Page 19 of Arranged Devotion
But Finn knows me too well. He relaxes like he thinks he’s got me, which he most definitely does not.
“The Corrigan girl’s tight with her family. Her father thinks she’ll do it for him, and if she refuses, well—“ Finn shrugs like that’s no big deal, there are ways to force a girl into marriage.
Which is true. There definitely are.
But the idea sends my pulse rocketing. The thought of Martin Corrigan forcing Regan into a marriage she doesn’t want makes me want to commit some heinous, bloody crimes.
Which is bad. I shouldn’t care at all. The Liam of yesterday sure as shit wouldn’t.
I school my expression with a lot of effort.
“And you want me for this… because I’m the marrying type? You think I’d make a good husband?”
“Fuck no.” He grins at me. “But I think you’d try anyway. Despite the way you act, I know how you operate. You’ll take care of her, even if you don’t love her. I’m not worried about that.”
“She might be though.”
“That’s not the issue. I know I’m asking a lot right now. Getting into an arranged marriage—“ He runs a hand through his hair. “It’s a lot, I know, but you’ll instantly sit at the center of the Whelan operation. Like I said, you don’t have to do it, but if you do—“ He leaves that hanging.
It’s tempting. I’m always honest, even with myself. Most of the time. And I have to say, I want this. Finn’s shown me nothing but respect and friendship since the day we met, and I know his whole family are a bunch of utter psychopaths, but loyal and decent as far as that goes. This would be a huge step up, a graduation into the big leagues. I’d become a true member of the upper crust, those mobsters, politicians, business leaders, and rich dicks who run the world and keep everyone crushed and flattened under their bootheels, in a way I’d never be able to otherwise.
But this isRegan.
The girl from the night before. Uncertain, afraid, weirdlygood. Watching her unravel—first when she spraypainted the car and again when I fucked her into pure gooey submission—was maybe the highlight of my life.
I could have that on the daily.
“Sorry, but I can’t.” I finish my coffee, letting it burn my throat, and push out of the booth.
“Think about it. We have a few days before Martin wants a reasonable proposition. If it’s not you, it’ll be someone else—“ He gives me a serious, probing look. “And I want it to be you.”
How can I explain to him? It’s not just the marriage thing, which is bad enough, but the girl is the actual problem. Someone else, anyone else, and I could say yes. Some random woman who won’t grab my attention at all would be ideal. I could ascend into the upper ranks and act like there’s not a warm body waiting for me back home.
I can’t see me behaving that way with Regan.
Which is why it’s got to be no.
“You know me, Finn. I’m a bachelor until the day my dick doesn’t work anymore.”
“That’ll be a long time. This isn’t about your dick though. Think about it some more. And while you’re at it, figure out what that Kieren fucker took and how bad things are right now.”
I give him a mock salute. “I’ll do my job, don’t you worry, boss.”
“Yeah, I know.” He looks back down at his paper. “Caroline sends her regards, by the way. She was talking about you yesterday.”
“Yeah? Complimentary?”
“Not really.”
“Roger that.” I shove my hands in my pockets and leave him there.
Back on the sidewalk. The city moving all around. These average people barely aware they’re muck, and I was given a chance to crawl out of the filth and into a better world.
The price though?
Way too high.
CHAPTER 5
