Page 35 of Dirty Legacy

“That doesn’t make any sense. We had sex like almost two months ago.”

“There’s a lot about my life you don’t know, angel, and I don’t have time to explain everything.”

“You can’t blow past this.”

“My relationship with Sinead was platonic. We were arranged to marry each other by our families. She won’t miss me and I won’t miss her.”

“Arranged? Seriously?”

“I told you, there’s a lot you don’t understand.”

Pieces begin to drift together. His low, menacing tone coalesces.

He’s in trouble.

“Look, I don’t know what’s happening right now… I don’t know what your deal is with this Sinead woman… but I’m not going to break up your marriage. No way.”

“Angel, darling, I’m trying to do this the right way. I’m trying to be patient. But people are going to start looking for me soon, and they can’t find me until after you’ve said your vows and Father Charles has made it official. Otherwise, they’ll make sure we never see each other again, and I’m wed to that other woman.”

“This is crazy.”

“I know. I’ll make it make sense soon. What you need to know is you are going to marry me, right here, right now, whether you want to or not. You can do it easy or you can do it hard. Father Charles is prepared for both options.”

“A priest is going to let you force me to marry you? That’s not possible.”

“It’s real. It’s happening. I don’t want to make you, but I will. This is for your protection, angel. This is for our child’s safety.”

“You keep saying that, but I don’t understand.”

He releases my hair reluctantly and puts his hands on my thighs. I hold his eyes, terrified. He’s so close I could kiss him. His breath is warm and his body is enormous. We’re at equal level, and I’m so afraid, but no part of me thinks he’s going to hurt me.

“Sinead’s family. They won’t allow a child of my blood to survive for long, not unless it’s also Sinead’s child.”

I stiffen and shove his hands off me. “Someone’s going to hurt our baby?”

“That’s what I’m trying to tell you, angel. I don’t want to scare you, but unless I’m married to you, they will make sure I go through with my arrangement, and they will ensure only my children with Sinead can act as my rightful heirs.”

“Which means they’ll kill my baby,” I whisper, whole body ringing with the absurdity of this situation. “You’re talking like… like… you’re some ancient Roman lord or something.”

“That’s exactly what I am.” He rocks back and stands.

Connor looks like a prince in that suit. He looks like a god. His eyes are sharp and gorgeous, his lips full and soft and pressed into a hard line, his muscular body poised and graceful. He could break me in half, there’s so much power in his massive shoulders.

I want to scream… I want to kiss him… I want to get the hell out of here.

“Marry me, Angelina,” he says, holding out a hand. “I’ll protect you. I’ll keep our child safe, no matter what it costs, this I swear.”

I don’t believe him. His story is too bizarre and fantastic. But why would he make it up like this? Why would he be so desperate right now if it weren’t true?

“I can’t,” I choke out, fighting tears, unable to believe any of this is real.

In my world, life makes sense. There are rules. There are ways of doing things.

And this?

This is pure fiction.

Connor lets out a long breath. “The hard way it is.”