Roped In (Armed & Dangerous, #2)(54)

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I said, waving my hands. “Go.”

Turning on his heel, he rushed inside and answered the call. It made me wonder who it was.

I stayed outside for another few minutes before retreating indoors. Everything was quiet. There were a few sounds coming from the kitchen when I walked past, but it was probably Ingrid. I strolled past another room and then stopped when I realized it was a fully stocked library with floor to ceiling bookcases. It was breathtaking.

Sneaking inside, I skimmed over the bookcases in awe, grabbing one of my all-time favorite classics, Pride and Prejudice. Walking into the sitting room connected to the library, I sat by the window and opened the book. If I couldn’t literally escape, I would find an outlet somewhere else. I cracked the book open and froze when that familiar Irish voice growled from behind a closed door. There was no mistaking who the voice belonged to anymore.

Sliding out of my seat, I tiptoed to the door that connected to another room.

“Why the f*ck is he coming today?” he argued.

Another guy answered, but I didn’t recognize his voice. It wasn’t Connor and it wasn’t Shades. “He said he wants to spend time with Hadley before she leaves for Ireland.”

“Cad a pian goddamn an asal,” Tristan replied angrily. What the hell does that mean?

“What do you want to do about it?”

Tristan huffed. “You know what to do. Make it look like a suicide. With Hadley’s death, it’ll be believable.”

Clasping a hand over my mouth, I held in my cries and backed away slowly. I had to find Connor so he could warn my dad. When I turned to make a run for it, I shrieked as an arm grabbed me around the waist. “What are you doing? Let me go,” I shouted.

It was Shades.

The door to the room opened and Tristan walked out, followed by the other person he had told to kill my dad. His eyes were cold and detached, very unnerving. Tristan looked at me and then at Shades. “What the f*ck’s going on?”

Anger boiled in my veins. How could the playful, easy-going Tristan I’d known for the past two years be such a murderous bastard? Gaze narrowed, he stepped toward me and looked into my eyes.

“I saw her sneaking out of the sitting room,” Shades reported. I tried to jerk out of his hold, but he gripped me harder.

Tristan studied me and I refused to back down. The time for playing along was gone. “You know, don’t you?” he asked, speaking with his Irish accent.

How could he have fooled us for so long?

I lifted my chin defiantly. “I know you’re a lying son of a bitch. If you hurt my father, I’ll kill you myself.”

A wide grin spread across his face. He didn’t even look like Tristan anymore. “It looks like you and Connor are closer than I thought. I don’t like it.” He beckoned the other guy forward with a wave of his hand. “Find Connor and make sure he doesn’t come back.”

“Tristan, no!” I cried, jerking my arm away from Shades. He grabbed me around the waist and slammed a hand over my mouth.

The other guy grabbed Tristan’s shoulder. “Sir, he’s your uncle. Your father is the only one who makes those decisions. I can’t condone it.”

Tristan’s eyes blazed. “Do you see my father here?” he growled through clenched teeth. “This is my territory and what I say goes. Now do as I say, or you’ll be next.”

Nodding, the other guy marched off and disappeared from the room.

“What should we do with her?” Shades asked. I elbowed him in the ribs and he grunted.

Tristan glared at him and then at me. “Take her to my room. I’ll deal with her personally.”

Shades lifted me in his arms, one hand still over my mouth and the other wrapped excruciatingly tight across my chest. I struggled to breathe, as everything was too constricting. He carried me up the stairs to the third floor, and by then I felt like I was going to pass out.

As soon as we got to Tristan’s room, he dropped me to the floor and I gasped for air. “You’re lucky you’re his,” he hissed low, glaring at me with soulless blue eyes.

I jumped to my feet. “Or what?”

He stepped closer and snarled. “Or I’d beat the shit out of you for hitting me. Where we come from, lassies like you respect their men. You’ll learn soon enough.” Turning on his heel, he stormed out of the room and slammed the door.

I didn’t even have to try the knob to know he’d locked me in. Heart pounding, I rushed to the windows and peered out. I had no clue how to save my dad or Connor. Hell, I didn’t even know how to save myself.





Hadley

“Are you calmed down yet?” Tristan asked as he entered his room.

Fighting him was no use. I’d either find myself drugged or beaten, and there was no way I could help my father in that state. “Go to hell. I don’t even know who you are anymore.”

Grabbing my arm, he turned me around and pulled me to him. I used to love looking at his hazel eyes, but now they made me sick. “There are some things you need to know before I take you to Ireland. One, you’re mine. Listen to me and do as I say, and I will give you everything you’d ever want. You’ll learn to love me.”

I scoffed. “You expect me to love you after taking everything away from me? Have you lost your mind?”