“Ní mór na mic fucking olc so bitches bás, gach duine acu!”Fintan shouted.
Fee leaned close to murmur, “He began with ‘Those evil fucking sons of bitches’ and it just kept getting worse from there.”
“A good start,” I agreed, “though his nostrils kept flaring like a bull’s when he noticed we were holding hands.”
“So, what’s the plan, then?” he said, swiping the beer foam from his upper lip.
“We’re thinking of staging a wedding,” I said.
“Staged,”she emphasized.
“You don’t need to be quite so adamant about it, darling.” I chided.
“It’s known now that Alec and I are together-”
“A match made in hell, that,” Fintan said.
“-are together,” she continued. “Our plan is to find an idyllic spot for the wedding, draw them in, and finish off the Sicilians and Leevil in one fell swoop.”
“There’s a certain style to it,” he reluctantly agreed. Putting down his mug, he nodded as if it was settled. “We’ll use the farm, a’ course.”
“No!” I said, “We will not risk your farm and the animals. I’ve finally found a way to make those MacTavishs useful. We’ll use the grounds at their mansion.”
“No one knows of your connection to them,” he disagreed. “Tradition has it the bride is married in her people’s town. Having it anywhere else would be rousing their suspicion, then. The farm’s far enough out that there’s no risk to neighbors or passers-by.”
“Putting your family at risk…” I shook my head and went in for his weak spot. “What if something happened tothe goats?”
Fee and her grandfather looked at each other and burst out in raucous laughter. “All this time with Noreen and you don’t know a deadly weapon when you see one?” she cackled. “They’ll have their place in this.”
When Fintan finally took himself to a guest bedroom after eight ales and dinner served by a pinched-lip Magda, Fee and I curled up in front of the fireplace in my study.
“I hate to say it, but…” she angled her head, looking at me closely, “I don’t think I have ever seen you smile this much. Other than in that mean sort of way you have. You are always like a parody of a British gentleman. Stiff upper lip and all that rot, English bullshit. Alastair would be wondering who you were and what you’d done to his brother.”
“I know the saying that the love of a good woman can change a man-” She snorted loudly at this and I laughed. “But we both know you are not a good woman and I am essentially the devil.”
“Truth,” she agreed pleasantly.
“However, I’m not the man I was, and I’m actually… enjoying this venture for the first time in my life. I’ve felt pride in my doings before, savage satisfaction upon occasion. But enjoying myself?” I shook my head at her, “You are a terrible influence.”
“You could not say anything sweeter to me,” she said approvingly. Getting up with a big stretch that made her shirt ride up and show all that smooth skin, she asked, “Coming to bed?”
“In a moment,” I said, pulling her down for a kiss. “I have a call to make.”
“I’ll be the one in bed. Naked,” she tossed over her shoulder as she sauntered out of the room.
Such a bad,badgirl.
I tossed my mobile from hand to hand for a moment. It had beentwo months since I’d spoken to her, since she’d been here in my house. It was time.
“Hello?” Her voice was tremulous, the verbal version of a flinch and it pained me.
“Hello, Mother. Can we talk?”
Chapter Twenty-Four
In which Fee and Alec hire a wedding planner.
Fiadh…
