Page 52 of Honorable Sins

Fi takes both of my hands. "I'm getting married."

For one ridiculous heartbeat I simply stare at her. Then I squeal.

Actually squeal.

Because for the first time in too many generations to deal with my sister will be the first woman in our family to marry for love and not mob politics.

"Oh my gosh!" I pull her into another warm hug.

She laughs against my shoulder. "I know. I'm so happy, Kara."

"I know, Fi." I kiss her temple. "You deserve to be."

She clings for another second before stepping away.

"When?" I ask, assuming it was just now, but then how did Mick know to congratulate them?

"Zoey finally asked an hour ago after telling me she couldn't answer my proposal yet when I asked her over a week ago." Fiona's voice doesn't reflect even a little anger at that, but there's definitely exasperation there.

"You proposed?" I ask Fiona and then frown at Zoey. "And you waited to say yes?"

Zoey's stoic mafiosa mask slips over her face again. "I didn't have a choice. I needed Miceli's permission."

That brings me up short. I look between them. "Permission? But why would Miceli hesitate. We already have blood ties between our families."

Our cousin Róise married Mick almost six years ago.

Zoey shrugs. "I'm a Costra Nostra made woman. Marriage alliances happen all the time." She glances at Fiona with unmistakable affection. "Marrying someone outside the famiglia isn't the unusual part."

"It's that you won't be bringing Fi into it," I realize.

"Exactly."

Fiona squeezes my hand. "Miceli agreed to make Zoey's assignment to the Shaughnessy Mob permanent."

My eyebrows shoot up. "Really?"

Zoey nods. "He also gave me his word that so long as our families remain allies, he'll never try to use me to spy on the Shaughnessys."

I smile because Fiona is smiling. Because this is everything she wants. Because Zoey loves her enough to ask the Don of the Genovese for permission to do the unthinkable: be seconded to the Irish mob permanently.

But beneath all of that another thought wedges itself into my mind. So long as our families remain allies.

Some caveat.

Zoey must read something on my face because she says quietly, "The truth is, if our families go to war, I'm the first one they'll kill."

Silence settles over the room. Heavy. Painful. Every person standing here understands exactly why. A made soldier who belongs equally to two enemy families belongs to neither.

This is our world.

But Zoey cannot be our enemy, not when she's family.

I look at Mick, my eyes filled with an appeal I don't even think about trying to hide.

He gives me that reassuring smile he reserves for me and our children. "It won't happen."

Zoey looks at him.