Page 26 of Shattered Veil

God, this is awful. I plaster a smile on my face as I approach the table, drawn in by Balor’s stare.

I give my head a shake to communicate:Please don’t say anything. Please!

“Mr. O’Rourke,” the name ominously slides off my father’s tongue. “This is my jewel. Estella.”

Thrusting my hand toward him to play the part, I say tonelessly, “Nice to meet you, Mr. O’Rourke.”

My robotic, flat greeting draws a frown from both him and my father.

“Same here,Estella.”

“Ella.” I roll my eyes. “I go by Ella.”

Eventually, I’ll have to explain why I have a different last name.

Always cautious about anti-separatists and KGB loyalists, Dad wanted me to have my mother’s last name. Reyes.

With a dry throat, I search the table for water and grab a glass. Like I just ran a marathon, I chug the water, some of it dripping down my chin. I grab a cloth napkin to wipe my mouth and find Balor O’Rourke staring at me.

Any hope of un-seeing this stunning man naked in that hotel room vanishes. He broke his rule and let me run my lips across every warm inch of skin and all his ripplingmuscles. He’s tall, but not bulky, just lean as hell.

It’s all I see, and I want to see it again.

And never will because he’s my boss.

I put down the glass and follow my father’s lead when he holds out one of the wooden seats across from Balor. He’s perched inside the banquette seat against the brick wall, with an unobscured view of the entire restaurant.

Of course, a mafia boss doesn’t sit with his back to strangers.

Balor’s stare weighs on me as I lower into the chair. His heavy-lidded gaze carries the secret of how he held me down to suck his cock. Again, and again.

“Ella!” He jumps up and points. “Sit on the banquette seat with me, please.”

“What?” I ask, my heart pounding.

“I don’t want your back exposed,” he murmurs.

Dad smiles. “You are very wise. Thank you for considering her safety.”

“My pleasure,” he growls, frowning at me.

He’s angry because he thinks I’m a hooker who’s lying to my father.

It sparks a chuckle in my throat.

“Something funny,” Balor says, low and warning-like.

Something will be.

He steers me to the seat and his touch sends goosebumps across my skin.

“Nothing,sir,” I drawl and his expression turns volcanic.

CHAPTER TEN

Ella

Awaitress comes to the table, all smiles and drooling over Balor. “Can I get you started with some drinks?”