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“You are going to realize very quickly, Lily, that I don’t take no for an answer.” His words are coated in anger.
This makes me pause, and I glance at Daniel. Since when was he this angry, this manipulative? Never. This is not the boy I remember. I see glimpses of him buried under a lot of anger.
“Well, I just said no, Daniel.” My stomach squeezes, but I can’t be weak like everyone else around him. I’m not a puppet. “Now open the door,” I repeat.
Daniel grins, and my stomach plummets. “How is Jonathan?”
My mind races. I haven’t heard from him. “Did you hurt him?” I ask, praying to God that he didn’t. I mean, why would he? He wouldn’t. Daniel doesn’t answer, but his grin is no longer on display.
“He’s a creep.”
I’m shaking my head. “He’s my friend, Daniel.”
He snorts. “He was hanging outside your home the night you left my club. I caught him.”
That doesn’t sit right with me. I had told Jonathan that I wanted to be alone, yet he had followed me home, but what’s even more disturbing is that Daniel followed him.
“Who comes to my apartment is none of your business.” I know they are bold words under the circumstances, but once again, I feel the need to try my best and not let Daniel think he has any control of this situation.
“Itismy business. You are my business.”
His words elate me; they shouldn’t. I try to squash the young girl fantasy of always loving Daniel and realize that we are not the same people we were.
“Your uncle torched one of my establishments, and you will help me find him.”
So, I’m a means to an end. Haven’t you always been, Lily? I sink into the seat, his words hurt so much, but at least he is being upfront and honest about why he’s spending time with me.
“Did you hurt Jonathan?” I ask as if all the rest doesn’t matter.
Daniel’s jaw clenches. “I never laid a finger on him.”
That didn’t mean he didn’t hurt him. “Did you order someone else to do it?” Guilt churns in my stomach. Could Jonathan be hurt because of me? I haven’t heard from him.
“He’s fine. He’s lucky I didn’t beat some sense into him hanging outside your apartment. There is something wrong with him.”
Relief rushes through me that Jonathan is physically okay. That doesn’t mean that Daniel didn’t have words with Jonathan. There is no way he kept his mouth shut. I think Daniel would be incapable of that.
There are times I look at his charming, good looks, ice-blue eyes, blond hair, and he’s like a model from the cover of some Gucci magazine, not an Irish criminal.
“I’ll collect you at eight -thirty tomorrow evening,” Daniel says.
Before I can respond, the locks are popped. I’m staring at the door.
“Wear something nice.”
I spin and glare at him, but Daniel isn’t grinning at me like I expected; instead, he’s staring out the front window, his hands tight on the steering wheel.
I open the door and get out. I don’t answer him, but already I know that I will be going. If I’m not ready at eight-thirty tomorrow, I’m sure he will come up to my apartment and make me regret disobeying him.
It’s only a stupid function, I tell myself as I walk away from Daniel’s SUV, which still hasn’t moved. I take out my phone and send a text to Jonathan.
Are you okay?
CHAPTER TWELVE
DANIEL
I’msittingoutsideLily’sapartment complex. It’s eight-thirty, and there is still no sign of her. The SUV idles as we wait for her. For a moment, I entertain the idea of getting out and marching up to her apartment to find out what’s taking her so long. There is another part of me that doesn’t think she will come. Could I blame her? I blackmailed her into coming. I had two reasons; one was so that anyone associated with her uncle would see she is on my side and not his. Word would spread that his niece was on my arm at an O’Reagan event and send a clear warning to him to come out of hiding. He’s always been protective of her. The second reason was for me personally, I wanted her with me. Every time I was around her, I wanted more.
