Page 45 of Sins of Innocence

I replay their conversation in my head before I nod approval for their plans.

"Whatcha doin'?" Noah asks me.

"Trying to find six first class seats on a flight to Vegas for Friday."

"This Friday?" Dagda asks.

I give a jerk of my head in the affirmative.

"Good luck with that," Torch says.

I need more than luck because so far, I haven't found more than two first class seats available for a flight. I'm not putting my family in coach. It's crowded and nearly impossible to guarantee security.

"Who's going to Vegas?" McLaren asks.

"Me and my new family."

"New family?" Thomas asks. "When did you start dating and who is she?"

Crunch time. Do I share the real reason for my marriage? I wasn't blowing smoke up Áine's skirt when I told her the more people who know, the bigger the chance the secret gets out.

Even when they're people you know you can trust.

Besides, I don't want my crew looking at Áine like she's a mission for me because whatever the reason for us getting married, she'll be my wife.

'Til death do us part.

"Is it the pretty mommy of three you were locking lips with yesterday?" McLaren asks, that edge that entered her voice when she learned about Áine Gallagher, growing sharp as the edge of my favorite knife.

I shouldn't be surprised it's her asking and not Noah. Gossip in the mob is as bad as any military unit I've been in.

"Yes. Áine Gallagher."

McLaren's eyes widen and then narrow. "The woman you had in a liplock yesterday was Áine Gallagher?" She glares at Noah. "You didn't say the boss was kissing Áine."

Noah shrugs. "Didn't know her name last night."

"Just that she had three daughters." McLaren's scowl turns inward. "I should have realized…" She shakes her head. "But how the fuck could I?"

"We've been dating a while, but we had to keep it on the downlow so her mom and kids didn't find out," Ignoring McLaren's weird musings, I tell them the cover story Áine and I agreed on. "She didn't want to introduce me until we were sure it was going somewhere. Then yesterday happened."

If my fiancée were here, she'd be impressed with the lengthy explanation, but I know my crew. Her name would not be enough for them. I'm just circumventing a bunch of back and forth.

"I'd say it's going right to the altar with you calling them your family and going on vacation with them." Torch smirks.

Noah waggles his brows. "And it ain't on the downlow anymore with that kiss you laid on her last night."

"I heard about that," Thomas says.

I'm sure they all did. From the looks on their faces, I'd say I'm right.

Even Ethan doesn't show a flicker of surprise, though he wouldn't either way.

"What did you do, send out a group text?" I demand of Noah.

He shrugs. "Sure. I mean…the boss has a girlfriend. That's prime info."

"Discretion. Use it," I order.