Page 134 of Deceived Wrath

Fiona folds her arms over her chest. “Cormac, what is going on?”

“You and I are going out.”

“Where?”

“That’s for me to know. So, go and pack something nice to wear for dinner.”

“Pack?”

“Yes.”

“Why would I need to pack?”

“Because we’re not coming back here tonight.”

Fiona gapes at me as if I’ve just grown another head.

“You’re kidding, right? After how you spoke to me yesterday, you must be crazy to think I would go anywhere with you.”

I exhale a breath as I perch on the arm of the couch.

“I’m sorry for losing my temper like that. It never should have happened.”

“No, it shouldn’t have.”

“When I came home and found the apartment empty, I just…panicked. I didn’t think to check my phone to see if you messaged. And then when I saw you out the window in the park… Fuck, I’m sorry. I hate how I treated you, and I hate it even more that it happened in front of Scout. I never want him to see that side of me, or you, for that matter.”

“But I did.”

“I know. When it comes to Scout, I lose any ability to think rationally. If anything were to happen to him… I would never forgive myself. I know that’s not an excuse, but I hope you can see how sorry I am.”

I look up at Fiona, and her expression finally softens.

“I know that, which is why I would never put him in danger. And it hurt that you thought I would.”

“Logically, I know that you would never knowingly put him in danger. But there is so much you don’t know, so many dangers that you can’t see?—”

“Then tell me!”

I shake my head. “Not right now because tonight, I want to make it up to you. So, will you please go upstairs and pack?”

Fiona looks at me for a beat, and I can see every unspoken question in her eyes. But instead of pushing me on the subject, she drops her arms to her sides and lets out a fake sigh of annoyance.

“So bossy…”

I let out a breath of relief as I watch her disappear up the stairs.

Thirty minutes later, our overnight bags are packed, and we’re on our way to the Plaza, though Fiona doesn’t know that.

“You’re seriously not going to tell me where we’re going?” Fiona asks from the passenger seat of my Aston Martin.

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

“You know, I think this might be some huge ploy to kidnap me.”

“What? By luring you out of the house by promising you a fancy dinner?”

“Ah, so we’re going somewhere fancy?”