That galvanized Sorcha to leap from the bed and I quickly try to wipe off the mascara trailing down my face.
“I will tell you,” I say as we hurry down the hall, “that your brother redeemed himself spectacularly by renewing our vows in a much more pleasant manner. Twice.”
“I did not know the man had it in him,” she marvels. “Cameron, a romantic?”
Dinner goes much better than I expected. Cormac Sr. has me sit next to him. He is as hugely imposing as his sons, but his age has mellowed him in the best way. He kindly engages me in conversation as I relax by small degrees to the point that I can finally put food in my mouth without choking.
“I feel as if I should apologize to you all,” I whisper.
“And why would that be?” He leans closer.
“My father… the St- those people. They caused your family so much suffering.” I’m twisting my napkin in my lap, the shame of it all suddenly hitting me. These people have been kind to me, they welcomed me in today so warmly.
“There are some syndicates that count the sins of the fathers onto the children,” he says after a thoughtful pause. “We are not among them. Each generation is responsible for themselves. You have discovered the worst, and you did not hide away from it. You have redeemed yourself.”
“How?” I ask, puzzled.
“This work is ugly,” he sighs quietly. “It stains you in a way that never fades. After Cameron lost his second in command, I feared for him. Since he married you, I see my son again. I know you two talk, I know you comfort him. He needed you.”
Shaking my head, I manage a tremulous little smile. “I’m not sure I deserve that, but thank you.”
Patting my arm, Cormac Sr. smiles warmly. “My dear, you deserve so much more. Have faith in our belief in you until you have it for yourself.”
“I really like your father,” I venture, getting ready for bed.
Cameron looks up from unbuttoning his shirt. “He likes you, I can tell. He never talks to anyone that long. The whole family approves of you, even Ma.”
“Even after our completely ignominious entrance, dripping onto your mother’s priceless rug?”
“Even then,” he chuckles. “I think Lachlan nearly pissed himself trying not to laugh at her expression.”
“This isn’t helping my mood, in case you were heading in that direction.”
“My poor lass,” he soothes, his big hands suddenly roaming all over me.
“Is this where you unleash your deviance?” I ask, “Because I am completely open to that.”
He pulls the strap of my camisole down, sucking my nipple into his mouth. Pushing me down on the bed, he attacks my breasts again.“Somuch deviance,” he growls.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
In which there are startling revelations.
Cameron…
Two months later…
Leaning back against the pillows, I try to stifle my groan.
“You sound like an octogenarian,” my sassy bride says with a grin.
“Shut it. I had to beat the shite out of three arseholes when my gun ran out of bullets.”
“Sorry,” she says, half concerned and half smiling. “I’m so used to you pulling off magnificent feats of strength that I’m getting complacent. Where are you now?”
“Kazan, they’ve been using the Volga River to transport women from Volgograd. But after we got them out, we lit that dock area up,” I say with satisfaction. “It will take them a week to get that fire out. Every warehouse and your father’s trucking company are destroyed.”
“That makes me very happy to hear,” she says vehemently. “I do look forward to a future where I wake up in the same bed with you for more than a few days at a time.” Her smile fades. “And now I feel guilty complaining about that when you’re doing such important and, may I add, very dangerous work.”
