Page 30 of Savage Promises
“Yeah, I can’t make that.” Her face contorts. “Coach Edelson is giving me private lessons. Did he tell you about the traveling league?”
With our mother dead, I have become a maternal figure to Neve. But my irrational, unpredictable father leaves me little room to parent Neve properly, knowing he’ll undercut me at any moment. Hence giving her away to the Quinlans without as much as mentioning it to me before the deal was sealed.
“Neve, darling. You’re to be married in less than threemonths. Right after your birthday. Ask your future husband if you can spend the summer away from him and see what he says.” I giggle snort into my hand.
“That’s not funny.” She stomps her foot. “I need you to change this wedding date for me. I have a life, you know.”
“I didn’t make these arrangements, Dad did.” Although, I don’t dare suggest she stand up to him.
Mentioning our father has her visibly shaking. I hug her trembling body. She’s young and this is upsetting to her. I get it. The bastard wouldn’t even let me be there when he told her. I just know it went very badly the way she called me crying.
“Please make an appearance at the Manor tomorrow night. Just show your face, show your respect. Go and thank Mrs. Quinlan for understanding that this is overwhelming. Ask her to make all the arrangements. She’ll probably be thrilled.”
“I’ll try,” Neve says with calculating eyes. “On one condition.”
“I’m not the person to negotiate with, Neve.”
“Will you be there? They...” She hiccups and looks ready to cry. “They scare me, Lennox. You’ve known them longer. You’re better at this stuff.”
I bite my lip and want to say no. But just like at the club, the one way to make sure something gets done is to hover. “Sure.”
Once the night is moving smoothly, I’ll disappear.
No one will miss me.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Shane
The house my da built in Astoria is a monument to tradition and our power in Astoria. I take note of its stone walls weathered by half a century of harsh northeast winters. It’s remained defiant against time.
Growing up here, the place felt more like a social club for mobsters than a family home. Even as a young lad, I watched in awe as my da conducted business in the house with shady people who crossed that threshold to show fealty to the second most powerful man in Astoria after Fergus O’Rourke.
I stand in the formal living room, staring out of the floor-to-ceiling window waiting for Neve. I was promised she’d show up for this dinner to prove she was taking our engagement seriously.
I exhale in frustration, but excitement hums through me when I see Lennox’s Benz pull up instead. My da expanded the original driveway into a courtyard to accommodate cars for seven adults.
Lennox sheepishly rings the front bell and is led into the foyer by the full-time house manager we hired for Ma since she lives here alone.
“A Miss Donnelly,” Caroline announces her like this is Buckingham Palace.
Lennox’s presence hits me harder than it should. She looks out of place in the grand foyer, her confidence only dimmed slightly by the sheer magnitude of the house. But she carries herself with that same steady determination I expect from her.
Her perfume knocks me sideways and her rich caramel eyes with verdant flecks, an eye color I’d never seen before her, scan everything with quiet assessment.
“Lennox,” I say, emerging from the shadows. The way her name tastes on my tongue tonight feels dangerous. Dangerously good. Dangerously right. Dangerouslymine.“Not who I expected.”
But I have to be honest with myself. She’sexactlywho I want.
Neve has brushed off every attempt I made to connect with her. To get to know her. To involve her in the planning of her own damn wedding. Poor Lennox stands there as the envoy, carrying Neve’s excuses like some reluctant messenger.
But I can’t harp on my irritation. Not when Lennox being here is the result.
She crosses her arms, defiant but not defensive. “Neve had to cancel at the last minute. Her coach called her in for a mandatory practice. Give her a few more months.”
“Impossible. We’re getting married in just over two.” I brush my fingers along the lapel of the sports jacket I wore for the occasion.
“About that,” Lennox says, clearing her throat.
