The Wedding Pact (The O'Malleys #2)(68)

A black car pulled up to the curb, and a nondescript man got out. “Ms. O’Malley.” He hurried around to open the door for her, but Liam beat him to it. The man sputtered. “I was told—”

“You were told wrong.” She slid into the backseat and then scooted over to make room for Liam. He was right. He’d been there every step of the way and done his damnedest to keep her safe. She wouldn’t ditch him again. Especially since he alone didn’t see her time with James as one giant betrayal to the family.

I wonder why that is?

It didn’t matter. What mattered was that he was apparently on her side when she desperately needed someone in her corner. The driver seemed to have recovered from his confusion because he was back in the car and pulling away from the curb. She sat back and crossed her legs, trying to relax. She’d dealt with dangerous men before. She could do it again. At least this one was willing to negotiate and give her some freedom in return for her dancing to his tune.

It just didn’t seem like the silver lining it might have a few months ago. She’d had a taste of freedom—real freedom—with James, and now everything else seemed like a sad substitute by comparison. She was starting to fear that the man might have actually ruined her.

Carrigan stared out the window, not really seeing anything. It seemed like they made the trip between one blink and the next, because the next thing she knew, the car had stopped and the driver was opening her door with a defiant look at Liam. She stared at the sidewalk, suddenly sure she was about to take a step that she couldn’t take back. If she said yes to Dmitri, that was it. It was over. Everything was over. The man might offer her a measure of freedom, but he wasn’t the type to be crossed. The second she stepped out of line, he’d smash her like a bug.

I don’t want you, you can’t make me, please don’t make me get out of this car. It was the voice of a small child afraid of the dark—a child she’d thought she’d put behind her once and for all. Face your fears. To do anything else is inexcusable. She steeled herself and took the driver’s hand, letting him help her out of the car. Behind her, Liam was already on his feet.

He nodded at the door. “Remember what I said.”

One text and he’d get her out of there. She nodded. “Thanks.” And then there was nothing left for her to stall with. She squared her shoulders and walked into Slingshot. Like before, it was completely deserted and, like before, she was struck by the wild fear that he’d invited her here to kill her.

Stop being an idiot. You invited him. Right. Maybe that would have actually put the power in her court…except he’d taken control of the situation the second the invitation left her lips. She’d arrived in his car to a place of his choosing at a time he picked. So much for leaving herself any bargaining power at all.

She followed the pretty blond hostess back into the depths of the restaurant. There, at the same table with his back to the wall, sat Dmitri. He stood as she approached and moved around to greet her. “Carrigan. You look as lovely as ever.” He pressed a kiss to her cheek. “I must admit I prefer you in color.”

“Dmitri.” She ignored the sideways compliment and took a seat in the chair he’d pulled out for her. “Thank you.”

“I was surprised to hear from you so soon.”

No, he wasn’t. He knew he’d given her the best offer she was going to get. But she smiled all the same. “You play coy so prettily.”

He chuckled. “And you’re too smart by half. How was your brother’s wedding?”

The memory of James at her back, whispering in her ear as he fucked her, swept over Carrigan. She reached for her water, hoping like hell that the low light hid her blush. “It went off without a hitch. Both he and Callie are very happy.”

“In addition to their being happy, they’ve managed to forge an alliance that will protect both their interests. A rare meeting of personal and professional.”

“You could say that.” She waited for the waiter to fill their wineglasses and melt back into the shadows around them before she continued. “That’s what you’re looking for with this arrangement, isn’t it?”

“An alliance, yes. A love match?” He shrugged and took a drink of his wine. “Such a thing only exists for fools and fairy tales.”

A cynical outlook, but she didn’t blame him. It was one she shared, after all. Her mind tried to shy away to the thought of James again, but she forced herself to stay focused on the present. James wasn’t here. He’d never be here, never be the man across the table from her, never be able to offer her what Dmitri was. Even if he had…she couldn’t accept. Not without restarting a war that they’d all been working so hard to put to bed. Carrigan was selfish, but she wasn’t that selfish.