Page 13 of Honorable Sins

The security guard in the hall wipes his brow and breathes a sigh of relief as I rush by him with my entourage. "They're all in the principal's office, Mrs. Fitzgerald, that way."

Like I need directions. I've been there many times before, though this is the first time I've been called for Fitz fighting. I'm usually here to discuss much more mundane matters, like library donations.

The private Catholic school has a large banned books section in their physical, digital and audiobook libraries courtesy of my family.

"Did one of you text Mick before I got a chance to?" I demand of my security detail as we rush down the hall.

If my husband had just arrived, I don't think the security guard would have looked so stressed.

"You didn't give instructions not to," one of them says.

Another adds, "And we have standing instructions to inform him any time you decide to leave the mansion."

Gritting my teeth, I increase my pace, my heels clicking along the tiled floors like a drum riff.

There is a uniformed police officer standing in the outer office with two of Mick's men between him and the door to the principal's inner sanctum.

"If you would just take a seat, Mr. Shaughnessy." Alice Bryant's agitated voice reaches me as Kieran Lleshi, also known as Wraith, opens the door to allow me entrance.

I wince and am not at all surprised to hear my husband remind her in a deadly tone, "My name is Fitzgerald."

"Oh, yes, of course! I didn't mean any offence."

"I find your threat to expel my son for defending a classmate offensive. Your inability to remember my surname is merely indicative of your unsuitability in your role."

Oh, crap. When my husband starts sounding like the COO I teased him about being last night, everybody is in trouble.

Rushing past my security, I take in the tableau that meets me. His school tie askew and hair mussed, Fitz stands protectively in front of a dark-haired girl who looks miserable and embarrassed. Doing her best to blink back tears, she flicks a gaze at me and then looks down without meeting my eyes.

She started at St. Patrick's when Fitz was still in elementary school and I've seen her a few times, but I didn't realize she and my son were friends.

Mick looms over the principal's desk, threat emanating off him in waves. Mark Bentley is attempting to look professional and unaffected. However, he's leaning back in his chair like he wants to create distance between himself and my mob underboss husband.

Alice Bryant, the school secretary, is standing to the right side of the desk, aligning herself with him.

JoAnn Young, the vice principal, is standing to the left, making herself a second body between the upset girl and the other school administrators.

We should be meeting in JoAnn's office as student behavior and discipline is under her purview.

The fact we are not is no doubt due to who the parents of the children involved are. Namely, us and if I don't miss my guess, at least one other family linked to the Shaughnessy name.

"Yes, please let's all calm down. I'm sure it won't be necessary to withdraw Fitzgerald from the Academy." Mark's eyes light with relief when he sees me. "Ah, Mrs. Shaugh—Fitzgerald, I mean." He gives Mick a worried glance. "So glad you could join us."

Withdraw Fitz from school? I knew Mick getting here first was a bad idea.

He turns to face me, his green eyes warming for just a moment. "Kara."

"You got here fast," I chide my husband.

Because even if my security texted him the second I ordered the car, he would have had to ignore speed limits to already have gotten enough of the story to decide to withdraw Fitz from the school.

A soft sob catches my attention and shifts my focus from my husband to Sadie. Her tears have spilled over and are now tracking down her cheeks.

Fitz spins to face her too, "It's gonna be okay, Sadie. My da will make sure it doesn't happen again."

Mick's head snaps around to look at our son and suddenly there's a dangerous stillness in the principal's office.

Because Fitz’s words imply three things: