Page 40 of Sins of Innocence

Maybe if she spends some time with Kara, Áine will come to terms with her new reality faster. Kara and Mick's marriage was the result of a contract alliance between two mobs and the underboss's wife is very happy.

My Áine can be too. If she'll let herself.

We're sitting at the kitchen table, drinking our tea when Maureen asks, "What happened today that made it so you had to introduce Kieran to the girls?"

Not knowing how much detail she wants to go into, I look to Áine to answer.

A look of remembered horror washes over Áine's features. "Sadie was attacked by some boys at school today."

"What? Why didn't you tell me earlier?" Maureen demands. "Why didn't the school call?"

"Because they thought that Fitz Shaughnessy beating them up to protect her was more important than the fact the boys tried to hurt Sadie," Áine says, her voice laced with helpless anger.

Her anger isn't helpless though. And it never will be again because she has me to make sure it isn't.

She's a strong woman, but I have a different kind of strength. The kind that makes things happen in the world her dead husband's actions drew her into.

"Did they now?" Maureen's gaze fills with furious fire. "We'll just see about that."

"Kara Fitzgerald demanded an emergency meeting of the school board," I offer.

Maureen waves a dismissive hand. "As if the school board for a fancy place like St. Patrick's will listen to the likes of us. That namby-pamby principal on the other hand. He listens to whichever parent is the loudest and my daughter and I can be very loud."

"They'll listen." I'll be there to make sure they do.

Áine turns her mug in her hands, cupping the sides like she's trying to draw warmth from it. "Kara didn't tell me about the school board meeting."

"You were with the kids."

"I'm still not understanding how this led to you exposing your secret relationship to the girls." The emphasis Maureen puts on secret is an unmistakable dig at her daughter for keeping things from her.

By the look in Áine's eyes, the guilt arrow finds its target. Even though she knows the truth: that the whole fake relationship and supposed secret months of dating is a necessary lie.

Áine's heart is too tender for her own good, but she's obviously close with her mom and I don't want that bond damaged by our inevitable future.

"I was with Mick when he got the call from the school," I explain.

It's the truth. Just not all of it. I allow Maureen to draw her own conclusions from that.

Which she does. "And you felt it would be better for you to tell my daughter about what had happened to Sadie than for her to get a phone call from the school."

Maureen gives me a less grudging look of approval.

I'm growing on her.

"I had to get to Áine," I agree with another partial truth.

Mick ordered me to pick up Áine and bring her to the estate.

"Well, I may not have known about you, but you clearly care for my daughter, Kieran Lleshi."

The look Áine is giving her mother and me is something between awe and horror.

Adding more credence to the relationship scenario, I pull Áine's hand from around her mug to hold it in mine.

Despite having been holding the hot mug of tea, her fingers are cold.

Shit.