Truth & Consequences

by Fiona Keane

  “Are we going…should I go ba—” My mouth gaped, catching the hauntingly intense stare cast my way, Julian’s eyes dark reminders of an abyss that led where my heart would never know.

  “I bought you something for tonight,” he whispered, his voice low, almost hesitant. He retrieved a small black box from an interior pocket of his tuxedo jacket before casting his burning gaze once more against me.

  “I can’t accept anything else from you,” I uttered, my heart flapping like the arms of an enraged gorilla. “Please.” Back to formalities.

  Julian’s bottom lip found refuge between his teeth as his methodic steps closed the small distance between us. Ignoring my request, he opened the box, revealing a white gold necklace with two diamonds dangling like a pendant, one white, one black, both enchantingly stunning. Like him. I was mesmerized by his hopeful expression before he lifted the necklace from its box and stepped behind me. Breathe.

  I trembled, reacting to him without contact, simply anticipating his touch. Julian’s hands dangled the necklace along my chest as he adjusted the clasp around my neck, his knuckles sparing no mercy toward my sensitized skin as he secured the necklace. My fingers lifted to it seemingly of their own volition, collecting the pendant of diamonds that fell perfectly within the neckline of my dress, spinning the large stones absentmindedly.

  “One black, one white.” Julian’s whisper nearly convulsed my body as his words met my left ear from behind. “A devil and an angel. They work well together, don’t they? Looks beautiful with your dress.”

  “Th-thank you.” I hid my gaze while Julian pressed the button for the elevator to carry us down, our silence destroyed by an approaching gaggle of women. A devil and an angel. Angels have wings. Don’t they?

  Chapter Nine

  Silently entering the banquet hall at Julian’s side was a stark reminder of exactly how out of place I truly was. Lining the walls and encircling the tables were countless suits: innumerable men with permission to end my life in the blink of an eye. The only solace, as absolutely insane as it sounded in my damaged mind, was that my arm was linked with Julian’s. He guided us toward a large round table filled with six other people—all eyes on me. Julian lifted his right arm from my hold, placing his palm against the small of my back while pulling out a chair for me. The sensation of his thumb lightly touching my bare skin stumbled into my heart. What is happening to me? We aren’t talking, he’s a killer, he’s a devil. He may have just shared intimacy with someone opposite my suite. His eyes look like he wants to kill someone, and yet my heart aches for him. Shivering beneath his gentle touch, I lifted my weary eyes to meet the abyss of blue narrowing against me expectantly.

  “Darling.” He smiled, his eyes continuing to probe my thoughts. “Take a seat.”

  “Thank you, darling.” I faked the brightest smile I could as I lowered myself to the velvet cushion. Julian pushed my chair beneath the table before joining me on my left, quickly unfolding my napkin and delicately placing it atop my lap.

  “I can do that myself.”

  His eyes met mine, lingering impassively. “Would you let me treat you like the gift you are, Aideen?”

  “These two,” an older woman said with a smile, “I’d just about kill for that.” I’ll kill him. A small chuckle left Julian’s lips, his wizard tactics surely reading my mind.

  I twisted my left fingers around the diamond necklace while I nervously observed our dinner companions. Six people I hadn’t met, four empty chairs, and Julian. He pretended to be oblivious to the swirling conversation at our table, the mumblings from his relatives who eyed me with visible disdain. These jerks aren’t hiding anything.

  “Well, well,” Liam nestled into the seat on my right, adjusting the tightened collar of his bowtie against his neck, “you look ravishing, Aideen. It’s…it’s blinding, actually. I must look away before I melt.”

  “Is that a compliment?” I whispered, turning to meet Liam as Julian was drawn into conversation with a man at the table. My body vibrated with the hum of his voice. It felt invigorating.

  “Naturally.” Liam lifted my right hand from the table and pressed my knuckles against his lips. “You’re stunning. So…did you finish lunch or spend your afternoon with that one, measly fry?”

  “Are you spying on me?”

  His laughter was muffled, placing my hand back against the table. “No, dear bird. I am not spying on you. I had things to do this afternoon, actually. Things far too inappropriate to speak of with such a fine bird. Have you met everyone here?” I shook my head in response, peering once to my left at Julian, still enchanting the person with whom he was speaking, still melting my blood with the hum of his voice.

  “Well,” Liam placed his face dangerously close to mine while he whispered, “that old hag is my father’s sister; that other witch is my father’s niece. The man pulling your date’s attention from your gorgeous dress is one of our maternal uncles. He’s a Sheehan.” I turned to meet his stare, the sizzling blue radiating into my mind as it danced with each nerve.

  “That means nothing to me, Liam.” My reply was muted, anxiously prepared for his disclosure.

  “The Sheehans are not a family to involve yourself with, but not as powerful as ours. They are often associated with the Youngs.” Malcolm. He sensed my pause, my body stiffening at the mention of Malcolm’s last name. Oh, Elliott. And there I am, back in the past, sandwiched between two devils, both of whom possess a wing.

  “Son,” a man’s voice distracted the brothers. I started to stroke the shining silver fork next to my stacked dinner plates, listening with worry as I attempted to put together more puzzle pieces. Julian and Liam stood, although Julian with less haste than his younger brother.

  “Mr. Regan,” Liam spoke first. “Pleasure to see you again.” Regan? Where do I know that last name from? Molloys, Youngs, Sheehans, Regans…I’m about to lose my mind. I need a pen and paper to keep track. My left arm tickled with the deleterious energy shedding from Julian while he spoke, expressing no excitement to engage in dialogue, which was out of character. Out of character—like I know this man or something.

  “Thanks for coming. I know it will mean a lot to our grandfather that you’re here,” Julian noted. “In fact, he’s with our father at the bar right now. You should say hello.”

  “I will soon enough. My daughter’s been asking for you, son.” Another piece. “Be sure you find her this evening. Ah, Liam, this must be your date.” His clammy palm molded over my right shoulder, freezing my finger against the fork. If this bastard doesn’t take his hand off of me, this fork is going straight into his groin. Julian’s soft hold was quick to balance Mr. Regan, his fingers delicately adhering to my left shoulder.

  “Aideen.” He squeezed my shoulder, beckoning my presence. I pushed out my chair and stood at Julian’s side with the help of his right hand. My knees weakened as his left arm wrapped around my body, his hand tenderly clenching my hip, protecting me.

  “Hello.” I extended my right hand, and his eyes glanced toward me down the length of his pointy nose. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  Mr. Regan’s hand remained at his side, his brown eyes narrowed beneath his furrowed brow. Because how could Julian be with someone like me? Right. Well, ass wipe, to begin with, I am amazing. I have beautiful hair, my legs won’t stop for anyone, and I like hugs. I have a law degree. I own my business, and I have been the one shacked up with Julian Molloy for the last week. Holy shit—my brain needs to get it together right now or I might just pass out. I don’t know why my subconscious was so defensive. I didn’t care about those people or what they thought of me. It wasn’t about the farce anymore; it was about the fact another human being felt so dominant above me that he refused to shake my hand, like my existence was enough to warrant an examination by the World Health Organization.

  “Edward,” Julian’s tone flattened, “you’re being incredibly disrespectful toward my girlfriend right now.”

  “She’s not my date,” Li
am finally replied, his arms crossing stiffly against his chest. “Aideen is Julian’s girlfriend. How is your wife? Is she here? I’d love a chat with her. It’s been too long.”

  “Hmm,” Mr. Regan briefly acknowledged my hand, his voice snorting, “she’s at our table with our daughter.”

  “Fancy that,” Liam uttered, looking at Julian with a smirk spreading along his mouth. “I’ll head that way and say hello. Edward?”

  “Right. Wonderful seeing you, Julian.”

  Julian was distracted, his eyes lifting over Mr. Regan’s head to one of the suits speaking into the cuff of his sleeve. His arm fell from my hip, the vacancy crumbling everything inside of me.

  “Liam,” he called, causing Liam to turn. Julian stepped toward Liam, pausing to exchange words while his fists bored into the pockets of his pants. I observed in a trance, watching their mouths only whisper into the other’s ear and the mysterious way their faces responded to whatever the other expressed. With his back to me, Julian walked away and met the suit against the wall, Liam sent to act as my distracting bodyguard.

  “Well then,” he sighed, placing an arm around my shoulders, “care to dance, bird?”

  “No.”

  “Aw,” he playfully groaned, moving to stand before me with his hand extended. “I’ll let you lead. I know you can be bossy sometimes.”

  “Bossy?” I scoffed at him, shaking my head at his lack of manners. The grin stretched across his face was paralyzing, but Julian’s is still my favorite. I could no longer see Julian in the crowd of people, his absence ever apparent as I stood with Liam.

  “Assertive, I suppose. I’m sorry if I offended you yet again. Care to dance?”

  “Fine,” I muttered, accepting his hand. Liam guided us to the center of the banquet hall, the floor speckled with couples who had already begun dancing to the melancholy melody lifting into the air from the string quartet playing in the corner. His right arm wrapped around my back, connecting our pounding hearts as his left hand held my right. With each turn, every clearing in the crowd, I searched for him, but Julian wasn’t there. Liam tightened his hold against me as we slowly turned with more people joining the floor. With a heavy sigh, my head fell against his chest, strangely comforted by the soft thump of Liam’s heartbeat. I closed my eyes while following the leisurely sway of Liam’s command.

  My heart pounded, aware before my brain and eyes caught on, able to sense Julian’s presence. I was rewarded with his blazing blue stare from the doorway of the banquet hall, his jaw tense and expression pained. Liam must have seen him too and acknowledged the two men who approached Julian while we danced. My stomach clenched, having caught his burning glower for a fleeting second before I pulled away.

  I desperately wanted to watch, but my better judgment screamed at me to stop, stop my confusion, stop my heartbreak, simply stop. That lasted for literally three seconds.

  “I’m not like them, you know,” Liam whispered in my ear. I couldn’t resist looking up, knowing that we were being burned into by the brilliant blue across the room. I caught Julian’s glare, feeling the penetrating gaze sear us, both of us engaged in a silent battle to see who would first falter. Him. A couple interrupted us, stepping between our view, allowing my mind to settle on Liam as we slowly fell into the melodic rhythm around us.

  “It isn’t my business,” I finally responded, my voice barely above my breath. I was frail, aware of Julian’s attention despite his exchange with others. It wasn’t my business at all, but having been who I was, where I was, it all became my business, and yet I was helpless to have a say, helpless to have the input necessary to defend myself.

  Liam’s index finger lifted my chin, his steel eyes examining my face with concern. His brows met so beautifully above those eyes. It was alarming, my insecurity raging beneath my skin, unversed with his affectionate stare. I wasn’t familiar with his pause, with his sincere attention.

  “Aideen.” The soft coo of Liam’s voice pulled my eyes to the pout of his lips. “I wish you could understand.”

  “I don’t wish to understand.” His lips tightened into a thin line at my words.

  “I can wish for many things, Aideen, no matter how far off or unattainable. One can always,” his thumb pressed against my chin, slowly pulling apart my mouth while his eyes studied mine, “desire.”

  “Please stop, Liam.” I tried to pull my blushing face away from his view, surprised when his fingers dropped and he allowed me to shield my embarrassment. His touch was tender, showing compassion as his hand fell from my face and returned to the small of my back, gently pulling me against him once more. He resumed our pace without wavering, and we continued the dance, pretending he hadn’t spoken.

  “I appreciate when you forgo formalities,” he whispered between his grinning lips, “another way I’m absolutely nothing at all like my brother.”

  The mention of Julian called my gaze to wander, glancing beyond Liam’s shoulder to the wall where Julian previously stood while his glance was enough to have killed Liam and me.

  “I like the way my name sounds against your lips, Aideen,” Liam continued his quiet, verbal assault against my heart. I looked from the wall, feeling a strange sense of alarm that it was void of Julian’s figure. It was disturbing how his absence made my skin crawl, and not because I desired his proximity the way Liam suggested he desired mine, but because Julian out of eyesight was more of a threat than Julian in full view.

  The music ended, a finale expressed through Liam’s squeezing embrace before releasing me to the wolves. Desire. I couldn’t lie to myself. I needed him near me as much as it frightened me. I wanted him there.

  “I’m sure you’ll be fine on your own,” he muttered, guiding me to the crowded bar and ordering two drinks, “but one can never be entirely positive with such a beauty as yourself, Aideen.”

  “I’m thrilled you have faith in my ability to protect myself.”

  “Oh,” his laugh was a low rumble, “I do have faith in you, Aideen. It’s the more sinister breed that worries me. Can I take you home after our meal? I mean…may I escort you back to your suite for the evening?”

  “Aren’t we required to stay? Aren’t you required to stay here?”

  “No.” Liam nodded to the bartender, reaching for our drinks, not required to pay, courtesy of his last name. “I’m required to escort you safely to your suite after our meal and then come back here.”

  “Business,” I groaned with a smile. I instantly covered my mouth, aware that my comfort against the bar in Liam’s presence let my manners slip. I wasn’t his equal. I wasn’t, and didn’t wish to be, part of his world. I was separate, a hostage, not allowed to make light of anything. His fingers wrapped around my wrist, pulling my hand from my mouth while his own widened into a toothy grin that battled my will power.

  “Unfortunately.” Liam’s lips met my knuckles, pressing lightly before my hand fell back to my side and his played with the diamond pendant against my chest. “I hate when it takes me away from my personal life.” A shiver rippled across my body from Liam’s inappropriate gesture and Julian’s cologne swirling into my mind.

  “Aideen,” Julian demanded, his prevailing tone filling my veins with ice. “It’s time for our meal. Liam.”

  Liam abandoned his hold, chilling the air like an emotional blizzard between Julian and me. Julian lifted his arm, suggesting I lead the way back to our table. Lovely. I trailed Liam’s footsteps, stuck between two demons while they separated my wings. Julian kept a distance until I approached the table, his hands quick to pull out my chair.

  “Thank you,” I whispered, glancing up at him. His stare was troubled, I could tell. I understood it. His haunted eyes mirrored his mind or his soul; the weight of being a demon burdened him.

  “Son.” Their father cleared his throat, but Julian’s eyes lingered on mine. I don’t know if it was for show, dominance over his father, or true, but Julian held my shoulders while slowly pressing his lips to my forehead. It killed me, ending my l
ife in that moment as my mind traveled back to his bathroom: the counter, the kiss, my hands, his mouth, my heart, Elliott.

  Lifting from me, Julian motioned for me to sit before he pushed in my chair. The table was officially full, and I was never so terrifyingly overwhelmed. The first time I saw any of those people, I was an underling, a servant providing a product. Now, I was introduced as Julian’s girlfriend, his partner and lover. Oh, that word. That promise. Inside, I was conflicted—was I meant to be submissive, avoiding their eyes, or was I expected to be myself and not give a flying squirrel’s ass about the dangerous people with the power to kill?

  “Bird,” Liam whispered, his head leaning toward mine while their father continued in the background. “You can relax.”

  “Ha.” I bit my top lip and nervously played with my silverware again.

  Once their father stood to provide a speech, welcoming and thanking guests, I took advantage and studied my companions at the table. Julian and Liam, my deliriously dangerous sandwich of confusion. Next to Julian sat the uncle who rattled my nerves with the heightened probability that he knew Malcolm. On scary uncle’s left were the aunt and cousin Liam earlier described, with their grandfather, father, Maureen, and an elderly woman closing the circle. I forgot to expect Maureen, suddenly guilty that I hadn’t brought along her expensive ring and flashed the excessive wealth to the table. Guilty? She basically forced me to own that hideous thing. Okay, not hideous, but…ugh. She was gorgeous, primped and polished in the small confines of a strapless, emerald silk dress. Her brown hair was down, curled along her shoulders, framing the enormous green stone dangling against her chest. How rich are these people?