Page 3 of The Celtic Resolution
Then, one man steps forward.
A man with thick, sweeping brown hair on top of his head, golden skin and piercing blue eyes. A man I recognize.
Bile rises in my throat the second we lock eyes, and a surge of hot fury makes my arms shake.
Nofuckingway.
Bruno Del Prete bought me.
The verybastardwho put me here in the first place!
2
SAOIRSE
6 months earlier
“Is that really what you call a disguise? Honestly, Sis, I expected better from my underboss.” My brother, Cormac, approaches me with his trademark easy smile and takes my outstretched hand. “I’d recognize you a mile away.”
“That’s because you saw me getting ready, asshole,” I snap lightly, shoving my elbow gently into his side as we hug. “Seeing my mask beforehand makes it easy to pick me out of a crowd, don’t you think?”
On cue, the crowd of elegantly dressed, masked guests around us surge with the flow of the music. We could be shoulder to shoulder with our greatest enemy and have no clue. Rocky Barati chose a masquerade ball as his way of announcing his engagement to Sarah Cogs. An interesting move on the surface, but I’m fairly certain it’s his way of ensuring those who don’t want to be spotted by Sarah can attend without facing the sharp eye of the law. A Mafia prince marrying a police detective is an unusual match made in heaven. But just a glimpse of themshows anyone how in love they are, and no one dares to mess with Rocky. Not these days.
“Okay, okay.” Cormac laughs. “But how did you know this was me?” He adjusts the black and gold silk mask that hugs his eyes, then slides his fingers up to the cluster of gold feathers rising from the top. “Was it the color?”
“Yes,” I say with mock seriousness. “As soon as I saw black and gold, I instantly knew it was you.”
“Really?”
“No, idiot.” Another nudge with my elbow, and we start walking through the masked crowd. “I got ready with Evelyn and I saw her kissing you. So unless she’s cheating on you, which we both know she would never do, it was pretty easy to work out that it was you.”
“Ah.” Cormac chuckles. “I thought I’d get a chance to fuck with you.”
“Sorry, nothing gets past me.”
“Are you sure about that?” Despite the mask covering half his face, I can tell he’s waggling his eyebrows.
“Yes, I’m sure. Now, shouldn’t you be with that gorgeous wife of yours?”
“I should, but she’s congratulating Sarah and I’m on the search for Rocky.”
“He’s in red, by the way.” Our lazy path takes us to the open bar where I order two drinks with a wave of my hand. “Very dashing, if I do say so myself.”
“You’ve seen him?” Cormac turns to face me as he leans against the bar. “How did you work him out? Don’t tell me you also got ready with Sarah.”
“No. He has a very distinct way of walking. When we spoke earlier, he tried very hard to put on an accent, but Rocky is the most relaxed family head I have ever met, and a mask and accent can’t hide that.”
“True.”
Within seconds, two scotches are placed next to us. Picking up my glass, we knock them together and drink while observing the gorgeous party before us. Rocky has gone all out creating such an extravagant event.
The manor is exquisitely decorated with glittering crystal chandeliers, colorful streamers gracefully flowing down from the ceiling, a full orchestra playing graceful music, and tables filled with animals made from glass and more feathers than anyone can count. I feel for the cleaning crew later. Hundreds of people dance and laugh, drink and eat as if they’re old friends. There is no bad blood here tonight, no Irish or Italian or Russian. Everyone is hidden behind a mask, and so far, everyone is honoring Rocky’s request to have one good night of fun.
“Who would have thought Rocky Barati would be the one to bring so many different families together in one place?” Cormac remarks quietly.
“I bet Matteo is seething.” I chuckle behind my glass. “Russians in my house? Eating my food?”
“Back in my day, we shot them before they ever reached the property!” Cormac joins in the imitation with a snort of laughter. “It’s nice to see, though. These past few years have been rough, and I’m holding out hope that this peacefulness continues.”
