Page 41 of Vicious Betrayal

"Obviously," I say quickly. I put my hand on his chest and lean in to kiss him, a smile spreading across my face. I feel his exhale under my palm, and all I can think is I'm sorry. I'm already sorry.

—

The party is at a gorgeous home in Lincoln Park, made of pristine red brick with white accents. Inside, it has that renovated-but-still-historic feel, heavy dark wood and expensive art everywhere, the floors gleaming and catering staff moving from room to room where guests have spread out throughout the residence as they mingle. There are open bars in two of the rooms, and a roaring fireplace lit in the large living room, giving it all the feeling that we've been flung into the past.

I chose something sexy but not too over the top for tonight. I know I'm supposed to look like Cormac's arm candy, some girl he's been hooking up with and decided to show off for the night, but I also don't want to look cheap. I chose a long black silk evening dress with a high slit on one side, straps clasped with gold above the V-neckline that's not too low, and a swooping back.

The party itself is nothing new to me. I've been to plenty of parties like this, and I've always found them horribly boring. But being here with Cormac makes it all so much more exciting than any party with these kinds of people has ever been before. There's a thrill to it that's never been present.

Cormac keeps me close, his hand at the small of my back, and I can feel the tension in him while he talks to people and introduces me as a woman he's been seeing. I smile and play along. I don't let myself think about the twinge I feel every time he introduces me as someone he's seen a few times—and the implications of that—rather than as a girlfriend or even a friend. Nothing about that is helpful, and I need to focus tonight. I need to hear or see something that matters.

Not long after we've started making the rounds, a man who looks to be in his early thirties makes his way over to us. He's disarmingly handsome, with an easy, charming air about him, and he has the look of someone who always makes light of something. He smiles when he sees us, but there's a sort of tightness around his mouth that makes me think that he both knows who I am and isn't entirely happy that I'm here.

"Cormac," he says, stopping near us, and Cormac turns to look at him.

"Rian. This is Oksana Svenkova." He gestures toward me. "Oksana, Rian."

"A pleasure." He says it sincerely enough, but I'm not entirely sure he means it. "Cormac, can I borrow you for a moment?"

Cormac hesitates, but nods. "Don't wander off too far," he says, and I think it's a polite way of telling me not to talk to anyone I shouldn't.

"I'll just go get a drink," I promise him, my pulse picking up slightly. If I can find a way to look like I've given them space while still being in earshot, I might hear something useful.

There's a bar nearby, and I drift in that direction. Luckily there's a line, so I don't end up too far away, although I can't hear all of the conversation. I glance back out of the corner of my eye and see that Rian is talking while Cormac stands there with his arms folded, looking vaguely annoyed. I hear Rian's voice rise slightly, and Cormac answer back flatly, although I can't hear much of the conversation. I catch Svenkov once, clear enough that I go still, and then careful. A moment later, something that sounds like Declan before Cormac says something short. Rian makes the face of a man who knows he's lost the argument.

Cormac comes back to me a moment later. He doesn't mention Rian. I hold up the gin and tonic in my hand and offer him a smile.

"Do you want anything?" I ask, and he shakes his head.

"I'm good for now. Let's wander a bit."

He seems tense, and I try to remain calm, linking my arm through his and doing my best to be a calming presence. I can feel that he's keeping me on the outskirts of the crowd, probably trying to avoid certain people, and I try not to let my frustration with it show.

But within another twenty minutes, Declan Murphy finds us, despite Cormac's best efforts.

I recognize him from photos Reyes showed me, and I have to remember at the last second to look as if I don't know who he is in the slightest. I feel the tension in Cormac increasing as Declan walks our way, and I use that as my segue to plausibly figure out who he is before I have to pretend for too long.

"You seem upset," I whisper, and Cormac glances at me. "Is everything okay?"

"My boss is headed this way," he says tightly. "I didn't want to have this conversation tonight. I told you from the beginning I wanted to keep this separate… you and my work. Me sleeping with a lesser pakhan's daughter could be problematic, and I don't want to cause Declan more stress."

"Is he under a lot of stress?" I ask innocently, and Cormac gives me a narrow look.

"You know how much stress a man like him is under. Think of who your father is, and who Declan is."

It's the closest he's ever come to insulting my father. I tense, and Cormac picks up on it immediately.

"That's not how I meant it." He sighs. "I knew this was a bad idea…"

"No, it's fine," I reassure him quickly. "I was just a little taken aback, that's all. Look, you don't even have to give him my name…"

"I don't intend on introducing you—" he starts to say, but it's too late. Declan has already made his way over to us.

He's ruggedly handsome, with copper hair, a short beard, and dressed in a well-tailored suit. He looks slightly out of place in it, like he'd rather be wearing anything else, but that can't hide how well he fills it out. He doesn't have his wife with him, which is good, actually, based on what I know from Reyes. Elena Murphy is an extremely sharp woman, and she might pick up on what's rotten in my and Cormac's relationship.

Declan smiles at me as he approaches. "Cormac," he says. "You didn't mention you were bringing someone."

"Didn't think I needed to," Cormac replies gruffly.