Page 11 of Sins of Innocence

Even so, I doubt I'll get an answer from Mr. Doesn't Like to Talk but Is Surprisingly Chivalrous. His now wet jacket is on the backseat and despite it being seventy-five degrees outside, the heat is on low inside the cab.

Why? Because I might get a chill from the slight damp in my hair after being exposed to the rain for the full two seconds it took him to turn his jacket into an umbrella for me.

His own dark hair got drenched by the unexpected downpour and the shoulders of his dress shirt cling wetly to his bulging muscles.

In a very hot way. Which is so not the point this minute, brain.

"Nothing." He doesn't say anything else.

"That's it? Nothing? Do you have any idea how stressed out I am right now?" Why am I antagonizing this guy?

Rule Number One for Smart Women: Do not antagonize the mobster. No matter how good looking he is.

"You're not in trouble." Kieran signals before taking a right.

The car is warm and I prickle with heat in the long-sleeved black button up that makes up half of my maid's uniform. The other half is a straight skirt designed to fall two inches below the knees, but hits mid-calf on my short 5'2" body.

No leggings or short sleeves for Allison Shaughnessy's staff. Not even in summer, much less mid-June. Not that I would ever wear leggings around Kenneth Shaughnessy. And with how low Allison sets the A/C, I'm happy for my long sleeves too.

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" I demand. "Is Sadie in trouble?"

He shrugs his big shoulders. Like seriously big. We're in a full size SUV and Kieran makes it feel small and cramped inside. He just takes up all the space around him.

"Don't shrug at me," I practically shout. "That's not an answer."

What is wrong with me? I am not this woman. I am quiet. I keep my head down.

"Kara sent me to pick you up," he says like that's supposed to explain everything and allay all my fears.

It does help. A little. Sadie sings Kara Shaughnessy's praises, repeating everything Fitz tells her about his mom.

I've never actually met the woman and I have to take Fitz's opinion of his parents with a grain of salt. He thinks his dad is a good guy too and everyone knows Mick Fitzgerald is a Bonafide sociopath.

At least everyone who has been made a widow by him with the threat of ending up dead too if she exhibits any kind of disloyalty. As defined by him and Kenneth Shaughnessy. FML.

I've seen Kara at PTA meetings though. She does seem kind and to really care about the welfare of all the children at St. Patrick's, not just her son's. Sadie is convinced we would be best friends if we got to know each other, like she and Fitz are.

I don't have the heart to tell my daughter that's about as likely as us moving to Long Island. Not only because we are in totally different social brackets but because Kara's husband murdered mine. And would do the same to me if he thought I was a rat too.

"You don't wear a ring."

It takes a second for Kieran's words to penetrate the haze of fear in my mind. Is he taunting me?

Of course I don't still wear the wedding ring from a man murdered for betraying the mob.

"Why would I?" I taunt back.

Seriously? Do I have a death wish, or what? What is it about this man that brings out the feisty nature I've kept under lock and key for the last six years?

"You're married."

"I am not married. I'm a widow." And he knows it because it's his boss that made me that way.

He swears under his breath. "Troy Gallagher was your husband," he says like he's just made the connection with my last name.

"And your boss killed him. Just tell me if it's my turn now." Please tell me it's not. Please, please tell me that.

Kieran's big body swells with affront. "No."