Page 77 of The Hunter's Empire

As we move through the crowd, several guests stop Nico to greet him.

"Lucien. Good to see you. Congratulations on the engagement."

"Thank you."

The exchanges are brief and effortless. Watching him work a room is fascinating.

Nico becomes exactly what people expect him to be. Charming. Polished. Approachable. The dangerous edge never completely disappears, but he hides it well enough that most people only notice the confidence.

Only someone looking carefully would recognize the predator beneath the expensive suit. Unfortunately, I am looking carefully. Which means I notice everything. Including the way he never stops observing the room.

Even while smiling or shaking hands or making polite conversation. his eyes are constantly moving. Measuring exits. Counting guards. Tracking people.

Working. Always working.

Eventually, we approach a group gathered near one of the towering windows overlooking the estate grounds. Several older men stand together discussing international markets and shipping routes while their wives and daughters linger nearby with glasses of champagne.

The moment they notice Nico, their expressions brighten. "Lucien. There you are. We were beginning to think you'd abandoned us."

"I was occupied." Nico replies smoothly.

One of the men laughs. His gaze immediately shifts toward me. "And who is this?"

Nico's hand settles more firmly against my back. For the briefest moment, his eyes meet mine. Then he turns back toward the group. A practiced smile appears.

"Allow me to introduce my fiancée."

I immediately feel half a dozen pairs of eyes turn toward me. And just like that, the performance begins.

The introductions continue for far longer than I anticipated. And every time I think Nico has finally reached the end of his seemingly endless list of acquaintances, another influential guest appears from somewhere within the crowd.

One conversation flows seamlessly into the next, and before I can fully process one name, I am already being introduced to another.

"Vivienne, this is Lord Alistair Vance." Nico says smoothly. "The man responsible for making sure a significant portion of Britain's shipping routes continue functioning."

The older gentleman laughs. "Lucien gives me far too much credit."

"And not nearly enough caution." Nico replies.

The conversation moves on easily after that, drifting between shipping delays, political changes, and names I recognize from newspapers and financial reports. Similar introductions follow throughout the evening, each one connecting Nico to another corner of a world that seems to stretch far beyond Ireland.

As the evening progresses, it becomes increasingly difficult to ignore the larger picture slowly taking shape around me. These aren't isolated relationships. They are pieces of something much larger.

The deeper I look, the more disturbing the realization becomes.

The Keegans aren't simply a powerful family operating inside Ireland. They're woven into systems far larger than themselves. Their influence stretches through governments, corporations, financial institutions, transportation networks, and industries that quietly shape entire economies.

Standing in the middle of the ballroom, surrounded by crystal chandeliers and expensive champagne, I suddenly understand why people fear families like this. Not because of what they can do directly. Because of how many people help them do it.

A subtle pressure against my lower back pulls me from my thoughts. Nico.

I don't react outwardly. Instead, I continue smiling at a group of investors while casually turning my head toward him.

"What is it?" I ask softly.

His expression never changes. "Two additional guards."

My smile remains perfectly in place. "Where?"