Sean

They say that you shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth and I’m trying like hell to do that but…after three months of cat and mouse games, my prey just walked into my office and delivered herself to me.

A gift horse indeed.

Or maybe a Trojan horse?

What’s Dobrev up to now?

Our middle man, John, welcomes her in with a bow. “Miss Dobrev, you’re looking well.” he says.

“Uh huh.” She nodded, “You’re looking…prosperous.” She tells John. I’m hard put not to snort with laughter.

John turns to me. “May I introduce Mr. Sean McNally, Irish captain.”

She turned to me, her piercing blue eyes seeming to see past all my walls, right into my soul.

Damn.

I almost stumble backward at the look. It’s almost physical, like a shove, a shock to the system. She raises a hand and waves. “Hey.”

I hardly know what to do with that. I blink, my hand rising automatically to brush through my auburn curls. It’s a nervous gesture I’ve never been able to get rid of. “Hi.” I croak. “It’s nice to meet you.”

She quirks her insanely shaped eyebrow at me. “Is it?” she asks skeptically.

“Of course. I’m sure you’ve heard we’ve been looking for you.”

“Oh I heard. Why do you think I’m here?”

I inclined my head to the side and grinned at her. “I’m dying to hear.”

She took a step forward and rested her hip against my desk. “Let’s not play coy. You’ve been meaning to strike a deal with my brother haven’t you? A bride for peace. Right?”

I blinked at her in surprise. “So he sent you here? After months of protecting you from us?”

She snorted, giving me a look like she thought I was stupid. “No. Roman didn’t send me here. I came on my own.”

My heart sank. Roman Dobrev was going to kill us all. “Why?”

She got to her feet. “Because Roman won’t sell me, but this war has to end. It’s bad for the family. Bad for business. So let’s get to negotiating. State your terms.”

I’m a quick witted dude. I think on my feet. But I have to admit, Irina Dobrev had me gagged. I could hardly gather my brain cells together enough to respond intelligently let alone come up with terms. “How do you know your brother will honor our negotiations?” I blurt.

“He will. Leave that to me.”

I took a deep breath. “Fine. After our wedding, I expect a ceasefire. No more warehouse attacks, or sabotaging trade routes. No more burning down our bars or instigating police raids.”

She cocked that elegant eyebrow again. “My brother has been busy.” She said breezily.

“He has.”

“But Roman is no bully. So tell me, Sean, what did you do to earn his ire?”

I roll my eyes. “Nothing any other boss wouldn’t have done. I expanded my territory. Maybe I encroached a bit on Bratva territory. I misbehaved. My bad.” I give her a cocky shrug.

“So, I take it you promise to stop that?” she wags her finger at me reproachfully.

I have to smile. “Of course I do.”

“Great. Then let’s shake on it.” She stretches out her hand to me. I look down at it, admiring her long slender fingers, her bright purple nail polish before sliding my hand into hers. My hand practically engulfs hers. Her hand is so soft. I squeeze gently, tempted to keep holding on to it.

The ground felt unsteady beneath my feet. I had to wonder if I was biting off more than I could chew.

She let go of my hand. “Good. Now that that’s settled, I want your word that I can go shopping without getting in a shootout.”

I grin, lifting up my hand as if making a vow. “Scout’s honor.”

She nods, looking pleased. “Good. Our lawyers will be in touch with yours. And I’m sure you’ll be inviting us all soon for an engagement party.”

My grin widens. “I will indeed.”

I take up her hand again, and bring it to my lips, all the while holding her gaze. I press my lips against her knuckles, breathing in her intoxicating scent before I let her go. “I look forward to seeing you again.”

She quirked her lips in a half smile and nodded, then took a deep breath, snatching her hand away. “Right well, I’m off now.”

I nod. “Goodbye.”

I watch her leave, her hips swaying slightly and I wonder what the hell I just got myself into.