Page 10 of Three Irish Kings

I’ve had to rely on my brains more than my brawn for a really long time. When I was a kid, I was scrawny, a hundred and twenty pounds soaking wet. It wasn’t until my early twenties that I started running, developing some lean muscle.

I’m nowhere near as wide as Liam or Cillian, but I’ve got that runner’s build, and I can handle myself if I need to stop either of them from hurting her long enough for her to find some safety.

I go back inside the gala.

There are a lot more people around.

Now that Isla, or Maggie, or whoever she is, is no longer a possibility, I look around to see if anyone else catches my eye.

The girl I was dancing with earlier is chatting up an older man wearing a navy-blue tuxedo. Her eyes meet mine, and there is a twinkle there.

Even knowing she is a done deal, I have no desire to go to her.

After seeing Isla, or Maggie I guess, I had no interest in any other woman here. My mind is stuck on those sparkling hazel eyes of hers as my gaze swipes the room and lands on her. The root of my blue balls.

I could have sealed the deal with Isla. Liam could have let me at least have my fun and be the buzzkill after that.

Would it kill him to have had my back this once?

The man himself sidles up next to Isla, and my heart drops into my stomach.

I head to the elevator, taking it down to the ground floor where the car is parked.

I make my way to Liam’s car, a slick, black SUV, and climb into the driver’s seat, slamming the door closed.

Tonight could have been so great.

And Liam ruined it.

I scroll through the guest list, trying to see if someone jumps out at me that signed up for a plus one.

I’m halfway down the list when my eyes lock onto a familiar name.

Colleen Connor.

She’s a mafia princess. Her father is not one of the major players, but he has made a name for himself.

If she was the one to bring Isla, or Maggie, here, should we question her on her reasons? Does Colleen know who her plus one really is?

But, I’m not really willing to have her beaten or killed because of who she keeps as company.

I love Liam and Cillian like brothers, but they can overreact. So, maybe I’ll keep this information to myself.

For now.

Besides, do we want to advertise the fact that we are the ones taking Isla and getting her out of circulation?

I wanted to keep Isla to myself, even if just for the night. Have some fun, stir some trouble.

I guess that trouble part is still on, because I can’t stop worrying.

Is Liam considering thepermanentkind of solution to the Maggie problem? Or is this a mistake I’ll forever regret?

I shiver, and cold sweat beads my skin.

I don’t want anything to happen to her, whether she is Maggie or not.

And if Isla isnotMaggie, Liam has just about destroyed any chance I had with the only woman I ever wanted to get to know better.