Page 103 of Ruthless Dream

“I’ll be frank, I’d rather do business with you.”

Wallen wants to get closer to the O'Connells? If that’s the case, he must not know Ciaran took out one of his soldiers. Unless. . .

Ciaran had to have known Wallen was coming to this party days ago, but he only told me on our way over.

But Ciaran’s never liked Wallen. He killed Jack, and he makes a face anytime Wallen is mentioned.

He could be acting.

The thought strikes terror down my spine.

Wallen and Cormac were talking about Vegas. A place Ciaran just traveled to. I pull up the internet on my phone and search for Icarus Knight.

Pictures of not just one, but several, handsome men pop up. Along with a website for Knight and images of a casino.

All right, so he owns one of the largest casinos in Las Vegas. I’m not sure what the Knight family has done to piss off Cormac and Wallen, though.

Could this be a timely opportunity between the two men with similar interests? Or do Cormac and Wallen go further back?

I unlock my notes app and type down Knight. Now is not the time for more research, and I have several lines of inquiry that need investigating.

Like, how well do the O'Connells know Wallen? How well does Ciaran know Wallen. . .

The light in the butler’s pantry flicks on, and I nearly combust.

“You all right?”

Seamus frowns, his finger still on the light switch.

“S-sorry.” My hand tightens around my phone. I lift the champagne flute in my hand. “I grabbed this, and then my mom called.” I shake my head, hoping my smile isn’t suspicious. “I just ducked into. . .”

He shrugs slightly, taking my word for it before ducking out of the doorway. “She’s over here.”

Ciaran appears because, of course, he tracked me down. He shares an unreadable look with his cousin, who promptly walks away.

“What are you doing?” Ciaran asks, frowning at a bag of marshmallows. I’m not sure why he’s so judgmental. His own family is in charge of the grocery shopping.

“Mom called.”

“Adeline.” Ciaran eyes the phone in my hand, not for a second believing me. “Notes app again?”

My brow wrinkles at the way he says it. So casual, yet dismissive. A hint of disappointment.

“Hey!” I snap when he plucks my phone out of my hands like it’s nothing. He types in my code easily. “What the fuck!”

I don’t like how he easily claims the device like it’s a given he’ll get access to it, which he technically does, thanks to his hacking skills.

“Knight?” He frowns.

I grab my phone back. His hand is quick—wrapping around me before I can tug away.

“Christ, Adeline.” His head leans forward, his tone low. His uncle and Wallen walked away, but my heart ramps up at how cautious he is. “Stop being stupid.”

“W-what!” I struggle with the word, annoyed with how infuriated he sounds.

“Stop typing out little notes on your phone.” He squeezes my hand but lets go.

I clutch my phone to my chest. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”