Page 31 of Arranged Obsession
Cormac is a nightmare. I’ve been asking around about him, but being as subtle as I can. Everything I’ve learned only makes him sound worse. He’s the Whelan Clan’s Ghostman, their personal assassin and killer. He makes their problems disappear.
His methods are brutal. Apparently, strangling is his favorite technique. Most of his victims are found with their windpipes lovingly crushed. Assuming a body is found at all.
Mostly they just disappear.
He’s cold and heartless. They say he has no emotions, that he’s a psychotic murderer who revels in blood and misery.
And there I was, throwing myself at him in the garden just to get a smell.
Adriano would’ve killed me if he had found out how reckless I was acting.
I wish I hadn’t done it because now I know.
For the past seven years, Cormac Whelan’s been breaking into my suite and stealing little trinkets.
He’s my ghost.
But I still don’t know why. I can’t figure out how we’re connected. Adriano says our family has done very little business with the Whelans over the years, and I’ve never been in the same room with any of them as far as he knows. I’ve racked my brain for days trying to figure out how Cormac could possibly have found me and why he would want to keep floating into my life.
At least he’s not here today. I asked around, and apparently, nobody has seen him. The man’s such a monster, he’s skipping his own brother’s wedding.
It’s strange, but maybe it’s better this way.
I don’t want Cormac around. I’m terrified that after I marry Finn, he’ll keep on stealing from me.
I’m scared it’ll get worse.
But I can’t tell anyone. The fallout might be horrible. Right now, I’m just marching forward, hoping everything magically resolves itself.
“Just one more,” Lucy says, topping up my glass. “Here’s to marriage. You’re going to be happy here, Bianca. You’ve always been so strong.”
“I hope you’re right.” We touch glasses, and I flinch when the door opens again. The planner’s there, looking slightly aggrieved.
“Sorry, ladies, but it’s time.” She touches her earpiece, frowning into the distance. Her frown deepens, and her voice lowers, clearly talking to someone else. “Are you sure? Seriously? But—” She listens for a second. “Right. Okay.” She looks at me and gestures with the biggest, fakest smile I’ve ever seen in my life. “They’re ready for you. We should, ah, hurry.”
Something feels off, but it doesn’t matter. There are a few hundred gangsters, rich people, and politicians waiting out in the ballroom. The show must go on.
I get up and take a deep breath. Slowly, I blow it out. “I can do this.”
“You can definitely do this.” Lucy hugs me tightly. I’m suddenly so grateful she agreed to be my maid of honor. Most of my friends work at Grace House, but there’s no way I’d ever subjectthem to this part of my life. Which leaves Lucy. She’s wonderful, and at least she understands better than anyone else could.
I walk in a haze out into the hallway. More staff are lingering around. I catch a few strange looks from them, but nobody speaks to me. Lucy gives me another hug before she’s ushered out toward the aisle. I lose sight of her as she turns the corner.
“Are you going to run away?” Adriano appears at my side. I should be pissed at him since he’s the reason I’m in this mess, but I’m suddenly grateful he’s there.
“Tempted. Would you let me?”
“For a little bit, but you wouldn’t get far in those shoes.”
I lift up my dress slightly and peer at the heels. “You’d be surprised. I could sprint the hundred in ten seconds in these bad boys.”
“The heel would snap.”
“Even better. Make it nine-point-five then.”
I slip my arm through his. He lightly pats my hands. “It’ll be okay. I promise. I’m not going to send you out here and just abandon you.”
“You fucking better not.”
