Page 25 of Sins of Innocence

"She'll get it," Kieran says.

As if he has input over my children's lives.

I manage to yank my hand from Kieran's and cross my arms over my chest. "That's for me to say."

"You don't want her to go to counseling?" Kieran's heavily muscled arm lands across my shoulders. "I'll pay for it."

Because the only reason I could have for protesting him making pronouncements about my daughter's healthcare is that I might not have the insurance to cover counseling services? This man is as emotionally dense as a fossilized rock.

"Of course I want her to go and I'll make sure she does, but that's not for you to say. I'm her mother."

Kieran doesn't bother to reply.

Surprise. Surprise.

"Which is the point, I think," Kara says. "Kenneth is setting everything up to make it look like you have a reason to resent Mick enough to turn him in to the feds."

"Why would I resent Mick for what happened today?" I ask in bewilderment. "I'm more likely to despise Kenneth and his miscreant son."

Which I already do and today only solidified that feeling.

"Considering what he has already told you, we have to assume he has a plan to make it seem like Mick's at fault for Kenny Jr. and his friends' reprehensible attitude. Or that you blame him for it at least."

All he has to do is say as much to his cronies. No one is going to believe me if I deny it. Why would they? They see me as the widow of a traitor and that makes me the lowest of the low in their eyes. I've already experienced that in the way they treat me and talk to me.

Kenneth isn't the only one who has called me a traitor's whore.

When I don't say anything, Kara sighs with what sounds like real regret. "Like it, or not, and trust me, none of us likes what happened today to Sadie, Kenneth has made you and your girls an integral part of his plan."

What plan? Oh, that's right, the one where Kenneth gives an anonymous tip to the feds and blames me for it when Mick gets arrested. In his position, I'm sure he has access to proof of the underboss's criminality.

And because I work in his home, he'll convince people I gained access to it somehow.

Like, by seducing him. No wonder he's trying so hard to push me into being his mistress. He hasn't raped me because he knows the penalty and as an adult, he can't hope for clemency.

My imagination could be running away with me, but instincts honed by living in a hostile environment for over five years tell me I'm not.

Leaving New York isn't going to save me. I'm already in too deep when I didn't realize I'd even taken a step into the muddy waters of the mob.

"What you are saying is that I don't have a choice. If I want to protect my daughters and myself, I have to marry into your mob." Marry the man currently pressed up against me like an overprotective gargoyle.

I don't realize I said the last bit aloud until Kara says, "You could do a lot worse than a gargoyle as your protector." She gives her husband a loving look.

I don't know what that's about, but right now I can't make myself care either. My thoughts are spinning and my emotions are the gale force winds keeping them that way.

"You do have a choice," Mick argues. "Both options have consequences. You decide which ones you can live with. It might help you to know that unsanctioned murder comes with a death sentence in our mob as well. Now that he's given you his promise, Wraith will kill Kenneth to protect you and your girls."

"Not against your orders." I turn my head and find Kieran looking down at me, not at his boss. "You wouldn't, would you?" I ask him.

"Yes."

"But isn't that against your mob code, or something?"

"I made you a promise."

"But you promised to obey orders too." I'm guessing, but that's how it works, isn't it?

"His promise to me is negated if I put his family at risk and Kieran has claimed you and your girls as his family."