Cavin's wife, Erin, is perched on the edge of the desk, all sharp eyes and sharper tongue. “Oh my,” she says, never one to mince words. “So this is why you haven't come to dinner, even when Caitlin's made her famous roast?”
I scrub a hand across my brow. “Aye.”
“So.” Seamus's voice is low, his gaze moving from me to Bianca and back again. “You brought her.”
“Aye.” I keep my hand on the small of Bianca's back. “Wasn't safe to leave her.”
“Safe.” Cavin gives me a sharp look, pushes off the window, his movements controlled. But Cavin's a fighter, just like me, and I know this stance. He's holding himselfback. “Because Crowning's fucking looking for her because you took her from him.”
“Cavin—” Declan starts, one hand up. The peacemaker. He doesn't like trouble in the family, but Cavin cuts him off with a look.
“No, we won't fucking dance around this.” Cavin's eyes fix on me. “You took Crowning's bride-to-be, and now we're in the firing line because you wouldn't keep your fucking cock in your pants.”
“Cavin,” Erin snaps. “My god. Read the room, will you?”
I feel Bianca stiffen beside me. I clench my hands into fists. “You watch your goddamn mouth.”
“Or what?” Cavin takes a step forward. “You'll start another war. Oh, wait, you already fuckingdid.”
“Shut it.”
He shoves me, and rage builds. I could wipe the floor with him in ten seconds flat, and he knows it.
Seamus's voice cuts through the tension like a blade. “Enough. Both of you, sit down.”
Cavin glares, but we all know better than to disobey Seamus.
Cavin's one of my best mates, but he's angry because I put his family in the line of fire.
“I had my reasons,” I say, my voicetight.
“Do any of those reasons have anything to do with our family's safety?” Cavin shoots back.
“I saidenough,” Seamus says. “Sit the fuck down before I make you.”
Lorcan lets out a whistle, but I don't sit. Seamus looks at me in shock. Can't remember if I've ever disobeyed him like this.
“Ashland,” he says.
“I'm not sitting until Cavin apologizes to her.”
“Fuck,” Declan mutters. “He's serious.”
“Of course he's serious,” Erin says, sliding off the desk. She approaches Bianca with a look that makes me tense, but she speaks gently. “I’m sorry. This lot can be a bit much, but they’re more bark than bite.”
Cavin growls but doesn’t respond.
Bianca's voice is small but steady. “I'm fine.”
“Alright,” Erin says with a smile. “I respect that. Do you want to get some tea while the boys sort out their dick-measuring contest?”
“She stays with me,” I say immediately.
“Ashland.” Bianca touches my arm, and I look down at her. “It's okay. I could use some tea. And honestly”—she gives me a small smile—“a little bit of female conversation.”
I grumble.
“Let’s go,” Erin says. “Kyla and Bronwyn are in the kitchen. We'll come back in a bit, Ash.” She rolls her eyes when I reach for Bianca, then starts to lead her out. “They need the female touch in these meetings now.”
