Page 26 of Bound Lies

“Yes.”

“Like...with a ring and vows and⁠—”

“It doesn’t have to be real.”

“It’s already real enough that I want to punch you.”

He doesn’t even smirk. That’s how serious he is. “You want to help take Sean down, right? Well, this is how. He doesn’t know how much Riley told us, but this sends a message that we’ve got her, and that we’re willing to protect her.”

I shake my head. “This is too risky. I mean, you just took out the head of their family, and all of a sudden, I’m marrying Riley?”

“It’s not much different than my situation with Ciara.”

“Yes, it is.”

“How? Our father killed Ciara’s father, and now she’s my wife.”

He’s got me there, so I let out a low, bitter laugh as I realize that I have no choice but to agree to Ronan’s ridiculous plan.

“You’re really not going to listen to me, are you?”

“I am listening.” His expression softens just a little. “But I’m also looking at the bigger picture. This is what’s best for our family.”

I exhale slowly, trying to keep myself from exploding.

Ronan always has a way of getting people to agree to his plans, but still. Is a fake marriage seriously all he could come up with?

“There’s only one teeny tiny flaw here, brother.”

Ronan quirks an eyebrow. “What’s that?”

“What are you going to do when Riley says no? Which she will, by the way. Every time she looks at me, I swear I can see her mentally plotting my demise, so I know she won’t be willing to agree to us tying the knot.”

I try to picture the look on Riley’s face when I tell her she’s going to be my blushing bride, and I have to swallow my laughter.

“She won’t say no.”

“I appreciate the confidence, but Riley Walsh and I haven’t exactly gotten off to the best start.”

“You better not have slept with her, Kieran, or I swear to God⁠—”

“I didn’t fucking touch her. Jeez.”

“You better not have.”

“I’m not that much of a whore.”

Ronan has an amused look. “Say that to the female population of Manhattan.”

“What can I say? My reputation precedes me.”

“Well, despite that, I have a feeling Riley will do whatever it takes to stay out of both Sean and her uncle's reach. Marrying you is the least of her problems.”

I hold a hand to my chest. “Way to make a guy feel special.”

Ronan fixes me with a look that has me pinching the bridge of my nose.

“Fine, I’ll marry the mafia princess, but don’t expect me to like it.”