Page 86 of Shattered Veil
But right now, Ella isn’t my wife or fiancée, not even my girlfriend. She’s a woman I fucked who’s now my employee and that’s what they’ll see. My staffismy business. I don’t follow rules anyway.
While Ella doesn’t appear afraid, I decide to pass on introductions to the members of my family she hasn’t met.
“Wait here, please,” I say, stopping at the edge of the dancefloor near the lobby doors.
Her eyes stray over my shoulder. Nodding, she gets that I’m saying goodbye to my brothers without her, but she doesn’t call me out on it.
“I need to get my purse from Dad’s table and use the ladies’ restroom,” she says, light and breezy.
Nodding, I lean in and kiss her cheek. “I will come find you, if—”
“Balor,” she breathes, sounding desperate for me. “I want this more than you know.”
That stiffens my cock like iron.
I squeeze her hand. “Good, because I’m fucking you all night until you beg me to stop.”
Her jaw drops at my blunt words. “Not face down this time?”
“No. Go get your things.” I wink at her.
When she turns and struts away, I stride across the dancefloor, heading straight for Kieran.
He’s the only man I feel any obligation to explain myself.
“A word,” I utter to him, his eyes locked on me when I approach him.
“Of course.” He shows his unwavering respect for me, given my contribution to our empire.
“I’m leaving. I’m taking a woman home with me.” I raise my chin. “Snow’s daughter. The assistant who works for me.”
His right eyebrow raises. “Does her father know?”
“I don’t care.”
“You should care if you think he’s dangerous.”
“I’m not worried what he can do. I’ll make sure he doesn’t hurt us. Trust me.”
“I trust you with everything we have, Balor. You know that, right?” Kieran’s trust weighs heavily on me.
“And if we take down Snow, I want Ella with me, at my side. No prejudices.” I glare at him.
“You won’t have any from me.” He stands at his full height.
“I don’t care for long drawn-out goodbyes.”
“You do the Irish exit better than any of us.” He grips the back of my neck. “Have yourself a good night.”
“I plan to.”
After tossing nods to anyone at the tables looking my way, my eyes search for Ella. I stop, seeing her speaking to Jillian and Eoghan near the bar.
Eoghan fists a whiskey, and it’s the first time his hands have been on anything except Jillian’s ass. She’s pregnant and sips from a tumbler of sparkling water.
Without any tension from the day they met, it pleases me the way Ella smiles and laughs with them. Whatever the hell they’re talking about.
Joining them, I immediately slide my hand around Ella’s waist, catching Jillian’s eyes.