Here I am, throwing my older brothers under the bus while simultaneously hoping they won’t stand for any of this. They drive me crazy with their protectiveness, but I’m hoping it comes in handy. There has to be another way. Raff still acts like I’m twelve, so I can’t picture him just handing me over to the campus fuckboy. He would literally show up at my high school dates. Restaurants. Movies. It didn’t matter. Suddenly, Raff just happened to be at the same venue.
I don’t understand why it has to be me. There are lots of us Irish. We’re good Catholics. We breed like bunnies. Raff can help me find someone else to serve as a sacrificial bride.
My father answers me slowly, as if I’m a child. “McGuiness only has sons. Liam’s the oldest, and a wife for him was one condition for an alliance.Youare the one he requested, Taryn, so no, your brothers can’t help.” I’m about to protest the use of the wordrequestedagain when my father continues, “Normally, McGuiness would want someone from our clan’s head family, but that’s not possible. Rowan has two sisters. One is already promised, as you’re well aware, and the other is still a child. After Rowan’s family, we are now next in line from the New York clan.” Ah yes. My father’s new position as Rowan’s right hand. Terrific. I’m glad this is all working out.For him.
I notice he ignores the question about how my older brothers feel about this. It won’t be good. I decide instantly that will be the route I take. Raff won’t let this happen.
My mother must notice the look on my face. She’s always been too perceptive. I could sneak nothing past Katie Walsh. “Rafferty will not interfere, Taryn.” Again, I must make a face because she continues, “He understands what is at stake.”
“I’ll talk to Rowan directly,” I pronounce. His sister is a close friend of mine. I know she’ll be on my side with this one. Her brother only inherited their father’s leadership position recently. He obviously isn’t thinking this through.
“No,” my mother interrupts before my father can respond. “You will not embarrass your father that way.”
“This is my life!” I know I keep repeating that mantra. But, seriously, how are they missing this point? Unfortunately, my loud whining has drawn the attention of many of the other patrons, and I can see my mother’s color rising.
My father clears his throat. “We will attend a reception at the O’Tooles’ family home on Saturday evening. You will be there. The McGuinesses and a few other families will be in attendance. You will accept Liam’s proposal.” He looks me right in the eye as he voices these vile words as facts, and for the first time, I see the mobster come to life. This is an order.
I shrink back into my seat. This can’t be happening to me. I already have a boyfriend. Sort of. I definitely have a life plan that does not involve marrying a gangster and moving to Chicago. There has to be a way out.
This is why I text the only people I know who might possibly be able to help as I leave the restaurant. If there was ever a reason for an emergency meeting at my place, this is it.
As I explain the situation to my friend, who happens to be our new mob leader’s sister, Raff and Nolan knock at my door. Of course, Nolan nearly swallows his tongue when he sees who is sitting in my living room. I’m not sure if it’s because Gráinne is drop-dead gorgeous or if he can’t believe that I’ve gone so far as to reach out to the new boss’s sister for help. I don’t care. If anyone has a chance of reaching Rowan O’Toole, it’s her.
“Hi, guys.” She waves as my brothers amble into my space. They both seem a bit dazed as they exchange greetings.
“Taryn was just telling me about her situation. Neither of you thought to mention it to her before she was blindsided?” Gráinne’s sweet voice is at odds with her accusatory words.
God, I love her. “Yeah,” I chide. “What she said.”
Raff gives a long sigh, ignoring my friend to focus on me. “I can’t believe you called in reinforcements.” Okay, so it isn’t Gráinne’s good looks that have them on edge.
“Really?! Sweet baby Jesus, Rafferty! This is my life!” Honest to God.How is no one getting this?Even Gráinne didn’t seem sufficiently outraged when I told her I was being forced to marry into a one-man brothel. Instead, she told me he is a nice guy. Right.
I continue my rant. “It would be absolutely terrific to have a say in who I am going to spend it with. How would you feel if this happened to you?!” I watch him flinch. Raff has had the same girlfriend since he was sixteen years old and he still lights up every time her name is mentioned. No idea why he hasn’t tied that knot yet.
“Didn’t Da explain things?” Nolan asks me while giving Gráinne the side-eye. I guess I didn’t consider the fact that it may be a touch uncomfortable to discuss her brother’s precarious hold on his leadership position in front of her.
I wave away the question. “Yeah, yeah. This big boss demanded a wife for his son, and I’m next in line since this one here”—I jut my thumb at my friend—“is already happily promised in some other unholy alliance. I have zero choice because we need the Chicago boys or we New Yorkers will all perish. Apparently, I’m preventing a war.” I roll my eyes before intoning in my deepGame of Thronesvoice, “Winter is coming.”
“Have you been outside? It’s already winter,” is my oldest brother’s helpful reply. I give him a look that expresses the idiot that I think he is.
“Iunderstand the reference, smartass,” my other brother says tersely. “And, know this, Sansa Stark: winteriscoming.” Given that Sansa was originally promised to marry the show’s evil heir to the throne, I don’t like the comparison.
“I’m sorry this is happening to you,” Gráinne’s gentle voice interrupts my tirade. “But I don’t think Rowan would ask this if we had another way. He’s not one for unnecessary drama.”
Why the hell does everyone keep using words like “ask” and “request?” It’s exasperating.
“Liam really is a nice guy,” she tells me once again, concern etched all over her perfect face.
“Great. Why don’tyoumarry him?”
She at least has the decency to pale at my words as she plays with the engagement ring on her finger. “Iamtruly sorry, Tare. I’ll talk to Rowan. I promise you I will. I just don’t think it will help. He did tell me he was hosting a reception on Saturday night with the Chicago clan. I didn’t realize this was why. He obviously has it all arranged.”
I’m about to make a quip about howshegot to choose her own fiancé when she continues, “Have you reached out to Liam directly? Or, I mean, I could call him if you want?”
“That’s not a bad idea,” I muse. It hadn’t occurred to me to go straight to the source. Let him derail this from his end. I’m sure Gráinne’s fiancé wouldn’t like her calling Liam since he’s a dick about her talking to other guys, but hey, sacrifices must be made, right?
“I wouldn’t do that.” Raff shatters my hope. “Neither of you can undermine Rowan’s orders. Not ever, but especially not right now. There are enough internal issues to deal with. We don’t need to add to them. Seriously, Tare, things aren’t good. We both know you wouldn’t have questioned Cormac, and we can’t show Rowan any less respect.”
