Page 25 of Bound Lies

I fold my arms over my chest, frowning. “I don’t follow.”

“Riley is risking everything by coming to us. She doesn’t have the luxury of double crossing anyone because she has nowhere else to go. If anyone has the upper hand here, it’s us.”

I pace a few steps, trying to burn off the frustration simmering under my skin. “You’re too trusting.”

“And you’re too suspicious. Besides, even if we didn’t need her, are we really the type of men to sit back and let her be married off to someone as toxic as Sean O’Keefe?”

“Maybe we should ask Ciara that question? She has experience in the arranged marriage department.”

“I’m being serious here, Kieran.”

“So am I.”

For a moment, we just glower at one another.

Sometimes, it feels like nothing has changed since the two of us were teenagers.

“This isn’t our problem, Ronan. If Rion wants to marry Riley off to O’Keefe, then let him.”

“That’s not going to happen because she’s not marrying Sean O’Keefe.”

I scoff. “Oh, right, of course.”

“She’s marrying you.”

“I’m sorry… What the fuck did you just say?”

“I want you to marry Riley.”

“And I want a brother who doesn’t make life-altering decisions without consulting me first, but we don’t always get what we want.”

Ronan runs a hand over his face. “Will you just stop fighting me for one damn second?”

He pushes off the wall and stalks toward me until we’re only inches apart, and I can see in his eyes that he’s deadly serious.

“I’m proposing a fake marriage between you and Riley.”

“All I’m hearing is the word marriage.”

Ronan closes his eyes for a moment and takes a deep breath.

I know I’m being an ass, but surely, he can’t expect me to just agree to this?

Fake or not, a marriage is still something I never planned on taking part in. Ever.

“By marrying you, it not only gets Riley out of the arrangement with Sean, but it also signals to him that we’re onto him. It’ll rattle him and give us the upper hand in taking him down.”

I’m completely dumbstruck by this plan.

“What about Brennan? They’re closer in age.”

“I don’t want Brennan; I want you.”

“Why don’t you ask Riley? I’m sure she’d choose Mr. Charming Smile over me anyway.”

“I’m not giving her the choice.”

“Ronan, this is insane. You seriously want me to marry this girl?”