Page 54 of Royal Deception
The room is thick with tension as Lucky, Liam, Kellan, and I sit around the dining table, papers and notes scattered between us. The overhead light casts harsh shadows, reflecting the storm brewing in all of us. The gala is days away, and the Russians have been oddly quiet lately, but we’re still left in the dark on the specifics.
“Any word?” Kellan asks, his eyes scanning the notes, looking for something, anything, that could give us an edge. His fingers tap against the table, antsy with the weight of the unknown.
“No,” I answer, dragging a hand over my jaw. “But we know they’re coming. They won’t sit this out. They have to be planning something big.”
Lucky stands by the window, his arms crossed over his chest, tension radiating off him. He’s usually the first one to cut through the bullshit, but today, we’re all in the dark together.
“I don’t like this,” Liam mutters, leaning back in his chair, folding his arms like he’s been doing it for years. “We need to figure out what they’re going to do. We know they’re going to target the gala, but how?”
I nod, biting back my frustration. The silence from the Russians is more dangerous than anything. It means they’re waiting for the right moment.
But my focus drifts to Clary, sitting across the room on the couch. She’s not involved in the conversation, but something feels off about her. She seems tired, subdued. The tension in her posture is unmistakable, her legs curled up under her like she’s trying to curl in on herself. Her gaze flickers toward me a few times, but she doesn’t engage so I don’t push it.
Once our meeting is over, my brothers file out one by one. I turn back to Clary, making my way over to her.
“You okay?” I ask, my voice softer than I’d intended.
She looks up at me, but there’s a distance in her eyes like she’s not fully here. “I’m fine,” she says, her voice quiet.
I frown. “You’ve been off lately,” I say, my gaze locking with hers. “What’s going on?”
She stiffens, her eyes darting away. The resistance is clear. It’s frustrating, and something inside me snaps.
“I’m fine, Rory,” she says, her voice devoid of emotion, but the tremor in her voice betrays her.
I step closer, lifting her chin so she can meet my gaze. “I know something is going on with you and I want to know what.”
She hesitates, and then it’s like a wall goes up. She shrugs me off, the familiar distance falling between us like it’s always been there.
“I said I’m fine,” she mutters, avoiding my gaze.
That’s it. I can’t let it go. I step back, the weight of the night pressing on my shoulders. “Fine,” I say, my voice cool. “But you don’t get to behave like a brat and get away with it. Come, you’re going to kneel next to me while I work.”
She doesn’t argue. She knows better than that.
I lead her to my study, pushing her down onto her knees to kneel on the pillow next to me as I get to work. The hours dragon, the only sounds in the room the clatter of my keyboard and her occasional sigh.
The tension is unbearable, and I can feel it hanging over us like a cloud. But she doesn’t say anything.
Finally, I stop typing, leaning back in my chair, my gaze shifting to her. She hasn’t moved much, other than occasionally stretching out. “Clary,” I say, pulling her up to sit in my lap. “Have you learned your lesson, Pet?”
“I’m sorry I talked back to you,” she says, not looking me in the eye. “I’m okay,” she adds. “I promise. I’m just worried about the gala. I want everything to go right for you.”
“Don’t worry about that,” I say, placing a curled finger under her chin to bring her mouth up to mine so I can give her a soft kiss. “I’ve got it under control. The Brannagans have always come out on top.”
Her eyes flicker with something—doubt, maybe—but she nods.
The next morning,the heavy tension of the previous night is still hanging in the air, but I push it aside as I dive headfirst into work. It’s all I can do to focus on something else—anything else.
When Callie arrives for the final meeting on the gala’s security, I force myself to be professional. Finn stands by the door, his posture alert, eyes scanning the room a little too often. I study him for a moment, noticing the way his eyes glance at Callie every so often.
I’ve never seen Finn look at a woman twice. Not since he lost Maura all those years ago. But the way he’s looking at her now reminds me of the way he used to look at Maura, back when Iwas little. I frown, hoping he’s not letting anything get in the way of doing his duty.
With a shake of my head, I push the thought down. Finn’s a good guy. I trust him. And Callie? She’s a client. That’s all. Nothing more.
“Good morning,” Callie greets, her tone cool and businesslike. She’s dressed in a sleek black blazer, sleeves pushed up to the elbows, her black hair pulled back in a tight ponytail. She gives off a vibe that reminds me of a femme fatale, like she’s ready to cut the throat of anyone who second-guesses her. It makes me smile.
I nod, gesturing to the conference table where I’ve laid out the final plans for her gala. “Let’s go over the final details,” I say, my voice low as I keep my attention on the documents spread in front of me.
