Page 84 of The Bratva Betrayal

Cady

The only sound is cutlery against china.

For a table with four people at it, that says everything.

My father is at the head of the table in a remarkable mood, still looking as pleased with himself as he probably did when he went to bed.

It's rare enough for him that it reads like a warning.

Colin Gallagher's good moods have always meant someone else's bad days, and judging by the table, I have a solid idea whose.

Rian cuts into his eggs with focused calm. He's already been briefed and is deciding what to do about it. Killian hasn't touched his food. He's sitting with his coffee in his hands. Whatever he's holding back is fighting to get out.

Neither of them looked at me when I sat down.

That's how I know it's bad.

I eat. I drink my coffee. I watch my father's good mood, and I wait, because Colin Gallagher always gets to it eventually, and there's no point in rushing him toward something I don't want to hear anyway.

He sets down his fork and dabs his mouth, like a man wrapping up a good meal before moving on to business.

"I've taken the liberty of hiring a wedding planner."

Killian's coffee cup stops halfway to his mouth.

Rian sets his down carefully, like he’s making a point of not doing something else with it.

I say nothing.

Then the door opens.

A petite and polished woman with dark hair pulled back neatly waltzes in. Cream blouse, wide-leg trousers, the bright, professional energy of a woman who is very good at her job and has walked into tense rooms before.

She’s carrying a leather portfolio under one arm, a tote bag over her shoulder, and a warm smile.

"The Gallagher residence." She sets her bag at the end of the table and unzips the portfolio. "I'm Sophie. I'm so thrilled to be working with you. I’ve done three events at the Carlisle this year, and the spring availability is better than you'd think, so we have real options to work with⁠—"

"Sophie," I cut in because this woman hasn’t read the room or the faces sitting at the table. She looks up. “Hold that thought.”

She smiles, nods, and takes a small step back with the practiced grace of someone used to families and their complications.

She's good.

I almost feel bad about what's coming next.

My father looks at me with a warning expression.

"You hired a wedding planner," Rian says with barely disguised fury. "Without speaking to Cady."

"I spoke to Cady."

"You told Cady,” Killian snaps. "That's not the same thing."

"This is a family decision⁠—"

"Yeah." Killian's voice is flat. "It is. So why does it feel like only one person in this family made it?"

Sophie goes still at the end of the table.