Page 96 of Bound Lies

Ronan chuckles, and I relax a little as some of the tension disappears from his shoulders.

I’m used to seeing my brother tense, but ever since Ciara came into the picture, it’s gotten so much worse. God only knows what he’ll be like when the twins arrive.

“Anyway, I should go.” He finishes off his drink and sets the empty glass down. “Oh, and, Kieran?”

“Yeah?”

“Be careful.”

I frown. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You know exactly what it means.” He nods toward the stairs. “Sleeping with her, living with her, it blurs the lines between work and pleasure. What I just walked in on? That’s exactly the kind of mess I’m talking about.”

My jaw clenches. “Don’t.”

“Kieran—”

“I said don’t. I don’t need a lecture right now. I’m already getting enough of those from Riley.”

“I’m not lecturing you. I’m telling you to keep your head straight. Sean O’Keefe murdered our father, and the woman he was planning on marrying is now bound to you. That’s not a betrayal he’ll take lightly.”

I scoff. “I’m not scared of O’Keefe.”

“Maybe you should be, that way you won’t go around initiating reckless shootouts.”

“You’re seriously bringing this up again?” I climb to my feet, snatching up my empty glass and going over to the cart to refill it. I don’t bother offering another to Ronan.

“This doesn’t end until someone ends up in the ground, and as much as you can piss me off, I don’t want it to be you.”

“You’re really showering me with brotherly love today.” I knock back a shot and pour another. “Regardless of Sean, what I do with Riley in the meantime is between me and her.”

I glance over my shoulder at Ronan.

His face is a cold mask.

“I’m not cleaning up this mess when it all goes to shit.” He walks over to the elevator.

The house is quiet after he leaves, and I’m halfway to the stairs before I freeze in my tracks.

I shouldn’t have said what I did to Riley, but seeing her in that dress without her ring on made me lose my goddamn mind.

Jealousy is not something I am used to feeling, and it’s eating me alive. But not because I think she’s going to cheat.

It’s because I know she doesn’t owe me anything beyond our agreement, and that kills me.

Chapter Twenty-Two

RILEY

“You missed such a fun night!” Lucy says the second she answers my call the next morning.

I sigh, rolling onto my stomach and propping my phone up against the pillows. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t come.”

I might not have gone out drinking last night, but I sure as hell feel like I did from how badly my head is pounding.

I really need to start stocking some food and water bottles in my room if I’m planning on locking myself away in here for hours at a time.

“For once, I actually believe you.” She laughs. “I’m honestly surprised the cops didn’t show up to shut the thing down; it got that crazy.”