Fionn finally laid a hand on my shoulder. “I don’t know why Uncle Sloan didn’t tell you. I suppose, like you said, because they aren’t important. They’re good enough at their jobs. They’re ruthless when they need to be.”
“Aren’t important?” I repeated, letting the words rebound in my head until it hurt. “He has cousins.Cousins.Not distant relatives. I thought you were his only close family. I mean, I knew he had a sister, but he never talks about her. I just assumed she left the illegal life completely and they had no contact. But now I find out he has cousins, and apparently second or third cousins or whatever the fuck Eddie is.”
Fionn grimaced. “We have quite a few family members over in Ireland. And then there’s Ceallach and Orin and their sister Siobhán. Their dad, Ward, too.”
I held up a palm to him. “I know about them. I’m fine with them. But these other guys? They’re close cousins, right?”
“Yeah. Their mom is Grandfather’s sister. Sloan’s aunt. They’re Killoughs.”
I shrugged off his touch, a sense of betrayal stirring low in my stomach. How did I not know any of this? Fuck. I thought I was up to date with everything. It was all one big lie.
Daire watched me, not moving, not speaking. He had to know how pissed I was, and he wasn’t silly enough to reach for me. He didn’t have the right to touch me, not like Fionn.
I backed away from them.
“I need time alone.” I spun on my heel and stomped toward the staircase and up the steps, which I took two at a time until I was at the top before I rushed toward our bedroom. Guards watched me from the corner of their eyes, but they kept their positions against the walls.
When I finally reached the room, I slammed the door shut firmly and fell face-first onto the bed. I punched the pillow witha yell of frustration. Fuck. I hadn’t felt this useless since the first year with Sloan.
Fury vibrated through my head until it began to hurt, but I struck the mattress over and over again until I felt a little better.
I sat up and wriggled until my back was against the headboard, sighing. Massaging my forehead, I weighed my options for my next steps, but there wasn’t much thought required. I was still furious, my blood pounding in my ears. I knew what I needed to do.
Taking a calming breath, I yanked out my phone from my pocket and found Sloan’s burner number in my contacts. I tapped call and pressed it to my ear, waiting.
The ringing was fuel for my anger. The longer the grating tone went on, the more toxic my rage became until the call cut out because Sloan hadn’t set up voicemail.
I tried to contact him again.
And again.
And again.
And again.
Nothing.
Finally, I threw my phone as hard as I could against the wall on the other side of our bedroom. By the sound of theclunkand more than one piece hitting the floor, I suspected I’d broken it. I didn’t care.
Maybe he would learn a lesson when he tried to call me and I didn’t answer.
I didn’t know how long I stared at the ceiling before the urge to find my safe space had me storming out of the bedroom and downstairs. I avoided as many people as I could.
A few of the men eyed me, their distaste obvious in their beady stares. There were soldiers I trusted, but then there were the snakes waiting for the chance to strike. When Sloan got outof jail, we’d need to restructure our protection. I only wanted guys with loyalty who I didn’t have to second-guess.
I swept outside, taking in the warmth of the sun on my skin. The fresh air filled my nose, the spring breeze dancing through the open space of the backyard. I closed my eyes and inhaled until my lungs felt like they’d burst. This was peace.
Smiling to myself, I ignored the guards that hovered around the perimeter as I headed straight toward the greenhouse. As I reached the exterior, O’Nunan came walking toward me. He was one of the guards who did regular checks around the premises, and he was thorough. I liked him and while I didn’t trust him as much as Vail’s men, O’Nunan never gave me trouble.
He was one of the newer guys who’d been promoted to protecting the house, and I’d be lying if I said he wasn’t eye candy. A grin was enough to make any man or woman blush,ifI was the type to blush, which I wasn’t. The only person who could get a visceral reaction from me was Sloan. Regardless, O’Nunan was nice to look at—something I’d never tell Sloan.
“Good morning, sir.” He carded his fingers through his sandy blond hair, green eyes glittering under the late morning sun. “How are you doing?”
What a question. The answer was terrible, but I couldn’t share that with him. Sloan would tell me to bury my emotions deep and not show weakness to any of the men, no matter how nice they seemed.
His black suit melded against his hard body, moving with his big muscles and firm shoulders. The tie was a deep green, an expression of fealty to our heritage and mob. The wind ruffled his hair and he laughed.
“Nice day today. Not too hot yet, but not cold,” he said.
