Page 100 of Ruthless Secrets
“Thank you for the offer, but I have some other business to take care of.”
“That wasn’t a suggestion.”
I consider pushing, but then I catch the look on Cillian’s face and sit right back down.
He whistles through his teeth, and a waitress instantly appears, wearing something that resembles lingerie.
I keep my eyes averted, not wanting to stick my foot in something that is none of my business. The sooner I get a drink in my hand, the sooner I can get out of here.
“Two whiskys, neat. And none of that cheapshite.” Cillian flashes her a wink before slapping her on the ass. It’s anything but affectionate, though the girl does a good job at hiding her repulsion with a smile.
“Of course, sir.”
As the waitressbusies herself behind the bar, Cillian leans back in his seat and reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a cigar. His eyes never leave mine as he puts the cigar between his lips and lights it.
"Lemmegiveyesome advice and listen close.” He takes along drag on his cigar, then exhales, enveloping both of us in a cloud of smoke. “I knewyerfather, and I respected the way he ran things. He understood power.”
“That he did.”
The waitress appears and sets down two glasses of whisky. I pick mine up but wait to take a sip until Cillian does.
“So, tell me…why the hell are you and Andre pissin’ all over that?”
I have to fight the sudden urge to smash my glass over Cillian’s head. “We like to do things differently.”
“Guys like Alfonzo and Tommaso? They don’t respect words. They don’t respect deals. They respectfear. The only way to stop ‘em from walkin’ all overyeis to make ‘em terrified of what happens if they do.”
Cillian takes another long drag on his cigar as I down my drink.
“I appreciate your help, but I really have to get going.” I don’t want to spend another second in this man’s company if I don’t have to.
Cillian runs his index finger around the rim of his glass, his eyes fixed on me as I stand up to leave. "You’ll be hearin’ from me.”
I rebutton my jacket. “I look forward to it.”
As I walk out of The Bloody Harp, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m going to regret this deal.
Chapter Twenty-Three
CLARA
They saythe way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, so I’ve decided to cook Marco dinner. Not only am I hoping it will help put him in a better mood, but that it will also give us a good opportunity to talk.
Rosa turns out to be an encyclopedia of facts when it comes to all things Marco and food. She gives me a list of a few different options for me to choose from, and I settle on one that fits my skill level.
I’m not usually one for cooking, but I’m hoping it will give me something to do with my hands and help distract me from my spiraling thoughts until Marco gets home.
I managed to spend most of the day with Rosa, which kept me busy, but after she ignored the fifth incoming call from one of her friends, I insisted she didn’t need to keep me company any longer.
Once I’ve put Zoe down for the night, I head into the kitchen to get started on dinner. I have no idea when Marco is due to be home, but I’ll wait all damn night for him if I have to.
If we have any hope of making a relationship workbetween us, then we’re going to have to start learning to communicate.
It’s almost nine p.m. by the time the front door opens, and heavy footsteps cross over the threshold. The dinner has been ready for hours, and I’ve been keeping it warm on the stove, so it’s looking a lot less appetizing than it once did.
I turn off the stove. “Marco?”
The footsteps halt, and I quickly dart out of the kitchen to catch him before he has a chance to disappear.
