Mags laughed as her eye caught sight of Nasir standing stiffly by the pub’s front door. “I’m counting on that man over there,” she nodded her head toward the unsmiling Nigerian, “to keep Eze occupied.”
“Ahh,” Gray said, eyeing the bodyguard, “the ex. I presume.”
“He’s very handsome. Does he still not like you?” Blair asked.
“We had a nice talk. We’re good,” Mags assured.
Everyone threw some money on the table, preparing to go their separate ways. Bébhinn seemed to hesitate. Clearly, she had something to say but was holding back, which wasn’t like her.
Blair signed, “Are you feeling alright, Bébhinn?”
“You’ll think I’m being hormonal, and I probably am, but I just want to say that I like that we’re back to talking again. Not just about nonsense but the tough stuff. Like we used to. Secrets never used to be who we were, and I hope we all try to keep our relationships open to the type of support we can offer one another. Cheers,” Bébhinn held her glass of water up.
“Cheers,” Gray seconded.
“Cheers,” Blair signed, holding up the last bit of whatever dark lager she’d ordered.
“Cheers and Amen,” Mags held her almost empty glass up in solidarity before she stood and grabbed her heavy tote hanging on the back of her chair and slung it over her shoulder. “I need to get to work, guys. If I don’t see you before, I’ll see you at Gray Eyes next week.”
“With more details,” Gray demanded.
“Of course,” Mags winked over her shoulder before turning toward Nasir.
thirty-four
HANNAH
Wasn’tMirren’s little sister living her best life? “What a happy little bitch,” Hannah sneered, where she sat in one of the two-seat tables that were tucked away in one of the pub’s shadowy walls.
She’d still been close enough to hear most of the trivial bullshit Margaret Morrow and her friends ran on about, careful not to draw unwanted attention.
The only attention you’d draw in a pub like this is from the Ugly Police.
“Just you wait,” Hannah whispered under her breath while pretending to read a book for anyone who might look her way. The girls left the pub five minutes ago, so she could relax her guard. “Once we get our revenge on Mirren and we take care of Mom, I’m going to take us to a beach somewhere and swim and run on the beach. I’ll get my looks back, don’t you worry about that.”
Don’t bore us with your pathetic fiction, Cow.
I can’t decide if I’m going to stay.One of the voices threatened.You’re a boring shell, Hannah. A husk of what you used to be…what you used to be capable of.
We used to get intoxicated off your blood and tears, your anger and violence. Now…
Hannah felt the pinch of panic. They weren’t just goading her. Hannah felt it in her bones that they may finally be finished with her.
She had to do something. She had to prove that she was still worthy. Sweat broke out across her skin, only thinking about not having her…family, for lack of a better word. She would die without their guidance, even though they made her so mad at times. What families didn’t quarrel?
She might have to rethink her plans for little Margaret. If her family wanted blood, fear, and pain, she would give it to them.
thirty-five
PATRICK
River thoughtshe could get by with telling him that their son was in love with someone, without giving any details. His wife should have remembered that she was married to an O’Faolain, and challenges were their favorite pastime.
For several days, either by himself or with his brother Bran, they’d stalked their wives. They followed them to work, to lunch, shopping, the spa, Raven’s gynecologist appointment, and Rowan’s bikini wax. They waited outside the rooms for both of those, of course, until finally, finally, they caved.
Because Patrick and his brothers knew that where the Byrne sisters were concerned, it was all of them or nothing. Ulf was in town for a few days—don’t get him started about how bizarre it was to find out that he and Bran had been living without their oldest brother their whole lives—and consented to tag along to meet the women for lunch.
As the three men walked into the pizzeria, Patrick’s eyes instantly found his wife seated on one side of a six-top table between her sisters. Even though they were all giving the menevil eyes, it still made his heart clench to see the sisters side-by-side.
