Page 26 of Three Irish Kings

I scoff. “The fuck you will. She’ll flash a little thigh at you, and you’ll let her go.”

“I may think she’s gorgeous and fuckable, but don’t ever fucking question my loyalty, Liam.”

Cillian puts a hand on my arm. “We’ll take turns.”

I nod. “I’ll stay tonight.”

Dare’s eyes widen for a second. But then he gets his poker face back on. “You wouldn't hurt a woman.”

He poses it almost like a question, but I just give him a withering glare.

When he opens his mouth to speak again, I raise my hand.

“I promise I won’t lay a finger on your girlfriend.”

Cillian just nods, like he doesn’t care one way or another.

I’m surprised we argued like this. Cillian usually just follows my lead, regardless.

I take a breath as I walk back into the house.

Isla is in the kitchen, making herself a sandwich.

She freezes when she sees me.

I stick my thumb over my shoulder and point behind me. “Back to your room.”

“Is that to be my prison cell?” She tilts her chin up, and it makes something like arousal swell in my belly.

She’s no blushing damsel. More like femme fatale.

“Make no mistake. This is not you taking a fucking vacation. Your boyfriend might have bought you some time, but you will be dealt with.”

“I’m not the woman you are look?—”

“Save your lies for someone who cares.”

“I heard about you, you know?”

“Oh?” I cross my arms over my chest.

“Liam Hayes. Thirty-four. Net worth around three billion dollars. Your company brings in around twenty billion a year.”

I narrow my eyes. “What do you know about my company?”

“Plenty. I did my research before coming to the gala.”

“Research?” I bark out a laugh. “You’re not helping your case, Maggie.”

I grab her arm, lifting her gently, but she still flinches.

My chest tightens for reasons I don’t quite understand. Maybe I just hate the idea of any woman being afraid of me.

Because regardless of the front I put up, the truth is Dare was right. I’ve never hurt a woman, and I’ll be damned if I ever will.

I agreed to stay here because my da is a loose cannon at the moment, and there is no way I’ll risk our code being broken because his mind has taken a dive into demented land.

But just because I won’t hurt her, doesn’t mean I want her anywhere near me. She brings out things in me I’m not comfortable with.