Page 63 of Shattered Veil
“What do you mean, not working out?” Lachlan already sounds murderous. “Did he lay a hand on you?”
“No!” She slaps his arm. “He’s distracted lately. I think he’s having an issue with his wife. Look, don’t kill him, okay? Just assign him somewhere else.”
As if we’d trust a distracted guard with marital problems to protect anyone in the family. I doubt Lachlan, who manages all the guards, will kill Soren, but he’ll spend some time at the black site beingremindedof his life-long oath to protect us and keep our secrets.
“Take Trace,” I offer.
“No.” She noticeably stiffens. “When you sent him to back up my guard for the big party I hosted last summer, he...”
“He didwhat, Shea?” Lachlan tilts his head. “I was there. With Katya. You didn’t say anything.”
“Because I’m a big girl and I don’t need a guard,” Shea argues, eyes narrowed at Lachlan. “No one bothers me in East Hampton.”
“Youwillhave a guard, love.” Kieran stands to his menacing full height and gets serious with her. “Either that or your ass moves home to Astoria. They plan parties around here, too. If you’re going to live seventyfuckingmiles away from me—”
“Fine.” Shea backs down immediately.
Kieran rarely uses that tone with her. But it’s because he loves her. We all do.
We take a break and after each brother hugs and kisses our only sister, I hang back, her eyes finding mine in between the doses of adoration.
My brothers exit the room, leaving my sister and I alone. The meeting came to a halt when she arrived. We don’t talk business around Shea.
When we’re alone, she says, “Are you coming to the gala?”
“Aye.”
“Bringing a date?” she asks with her arms crossed.
My throat goes tight. “Um.”
She knows...
“Really, you’re not bringing this delightful bowl of sunshine?” She holds up her phone and shows me a photo of Ella with her stylist Erin.
“I haven’t asked her.”
“And she’s shopping with your credit card?” Shea adds.
My phone rings, and I don’t recognize the number. Setting my phone to ghost mode, I answer it. “Alo? Who is this?”
“B. O’Rourke?” A man says, using the name on the credit card I gave Ella.
This should be good.
“Aye. I mean yes.” I answer all kinds of security information when I assess this call is legit. “How much? Six hundred and twenty thousand?”
Shea gasps, reminding me she’s standing there.
The man on the phone mentions a few line items over one hundred grand classified: Jewelry.
I think this has to be some kind of joke. Or mistake. I can go into my account and reverse the charge. When I see Ella, I’ll find out what she bought. She may not even know she’s been charged this much.
“Sir?”
“Aye, that’s my assistant who’s mad at me. Put the charges through.”
“Assistant?” Shea asks, watching me put my phoneaway, ignoring the sweat on my brow.