Page 82 of Shattered Veil

“And her father works for you, too?”

“They came as a package deal before I realized who shewas. And considering what I did to her...”

“Do you think her father would object to you dating her?”

“Dating,” I scoff and wave to my brothers. “Have you not figured out that O’Rourke men don’t date? Theypossess.”

“So be different.” She nudges me. “I can tell you like her. You didn’t blink an eye approving her shopping spree. And I saw just now how you looked at her.”

“Why are you watching me?”

“Maybe looking for the signs.” She shrugs.

“Signs?”

“Of how a man who’s crazy about a woman is supposed to look at her.” Her tone worries me.

She’s isolated working in East Hampton. She can marry whoever she wants. Kieran refuses to arrange a marriage for her. But her last name must give many men pause. And those who want to marry her because of who she is, is not someone she would want.

I don’t tell her that I know all about her and Archer Crest because she’ll never forgive me for spying on her. And that I know it’s over between them and he broke her heart. Something else I can’t share with anyone because I really only talk to my brothers, and they’ll kill him.

“It will happen, Shea. When you least expect it,” I say, wanting her to have hope, and then I kiss her on the cheek.

Smiling, her eyes widen as she lets out an, “Uh oh...”

“What?” I follow her gaze, and fury consumes me seeing Ella in the arms of another man.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Ella

Ilet Geoff Bracken take my arm and lead me onto the dancefloor.

Even if it meant letting my father introduce me to a man I don’t want, I was coming to the gala if Balor would be here.

Dad already frowned at me datinga cop,who many already think are too violent. But he held back theI told you sowhen I showed up at his apartment, broken and terrified.

Not that polished rich men don’t hurt women. Domestic violence knows no boundaries.

Balor made a point to tell me he wasn’t one of those men. That heand his brotherswere dead set against mistreating women.

Shoving his dick into my mouth and coming all over my face aside.

Geoff runs a hedge fund, according to my dad in the blatant setup disguised as a casual introduction.

I smile, waxing on about living in Australia for six months and teaching special-needs kids there. He wrinkles his nose, figuring out he’s dancing with a working-class girl and not a princess looking for a prince.

God, I miss Balor, but he greeted me so coldly before. I overstepped the other day, watching him shower. He may have been teaching me a lesson, but I loved it. I want us to play more like that. I made it clear that I’m not looking for anything serious.

After a few more minutes of Geoff’s grating voice and self-boasting, I’m sick and thinking how I can escape him.

A deep voice sails over my shoulder. “I believe that woman belongs to me.”

Geoff’s eyes widen and he swings me around. “Excuseme?”

“Your dance partner.” Balor stuns in his new jet-black, double-breasted tux. “She belongs to me.”

“O’Rourke, is it?” Geoff’s snippy tone signs his death warrant.