Page 59 of Shattered Hearts
Cian folds his arms, unamused. “I asked you first.”
“What are you, eight?” I shoot him a glare. “And it’s my room. Why wouldn’t I be in here?”
“Nix the theatrics,Riley.” Cian struts across the room and sits on the edge of Harper’s bed. “I know who you are.”
I want to deny him, but he’s called my bluff.
Even though Harper and I are identical, he somehow knows the counterfeit from the original.
Do they have some kind of intimate connection? I’m hesitant to think that’s the case. Harper’s always been so picky about guys. Plenty of them approach her, hoping to add her to their conquest wall, but she never goes for that. Basically, she doesn’t give men like Cian the time of day. And Cian’s the kind of man who could leave a club with five Harpers on his arm. On abadnight. On a good night…I digress.
I’m stressed, confused, on the verge of a breakdown. Time to take the gloves off.
“Howdo you know who I am?”
Cian scoffs, as though he considers my Harper performance straight-up trash.
“Fine.” I toss my hands up. “You caught me. Care to tell me how you figured it out?”
Though he’s careful to keep his expression neutral, a vein pulses in his neck. “Wasn’t hard to put two and two together. Atthe wedding, I realized you were, well, you. I don’t know what you’re playing at, but?—”
“WhatI’mplaying at?” Anger simmers in my blood. “In the last few days, my life has been turned upside down. I went to the wedding against my better judgment, was coerced into agreeing to pose as my sister for the ceremony and reception when she never showed, and now here we are. The last thing I ever wanted was to step foot in this godforsaken place again, but let’s just say I’ve had little choice in the matter. So don’t you dare accuse me of playing at anything.”
His brows knit together. “So Shane is forcing you to pose as Harper? For how long?”
“Pretty much…though I’d say it’s mainly my father’s doing. And your guess is as good as mine. Harper left a note that said ‘I’m sorry,’ so I get the impression she wasn’t too keen on marrying Finn.”
Something akin to relief flickers across Cian’s face. “Can’t really say that I blame her. They hardly knew each other.”
“Yeah, well, such is the way of the Mafia. Maybe she had enough and decided to leave…for good.” I don’t know why I’m telling him all this, but I don’t exactly have anyone else to talk to.
“Like you did.”
I nod. “I just hope she’s okay.”
“Have you called her?”
“Called and texted…several times, actually. She hasn’t replied.” How do I explain my relationship with my sister to this hardened enforcer? “We, umm…we’ve sort of drifted apart over the years. She’s probably fine and just doesn’t want to talk to me.”
At least, I pray that’s the case.
The sudden intensity in his eyes makes me squirm. “I hope so…that she’s all right, I mean.”
“You seem awfully concerned.”Isthere something going on between them?
“Of course I’m concerned. Why wouldn’t I be? I don’t want any harm to come to Harper any more than anyone else around here does.”
Hmm. “Fair enough. You still haven’t told me why you’re in her room, though.”
Cian offers a lazy half shrug. “Finn’s looking for you.”
Chapter 15
Finn
Reporting to Thomas Brennan takes all of five minutes. In most ways, it’s just like every other report I’ve ever given him, except this time, I have this near-overpowering itch to slam my fist into his face over and over, until my knuckles shatter.
I’m responsible for more than my fair share of bloodshed, but even I’m not far gone enough to miss how fucked up it is to sell your own daughter to a monster. I’m almost positive my father wasn’t aware. Lots of mafia families treat women worse than dogs, but Shane Gallagher has always been different. He loved my mother too much for that.