“Of course,” Blair replies without even looking at me, her gaze remains fixed on Killian. “I would like to… work out how to introduce the two of you, Killian.”
“I’d like that,” Killian admits and his thumb skims over my knuckles. “We both would.”
The inclusion causes my heart to flutter and Blair’s posture stiffens.
“Perhaps one at a time then,” she says abruptly. “He’s shy.”
Of course, he is.
“We should organise this soon, right?” I prompt again. “Why wait, after all, Killian has already missed so much time.”
“Like I said,” Blair replies bristly, “he’s shy. I’m not going to move too fast.”
Heat skitters across my skin as she answers and yet delivers such a lack of detail I want to grab her by the shoulders and shake until the truth falls free. My lips part, by the shrill ring from Killian’s phone draws the evening to a close.
I escort Blair out into the hall, happily thrusting her umbrella back into her hands as she shrugs on her coat.
“Well, it was lovely to see you, Blair,” I force out with a sickly sweet smile. Blair gives a tight-lipped one in return.
“I’m sure we’ll be seeing lots of each other,” she replies flatly and I open the door for her, holding out an arm to usher her out quickly. This might not be my home but I want her outimmediately.
“Perhaps. Killian and I will discuss it,” I say and smugness laces my tone as her lips part faintly. Anything else she has to say is lost as I close the door in her face and my next breath comes easier.
Child or no child, I hold no love for her in my heart.
I return to the lounge just as Killian ends his call, the photo of Samuel still clutched in his other hand.
“Everything okay?”
“Yes,” he nods, stepping close and sliding an arm around my waist. “I have a meeting with Dante all day tomorrow but I can organize something to keep you occupied if you like?”
While the offer blossoms warmth in my chest, another idea is growing in my mind.
“Actually… I’d like to have dinner with Sadie and Kimmy. I haven’t seen them since the funeral and it would be nice to catch up.” I give Killian my sweetest of smiles and he nods, pressing a warm kiss to my temple.
“I’ll arrange it,” he agrees before he sighs deeply and steps away, sinking into the couch and refocusing on the photo.
I want to press it. I want to call Blair a liar and have him validate my feelings and find out what’s going on in that mind of his but I know now is not the time. His agreeable nature and his silence tells me he’s processing and it’s probably best for him to do that alone.
I’ll be here when he’s ready but in the meantime, Kimmy and Sadie are my key to finding more out about Blair.
Something just isn’t right about her and I won’t stop digging until I know what.
14
KILLIAN
Agreeing to meet with Russians at a time like this doesn’t sit right in my gut as I climb out of my car, flanked by Dante. Owen appears across the parking lot with his own men, representing the strength of the Irish in this meeting while Cain and Declan Arco bring up the rear with their own men filtering into the shadows.
Dante agreed to meet with Feliks Lenkov and discuss the truth to his claims, but even as Dante settles by my elbow, straightening his tie, I can’t tell if it’s confidence or wariness that bleeds onto his face.
“You ready for this?” he asks me as if I’m the one capable of tipping the scales here.
“Are you asking me that because you need my advice or because you need to make sure I won’t snap and kill every Russian I see?”
Dante slides his steely gaze to me and quirks a brow.
“I’m joking,” I clarify, my attempt to soothe my brother falling flat on its face. “I’m here to support the plan you and Sienna want to put forward but the second something feels fishy, I’m not holding back the trigger.”