Page 81 of Bartered Innocence

My phone goes off and I pull it out. Grimacing at the text, I hand it over to show Declan and then Aodhan. “Luca just set the date for his annual holiday ball. He wishes us to attend so we can talk. Can we have everything set up in two weeks?”

Aodhan lets out a whistle. “Everyone important will be attending the gala. He’s sure he wants to risk us coming even when you won’t pick up his calls? But then there’s still the possibility that he's not responsible for the shooting.”

I scowl. “Doesn’t matter if he is or isn’t. Someone shot at my wife, and his men are going to pay for it.”

Cormac leans back in his chair. “We have most of the names, just gotta match them with their faces. I can pull back a few more men we sent to Chicago.”

“Do it. We want it to go off as smoothly as possible,” I say and turn to Declan. “Set up the meeting with Hastings and tell Aisling she’s being put in play.”

Chapter33

Isabelle

I takemy curlers out and brush through my hair with my fingers. I’ve never gotten done up to this extent before. Rian had offered to have someone come and do my makeup and hair, but I wanted the time to myself. I can’t seem to look away from the mark etched on my finger, seeing it in flashes in the mirror as I go through my routine. When I think about the shared tattoo of the brotherhood, a startling warmth settles inside me that Rian wanted one between the two of us. It solidifies my decision to stop fighting this, stop fighting us and the inevitable direction our marriage is going. He may have forced me into this, but I think I know deep within me that if it was anyone but him, I would have fought harder.That I want to be a part of this family more than anything else.

A throat clearing draws my attention away from my thoughts and I lock gazes with Rian, who is leaning against the doorframe. I stand, and his eyes roam over every inch of me as I walk toward him. Deirdre laid out a dark green fitted satin dress; the lace corset sucks my waist in and pushes my breasts up. It makes me feel like a princess, or perhaps…a queen.

“Exquisite,” he says, his fingertips pressing against his lips. I could say the same about him in his suit. It’s black this time, unlike the stunning dark green he wore at our wedding.

I smile, giving him a small twirl. “You like?”

He shakes his head. “I love. I’ll be fighting off every man for looking at you.”

A blush blooms on my cheeks as I wave off his comment, but he grabs my wrist, pulling me closer.

“I have something for you before we leave.”

My eyes widen. “Diamonds?”

Rian blinks in surprise. “No, but now that I know you would appreciate jewelry, I’m never going to stop.”

“What girl doesn’t love a little something nice?” I say with a smile. I’m only teasing, but I’m sure he’ll go overboard with his promise.

Rian kisses me softly. “I just figured you couldn’t wear it much in the kitchen.”

His words make my heart skip a beat, something so simple but that means everything to me. That he knows me that well to think like that.

I swallow the emotions climbing in my throat. “You’re right.”

He kisses me again before pulling away and blowing out a breath. “Give me a minute and then meet me in the foyer.”

I watch him leave, confused, as nerves course through my skin. Rian has been busy the last couple of weeks, and when I questioned him about it, I was stunned when he actually explained they were planning to accept the invitation to Luca’s charity gala. I know it’s going to be a huge show of mafia macho bullshit, but after what happened in the restaurant, I don’t care. I’ll do what’s asked of me and stand at his side while making an appearance.

Figuring he’s had enough time, I spritz my perfume a couple times and leave the bedroom. Each step down the spiral staircase weighs heavily on my chest as I slowly descend. Adrenaline hums just under my skin like a live wire.

When I come to the landing between the floors, the small crowd waiting at the bottom turns to watch me. My husband is on the last step, his hand outstretched for me. I grip the railing harder, staring back at the people Rian trusts beyond any doubt. People who have each other’s back without question. People who would die for each other. The unwavering loyalty is etched in stone on their expressions. Abrotherhoodbuilt by choice, an unbreakable bond outside the vows of made menand the spilt blood between them.

Cillian is the first to kneel on one knee as I take the first step to continue down. It stops my breath, and my eyes dart to Rian. He nods, waving me forward with a small crook of his fingers. Then Aodhan kneels when I take the next step down. A sob catches in my throat; I feel overwhelmed by their acceptance.

Cormac follows and I exhale a shaky breath as I continue. My hand curls around Rian’s as I reach him. He smiles softly at me, pulling me into his body, and picks me up to skip the last step before setting me on the floor. I don’t recognize the others besides the three men that have become a part of my daily routine, but they’re all kneeling regardless.

Rian’s hand rests on my lower back as he pushes me forward to stand before them.

He grabs my hand, facing it out to show the tattoo to the small group gathered in our foyer. “Many of you know that I took a wife a few months ago, and it had been an arrangement of peace between the Italians and us. They’ve broken that peace, but Isabelle is my wife above all else. And this is the proof of her loyalty to me, to the brotherhood!”

A chorus of shouts echo around us and my cheeks heat. I’ve never wanted to be the center of attention. Rian wraps his arms around me, pulling me into his chest and resting his hand on my stomach. I shiver at the intimacy of it and the allusion of what will come soon enough.

“Ready to join the brotherhood, my queen?”

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