“Why would she do that?” Bianca's voice cracks.
“Because she wanted revenge against my family, believing us responsible for your father’s death. Andwhat better revenge than to marry her daughter off to a man she knew would kill you eventually? She's been Marcus Crowning's mistress for years, love. She knew exactly what his son was. She knew what would happen to you.”
Bianca makes a small, wounded sound.
“I'll never make an accusation I can't back up,” I tell her firmly. “When we get to the house, I'll show you the financial records. The bank transfers. Everything. Your mother used you, Bianca. She's been using you from the start.”
She's shaking now, tears streaming down her face. I reach over and take her hand, but she doesn't squeeze back this time.
“It's vitally important to your mother that she stays on top, that she gains from all this, right? She's fed you lies about the McCarthys because god forbid anyone think we aren't monsters.”
“I don't know what you're getting at, Ashland, but I do trust you. It's my mother I don't trust. Or Marcus.” She looks out the window. “I just… You have to understand. For the last ten years, I thought your family was responsible for my father's death.” She pauses. “And you’re saying theMcCarthyshave been paying our bills?”
“Aye. The electric bill. The water. The groceries delivered every week to your door. The property taxes.” I pull out my phone, opening files Ishouldn't, but do. “I could show you. Every payment, every month, every year. Itemized.”
I scroll through, turning the screen toward her. “Here's last month. The month before that, we covered a three-thousand-dollar dentist bill she racked up. Before that, we paid for the new furnace when yours died in February.”
Her face has gone white and her eyes wide.
“Your mother never worked a day after your father died,” I continue, my voice hard. “Never had to. The McCarthys made sure of it. Made sure you never went without. Guilt money, maybe. Blood money, definitely. But it kept a roof over your head and food in your belly for ten fucking years while she was busy teaching you to hate us.”
“My god,” she whispers. “She told me for years that we were poor because of the McCarthys, that it was your family’s fault…” She shakes her head.
“Aye. She used you, love. I’m sorry.”
“I know.” She exhales. “I suspected that when she suddenly started buying me dresses and shoes to go out with Marcus to have fancy dinners. I just—my father's gone, and my mother lied to me.” She shakes her head. “But good riddance to Marcus.”
I squeeze her knee.
She squares her shoulders and sits up straighter. “But I'mwith you now, and I want to know what I'm going into. Who else will be there?”
“I don't know exactly, but I'll give you the quick rundown,” I say. “My cousin Seamus is the head of the McCarthy clan.”
“The Undertaker,” she whispers. “Everybody from here to the northernmost tip of Ireland knows who Seamus McCarthy is.”
I nod and squeeze her hand. “Aye, but he's—he's on our side. Mostly.” I don't give her the details. “Lorcan will be there.”
She swallows and nods. “Okay.”
“He looks like me but with more hair.” She smiles, and something in my chest heaves. I draw in a ragged breath. “Dependable and loyal, but lacks real-world experience still.”
“Got it.”
“Cavin—he's second in command to Seamus. Married to Erin Kavanagh.”
“Heard about that,” she says. “Saw it online. They were enemies but got married anyway, didn’t they? Will your parents be there?”
“Likely not, but I'll arrange for you to meet them too.”
“What if they don't like me?” she whispers.
“Impossible,” I whisper back. “Anyone who knows the real you can't help but fall madly in love. Even if they did, it doesn't matter to me. Do you understand me?”
“Yes,” she says. “I do. Who else?”
“My Aunt Caitlin. Sweetest woman you’ll ever meet, but with a spine of steel. My Uncle Keenan, likely. But Seamus is the one in charge now. He runs these meetings. His brother, my cousin Cavin, is there. My cousin Declan. Have you heard of him?”
“Definitely,” she says with a laugh. “Who hasn't heard of Declan McCarthy? He's a bit of a legend too, isn't he?”
