire’s jaw twitched and he cleared his throat. “We were sleeping together before we weretogether together.”

We’d talked about this before. Why was Sloan asking questions again?

“You were fucking for how long before you entered a relationship?” The curse word out of Sloan’s mouth and the sharpness in his tone had me wincing. Damn it.

Conall gave us a sympathetic smile because we all knew this would put Sloan in an even worse mood. I wasn’t stupid. Sloan could be cold and emotionless, but I was his family.

“We only started dating this year.” Daire exhaled and drew me closer. “I’m not going to lie to you, Sloan, I led Fionn on for too long.”

“Daire—” I started, but he shook his head.

“I want this out in the open, boy. Your uncle deserves to know.” Daire rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. “I was an idiot. I’ve been sleeping with Fionn since his eighteenth birthday party. He wanted more, I didn’t, and I didn’t treat him the best.”

“I knew you only wanted sex, and I accepted it,” I whispered.

He chuckled sardonically. “I should’ve stopped the sex completely if I wasn’t going to give you more. Instead, I couldn’t let you go, either, and I hurt you in the process.”

From the corner of my eye, I saw Sloan’s grip on the steering wheel tighten, and I winced, aware of the small gestures that gave his anger away.

“So, let me get this right....” Sloan’s voice dripped with venom, a deep-seated fury that sent a tremble straight up my spine. “You usedmynephew, the future of the Company, as a cum sock?”

“Cum sock?” Conall snorted. “That’s imaginative.”

Sloan shot him a glare, and Conall hid a laugh behind his hand, looking out the window. “Sorry, Boss.”

“I wish I could tell you that it was more than that, but it wasn’t.” Daire cringed and gave me a sad smile. “I used Fionn, and I deeply regret it. But I’ve also loved him for a long time.”

“How long have you loved him, then?” Sloan snapped.

The car swerved a little, and I wasn’t sure if Sloan wasn’t paying attention or if he was avoiding something, but my stomach swayed with the movement, churning relentlessly.

“I don’t know what to tell you.” Daire dragged me even closer and pressed a kiss to my forehead. We’d finally jumped over our hurdles, and we were here—happy. I didn’t want my uncle’s reaction to ruin us. “I can’t pinpoint the exact moment it happened, but Fionn’s always been important to me.”

“You were okay with them before,” Conall pointed out to Sloan with a grin. “What changed?”

“The fact that I found out my best friend used my nephew for his body and hurt his feelings.” Sloan yanked the wheel, and I groaned when we pulled into Donal’s driveway. “This isn’t over.”

“Itis. I will let you give me lessons when it comes to business, but this is my private life. Daire is my Daddy.”

Sloan hit the brakes, and I went flying forward, only saved by Daire’s firm hold and the seat belt that jammed at the sudden movement. He spun around to stare at me. “Your what?”

“Daddy. Daddy Daire.” I raised my chin, defending what I had with Daire. I’d do anything for Sloan and the Killough Company, but this wasn’t something he could take away from me. I refused to let him. “He’s my Daddy, and I’m his boy. You have Conall, the pet who you fuck in public. That’s your thing, this is mine.”