Page 19 of Honorable Sins

Okay. That's unexpected.

Mick and I take the two armchairs while Sadie sits beside her mom. Fitz and Fiona bring over chairs from the table. Unsurprisingly, Fitz puts his at the end of the couch nearest Sadie.

My son has a protective streak that goes bone deep.

Áine takes a deep breath and looks at her daughter. "I know there was some kind of fight at school today and Kenny Jr. got taken to the hospital afterward, but the school didn't call me or your gran to tell us you'd been involved."

"She wasn't part of the fight," Fitz says fiercely. "That was me and four other boys."

"Four?" Áine asks, startled. "What happened?" she asks her daughter.

"You know the boys who have been bullying me?" Sadie asks.

Áine nods. "I tried talking to their parents, but…" She shrugs with a frown.

"They didn't listen," Wraith growls.

Áine sighs. "Why would they? I'm the wife of a traitor and Sadie is the daughter of one."

"You knew about your husband's activities?" Mick asks, a lethal chill in his voice.

Áine scoots closer to Wraith and shakes her head vehemently. "Knew while they were happening? No. Know now? Yes, as you made certain I did."

Seeing Sadie's lack of surprise, I'd have to guess she's also aware. Why would a mother tell her daughter her father was a traitor? And why does Áine believe Mick ordered for her to be told?

That's the last thing my husband would have done.

The risk of her turning state's evidence with information like that would be too great.

Mick's face is blank. "Explain."

"Do you order so many women terrorized, you can't remember sending Kenneth Shaughnessy to do it to me?" Áine's hand flies to her mouth and she gives Sadie a guilty look.

"Don't worry mom, I know Mr. Shaughnessy is mean. He says stuff to me too."

"What kind of stuff?" Fitz asks, his tone a good imitation of his father's just before someone dies.

"That my dad's a traitor. That my mom's lucky to have a job working for him and I'm lucky he got me into our school because they didn't want a traitor's daughter mixing with the good kids."

From the expression on Áine's face, that last bit is news to her and she's furious about it. "You are one of the good kids. You're the best kind of kid!"

"How exactly did Kenneth terrorize you?" Mick asks.

Áine looks down at her daughter and then up at Mick, her expression troubled. "He told me what happened after you found out about what Troy did."

The words are innocent enough, unless you know what did happen. Mick tortured and killed the traitorous soldier.

And Kenneth Shaughnessy told Áine about it?

That disloyal bastard!

"What do you mean, mom?" Sadie asks, her voice pitching higher. "Daddy died before the mob found out what he did."

"That's right, honey. But after Mr. Fitzgerald learned about what Troy did, he wanted to make sure I was made aware too." Áine looks imploringly up at Wraith. "My daughter doesn't need to hear any more of this."

I didn't know the enigmatic, tough as nails, Wraith could feel compassion much less had that expression in his repertoire.

"Agreed." He looks at Mick, the compassion morphing to determination. "Boss."