Page 25 of Honorable Sins

"If Kieran killed Kenneth Shaugnessy without your sanction, you would kill him, even though you're the one who approved him claiming us as his family?" she asks in disbelief.

Outsiders have a hard time understanding the rules we live by in the mob. "Aye."

"But why?"

"We need to find out how deep Kenneth's traitorous rot has spread. Killing him would make that a lot harder than it needs to be."

"So, let me get this straight. First, you tell me that I have to marry Kieran to protect myself and my daughters." She gives Wraith a nasty look. "Then you tell me that if I don't marry him and he does what he well…does to protect us, then you'll kill him?"

"Aye." Isn't that what I've been saying?

"You're not giving me any choices, no matter what you say," she accuses.

"I will keep my family safe, whatever it takes."

The dread that fills her eyes tells me Áine understands that if it comes between her safety and that of my wife and chislers, they will always come first. She needs to accept the protection Kieran offers if she wants to make it out of this alive.

Because a dead patsy can't tell tales.

In a move I approve, Wraith lifts Áine right up off the couch and onto his lap. "You are a strong and compassionate woman. I knew another woman like you a long time ago, but I was too weak to protect her. I am not too weak to protect you."

My mob brother is a man of few words, but he says what he needs to. And none of his words now come as a surprise to me.

Unlike me, even though he's good at keeping them under wrap, Wraith is driven by his emotions.

"Would a strong woman have tolerated everything I have from Kenneth Shaughnessy and his family for the past six years?" Áine demands of Wraith.

He says, "Only a strong woman could."

Ain't that the truth?

A weak woman would run, knowing it would probably cost her everything because she couldn't make herself stay. Áine isn't that woman.

Wraith says pretty much the same thing, tacking on that she might even try to get money out of Kenneth for her escape after telling him about my suspicions. I remind them both if Áine did something that foolish, what the consequence would be.

"If I were to marry Kieran…" Áine looks a little stunned she said that. I don't know why. It became the inevitable conclusion as soon as I accepted Wraith's claim on her. "Then won't Kenneth know I already told Kieran everything? That you've figured out his plan?"

"Not if you convince everyone that you and Kieran have been in a secret relationship for a while." It's a good cover and will give us the opportunity to trip Kenneth up further when he finds out about the marriage and levels the inevitable threats to keep Áine quiet. "If you've been dating and I haven't come for him already, he'll assume you haven't told Wraith anything that would get Kenneth in trouble."

I'm not known for my patience when it comes to our men lying about anything, but especially about me.

"Wow, Machiavelli had nothing on you."

"There are none wilier than the Irish," I inform her.

"It will make it easier for your mother and daughters to accept too," Kara says. "Even though Fitz told Sadie that arranged marriages are common in the mob, there's no reason for her to believe this one didn't come about because of the secret relationship you and Wraith are in."

"Have you considered that if I marry Kieran, I'd hardly be the easy patsy you've asserted he wants me to be?" Áine asks, showing she's got a pretty good grasp on what's going on now. "It could precipitate action on Kenneth's part."

"I'm counting on it."

"Kenneth has assigned you a part in his little drama and he's going to make sure you play it," Kara tells her.

"Was anything said today at the Shaughnessy house that would negate the fake relationship scenario?" I ask Wraith.

Wraith shakes his head after giving it some thought.

Good.