Chapter Twenty-Five
Bianca
We havethree days of peace at the McCarthy house. It astonishes me that I ever believed these people were anything but… family.
Caitlin is welcoming and maternal to everyone, including me. Bronwyn treats me like a sister, takes me under her wing, and we spend long afternoons in the library, reading in the oversized chairs with hand-knit blankets. Staff brings us tea, and I feel like a princess.
Ashland's training with his cousin, researching Marcus's location, and making his plan. It's at the back of my mind. Honestly, at the back of everybody's mind. We're nervous, we're worried, and we know there's going to be violence that we can't control.
But for now, things are good, and I will take that.
Every single night, Ashland comes back to me. We crawl into bed together, and I forget everything but him.
Four days after I've arrived, I'm doing the washing up in the kitchen. Caitlin tells me not to, that they have staff for that. But I like to earn my place, and it feels good to contribute to something here.
“I can't just sit around and get…” No, I won’t say it. But somehow, even when Ashland's not in the room, I know he would not be happy about that. And I'm starting to see that it's all been in my mind.
That Iambeautiful, just as I am. And there'sno reasontochangeanything about me. Not one thing.
“Lazy,” I finally finish with a smile.
Caitlin smiles back at me. “If you insist,” she says warmly. “But I like that you're spending time with Bronwyn.” She takes a teacup out of the strainer and a hand towel. “She's had a rough go of it in keeping friends. Sometimes it can be isolating, being who we are. People don't trust very easily, you know?”
“I know,” I say quietly, because until very recently, I was one of those people myself.
Erin sits at the table, pounding away on a laptop. She types faster than anyone I've ever known, and her mind is like a steel trap. I'm amazed by the woman.
“It's true,” she says pragmatically. “People don't trustthe mafia.”
Bronwyn laughs out loud, stirring a large pot on the stove. “Erin, I love that there's no pretense with you. You just, you just say things.”
“Did I say something wrong?” Erin says, her brow furrowed.
“No, love,” Caitlin says, a smile in her voice as she pats Erin's shoulder. “You're perfect, just as you are.”
My phone buzzes in my pocket. I rinse and dry my hands, expecting another flirty message from Ashland. But when I see it's from my mother, my belly flutters with nerves. She's no longer just insisting that I come home. There's a different edge to her texts.
Now that I see her for what she is, I suspect everything.
Erin does too. I know she does. And I'm curious what she's going to reveal about her.
Mam
Marcus found you. He's coming to the McCarthy house. Bianca, we need to talk. Please.
My blood runs cold.
“Does anybody know where Ashland is?” I say, my voice too high.
“Everything alright?” Caitlin asks warily.
I shake my head and show her the message.
“He's not coming. She's lying,” she says quietly. “I’m sorry. I don’t normally speak ill of people who can’t defend themselves, but I promise, he can’t come. Declan's been watching him and his people. He would know if he was moving. Don't worry about it, but let's go find Ashland.”
We walk through the massive house, and she speaks quietly to the staff until somebody finally locates Ashland with Seamus in his study.
“I need to talk with you,” I say.
