I turn and leave her in the bedroom, no doubt still blushing from my illicit promise. The thought of tasting her, of bending her over and licking my way from her clit to that tight ass, draws a groan from my chest.

And as much as I’d love to skip the party, it’s imperative we attend. There are a few people who’ll be there who need to see her. She also needs to collect her father’s award for some or other title he doesn’t deserve.

Pulling my phone from my pocket, I tap out a message to Oliver. He must already be there because his response is a mere "Okay". In the foyer, I shrug on my jacket, fasten my tie, and by the time the knot is choking me, Madison graces me with her presence. The dress I recall from yesterday is stunning, her curves are deliciously taunting, and I have to fight against the hard-on in my slacks.

“I’m ready.” She smiles up at me.

“Are you wearing panties?” I question, taking in her appearance hungrily.

She nods. “Yes. A thong, actually, and it's lace.” Her words are feathered along the collar of my shirt. The effect is my dick throbbing against my zipper.

“Let’s go,” I tell her gruffly, jerking the door open and allowing her to exit first. She sways her hips marginally as she walks toward the car. The little tease will pay for that later. She’ll pay for everything with those beautiful holes of hers. I’m going to devour every inch of her, and when I’m done, she will be sated.

Not waiting for me to open the door, she pulls it open and slips into the passenger seat. I don’t know how it will look with her sitting up front, but tonight, I don’t give a fuck. She’s mine for the evening, and I’m going to make the most of it. Knowing I can’t have any normal relationship with her, I have to appease my hunger by stolen moments like a fucking teenager.

Once I’m in the driver’s seat and the engine is rumbling, I steer us down the driveway, through the black metal gates, and down to the Palmer House Hotel where the party is being held this evening.

The scent of Madison hangs heavily in the air, the gentle citrus of her orange blossom perfume the only thing I can smell. She makes me want more, every goddamn inch of her. Soon I’ll be gone, and she’ll be moving on to better things, but I’ll never forget her fragrance. The way she challenges every ounce of restraint I own. Somehow, even after just the time we’ve spent together since her father hired me, I’m addicted to her, and my concrete plan to tear down the Parker name is gone.

The past six months since I arrived in the city, I’ve watched her. She’s been my special project, following her to see where she went, what she enjoyed, and now, I’m in deep. It’s stupid, I shouldn’t have done it, but something about her called to me.

“You’re quiet,” she offers, leaning against the chair, her head tilted toward me as she regards me. I feel her gaze on me, burning through my walls, piercing past those barriers I put up a long time ago.

“I’m thinking.”

“About?” she asks, turning her body so she’s facing me. Once again, my skin flames as she scorches me with those dark eyes. I don’t look at her, instead focusing my gaze on the road ahead.

I can see the hotel in the distance, and I pray to a God that long ago abandoned me and my family, hoping I can hold onto the darkness lurking just beneath the surface. I want to unleash it on her just to hear her screaming my name. Just to watch her body writhe as I fuck her hard, mercilessly, until she’s spent.

“You know, Callan, you may hide behind that mask, but I see you,” she confesses what I already know. Something about this woman has stirred something within me, something long lost, and no matter how much I try, I’ll never be able to shake it.

“We’re here,” I respond, ignoring her earlier words, hoping she’ll drop it. I don’t want her to see me, I lie to myself. Pushing open the door, I drop the keys into the hand of the valet and round the front to help Madison from the vehicle. She slips her small, delicate hand in mine, and once again, a jolt shoots through me and my veins are alight. As if a match has been dropped on me and I’m burning for her.

Jesus, O’Leary, get a hold of yourself.

I escort the woman beside me into a large ballroom, which is opulent, decked out in crystal chandeliers, plush Merlot-colored carpets, and shimmering iron trim along the walls holding the wallpaper in place.

Picture frames hang along the walls, looking like they belong in a historic building like Windsor Castle rather than a rich man’s playground in the middle of Chicago. Everything looks like it’s been dipped in liquid gold and hung up for people who have far too much money to bask in. And bask they do.

My gaze roams over the crowd as people walk up to Madison to greet her. She’s long since let go of my hand, but I still feel her. She’s close, so much so I can still smell her citrus and floral perfume.

“And this is Callan O'Leary.” Her voice steals my attention, and I’m brought back to the present.

The man glances at me with a confident smirk, and I almost allow my dislike of him to show, but I manage to school it just as Madison glances at me with a smile. There’s something about him I don’t like.

“He works for my father, watching over me like a hawk.” Her innocent words cause him to lift those dark inquisitive brows.

“Mr. O'Leary.” His voice cuts through me like a hot knife through ice. The man is the spitting image of her asshole ex-boyfriend, Hudson. “It’s lovely to make your acquaintance.” His mouth lifts into a satisfied smirk because he knows I’m the one who fucked-up his son. The one thing he’s not counting on is that I’d do it again.

When his son saunters over, his satisfied smirk has me twitching to wipe it off with a few liters of acid. Perhaps even dropping him in a bath of the shit. The man I would like to see six feet under is standing before me with a woman on his arm. Draped over him like an expensive piece of jewelry.

It’s only when she snarks at Madison do I recognize the made-up Barbie doll. “You’re really wearing that?”

“She is,” I respond for my woman. “And I’m dying to drive her back home right now and show her just how beautiful I think she looks.” I offer my hand to Hudson’s father, whose name I missed. “It’s good to meet you.”

We shake before he grins. “Gregory Brockovich. I think you may have met my son, Hudson,” he tells me, and it slowly sinks in with his words. Accusation. Clearly Hudson can’t defend himself, so he ran to Daddy to help him.

“Yes, we’ve been lucky enough to make an acquaintance,” I respond easily. Slipping my arm around Madison’s waist, I offer the asshole a smirk before greeting. “We’re off to mingle. We’ll probably see you later.”

With that, I lead my girl away from the tense conversation. All my life, I’ve dealt with war between families, and I don’t want her to experience the shit that comes along with it. I saw it in Gregory’s eyes. It dances like a flame. There was venom dripping from his smirk, giving away his feelings toward me about the fact that Madison is on my arm and not his precious boy's.

“Are you okay?” Madison looks up at me when we stop at the bar. There’s a crease in her brow as she regards me. In this light, she looks so beautiful and innocent all I want to do is muss her up. Make sure when we walk back out of a dark corner, everyone will know I’ve claimed her.

“I’m fine. I just realized the people in this room are just as bad as the ones we deal with back home.” We’re all sinners here. All out for ourselves, to ensure everyone knows our names. I think back to my own past and how the O’Learys along with the Morans have always been at odds.

It’s easy to aim a gun, to pull the trigger, and it’s easy to watch someone’s life flash in their eyes before the light is snuffed out. I could easily do that right here, while looking into Hudson’s shrewd glare. And I’d do it with a smile on my face.

That kind of training never leaves. It’s always there, beneath the surface. The need to feel your enemies blood drip between your fingers. The cock of a fully loaded gun. The sharp hiss of the bullet leaving the barrel, and the sweet crimson spraying from the wound as it steals the lives of men like Seamus Moran, our lifetime enemy. They don’t deserve to live.

“I knew a man like him,” I answer finally. “They always saw their demise, but I couldn’t very well go doing something stupid in the middle of a party.” My response is accompanied with a sardonic grin, causing her brown eyes to blaze.

“I know you’ve killed people, but hearing you say it is strange.” Her whisper is only for me to hear, and I love how close she is to me when she does lean in.

“Do I scare you?”

This time she lifts her gaze to mine. There’s a gentleness that she regards me with. It’s not pity, but concern. “You don’t scare me at all, but you do worry me.”

“Why? Life happens to everyone, but so does death. I used to just deliver it earlier than they were expecting.” My words cause Madison to grip my arm, squeezing as if she really does worry about me. I’ve always scared everyone away, but with her, I can’t find it in myself to do it anymore.

Her touch is what calms me. It’s she who makes me realize I can do anything and she’d forgive me. But when my eyes land on our enemy, he smirks as if he knows something I don’t. What he doesn’t know is I never back down. I never let the other person win, because I’m good at what I do. And when I set my mind to it, nobody comes out alive.

We’ll all bear scars of this war.

We’ll all fight, but only one side can lose, and I’ll ensure he pays for hurting her. If Hudson comes near Madison, he’ll not see the light of day again.

“Madison, let’s get drinks.” I tug her close to me, which is my first mistake. The second is the way she curves her body into my hold. He sees it. He knows there’s something about her. She’s special to me, and as I turn toward the bar, I berate myself. I shouldn’t have done it, but I couldn’t let him think she’s only here because I’m a guard. She’s here for me.

I fucked up.

Big time.

“What was that?” She doesn’t miss a fucking beat, questioning me as soon as we’re out of earshot. “Callan—”

“Nothing to worry your pretty little head about, Blossom,” I bite out, knocking on the oak counter of the bar to catch the attention of anyone who can pour me a fucking drink.

“Don’t shut me out,” she pleads, but I ignore her. She’s fucked with my head, and I just messed up. I’ve put her in danger, and she doesn’t even realize how fucked up this could get. If she only knew I wouldn’t think twice about taking Hudson and slicing him from head to toe just to watch him bleed all over the carpet of this ballroom just to get back at him for hurting her.

Three months ago, Carrick, my baby brother, flinched when we went to take out a lifetime enemy of our family. He couldn’t do it, so I took the shot. I killed Seamus Moran because he took the life of Rick’s fiancée. An eye for an eye. It’s how we’ve always lived out life.

And now Hudson knows Madison means something to me. Something in his eyes tells me he wouldn’t stop at hurting her just to get back at me.

I should never have fucked her. Never have touched or kissed her. Carrick warned me, and I didn’t fucking listen. The barman sets down a tumbler with a double shot of amber liquid, which I swallow down without asking what it is.

“Another. Better yet, bring the bottle,” I order, and he nods. I watch as he moves around the bar, pulling the bottle of Macallan from the shelf and setting it beside my glass. This is what I need. This is always what calms the storm raging within me. War wages, but as I gulp down the alcohol, I know I’ll ease the tension that knots my muscles.

“Callan.” Madison pleads my name, causing me to finally look at her.

“Tonight, you’ll go home with one of your father’s men. I’ll be staying at my brother’s place. There’s shit I need to sort out.”

“What?” Her dark eyes widen in shock at my harsh words, which are spit in frustration. It’s not her fault. I’m the asshole who put her in danger, but I need to take my anger out on someone. Anyone. And she’s right here.

“You’re such an—”

“Arsehole?” I finish her sentence. “Tell me something I don’t know by now, baby girl.” I gulp down another shot and a third before she finally pulls my arm until I’m looking at her again. “But I need to sort something out, okay?”

“Are you really going to send me home alone?” she questions, picking up her white wine. The Chardonnay glistens in the glass as she lifts it to her mouth. Plump, shimmery lips purse as she sips the liquid.

“Listen to me, Blossom.” I pull her closer, my hand on her hip, my fingers digging into her soft curves. “My job is to keep you safe. I need you to listen to me and stop fighting me at every turn. For once, just let me do what I was hired to do, and that’s ensure you’re safe. Stop being a brat about this.”

She tugs her arm from my grip, hissing in my ear, “Fuck you, Callan O’Leary. Fuck you and your so-called dangerous life. If I wanted a safe life, I would’ve stayed with Hudson. Perhaps he’ll make me come with this plug in my tight little ass.” Her words are for me, savage and brutal, cold and calculating, but they drip with poisonous desire.

And I know she feels something more for me.

And I know deep down, the more I push this woman away, the more she’ll fight me tooth and nail until I’m the one kneeling at her feet.