Page 109 of Hook

My father’s jaw clenches. “I’ve apologized for not getting you out sooner, but it’s important that you and Piero get married and show a united front.”

I roll my eyes. “Important for who? You and your wallet?”

His jaw clenches. “I won’t argue with you about this, Gwendolyne.” He crosses his arms over his chest. “Before Hook took you, you were happy to marry Piero. Nothing should have changed.”

Everything has changed. I was kidnapped by my fiancé’s rival and I’m pregnant with his baby. It freaks me out the more I think about it, so I’ve been trying my best not to.

Not a great way to solve a problem, but I’ve never been good at solving anything. Perhaps that’s the result of my father making sure I never have to. All my life I’ve been wrapped in cotton wool and had everything done for me, something I never noticed until I was kidnapped.

“I won’t ask again. Get dressed for dinner and be in the living room in an hour.”

I glare at him but don’t reply. My instincts were right. I’ve walked from one prison into another. The question is which one was better?

I sigh as he slams my bedroom door behind him and force myself to my feet. The thought of sitting at a table with Piero and pretending like everything is okay makes me sick to the stomach, especially after I learned what he did to Cillian’s family.

He’s a murderer.

The thought presses heavily on my chest as I make my way to the bathroom. I shower and dress in an old pair of jeans and a T-shirt, despite knowing my father will expect me to make an effort with my appearance. I honestly couldn’t give a shit. I head toward the dining room, the sense of unease lingers in my bones, making it hard to breathe as I walk through the corridors.

When I reach the dining hall, my father and Piero are seated at the table. They both stand when I enter, but Piero speaks first.

“Gwendolyne! You look beautiful this evening.” He smiles, but there’s a predatory look in his eyes at the same time as his gaze roams the length of my body which is well covered by the baggy clothes.

I force a tight smile, even though I can feel my stomach churning with revulsion. This man is a killer and dishonorable and he thinks we can go back to what it was like before? The thought of marrying him makes me want to run in the opposite direction, but for now, I have to be civil.

I take my usual seat without a word, and my father and Piero sit, staring at me expectantly. What exactly they expect me to say after what happened, I don’t know. If they thought I’d be all sunshine and rainbows, then they’ll be disappointed.

“So, Gwendolyne,” Piero starts after a few moments of awkward silence. “How are you doing?”

I clench my jaw and meet those hazel eyes that used to intrigue me. “How do you think?” I snap back, unable to keep the sarcasm from my voice.

“I’m sorry we weren’t able to get you away from him sooner.”

Empty apologies. He had his chance, and he chickened out.

“Right, because you were too much of a coward to call Cillian’s bluff. I know for a fact he hadn’t called any of his men. You had him outnumbered, and you turned and fled.”

My dad stiffens. “What? You had the chance to rescue Gwendolyne and didn’t mention this to me?” His face reddens.

Piero remains unfazed by my accusation and my father’s face turning the color of beetroot. “It wasn’t important to mention since I failed.” He draws in a deep breath. “As for me being a coward, as you say, I couldn’t take the risk that he may have been telling the truth.”

Dad looks irritated. “You still should have told me. We’re supposed to be partners in all of this.”

There’s a flash of something concerning in Piero’s eyes, but it’s gone too quickly for me to evaluate it. A sense of dread sweeps over me like a freezing cold winter wind, making me shudder. If what Cillian says Piero did to him is true, then no one can trust this man, especially not me and my dad.

37

CILLIAN

Smyth stands before me, looking like he wants to puke. The rest of my senior men look equally pale.

“Spit it out, Smyth. What’s this meeting about?” I snap.

“Sir, it’s bad…”

“Just tell me!”

He moves forward with a piece of paper and passes it into my hand. “An informant on the inside gave us this, a transcript of a conversation he overhead between Piero and one of his men.”

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