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Liam acts like he couldn’t care less about Cora’s anger, which makes me shift from foot to foot, suddenly uncomfortable in these heels. I have no idea what Cora’s so upset about, but Liam’s disinterest seems almost heartless.
“You grew up in the life,” he tells her. “This is how things go.”
“Last century maybe! Keep up with the times, Liam. You’re going to be the new leader, for Chrissake.” She flings up her hands for emphasis, and Liam takes a threatening step toward her.
My body goes cold. I pull my coat tighter around myself, glancing to Brady for his reaction to this standoff. He’s set aside the pool cues, which makes me breathe a little easier. And though his expression is grim, he doesn’t make a move toward his wife or his older brother.
Liam speaks with an edge of warning in his voice.
“I am the new leader. Which means that you can show me the respect you owe me, or you can leave.”
“I’m here for Brioni,” Cora snaps. “She said she didn’t want a bachelorette party, she wanted to do something just the four of us instead. So here we are.”
Hearing my name jolts me into action. These people I love are here for me, and they aren’t getting along. My heart wants to cry, but I remind myself that my one true skill is conflict resolution.
I throw myself at Cora and wrap her in a hug. Despite wearing only that skimpy dress, her skin is fever-hot, as if her rage blazes like an inferno inside her. I can’t imagine how painful that must be—all I can do is squeeze her tight.
It takes her a moment, but then her muscles relax as she sags into my hug. When she finally pulls back, she looks less angry, but I feel just as unsettled. What on earth happened?
I startle when I feel someone tugging at my shoulders, and Cora glowers past me. It’s Liam, taking off my coat. As I slip my arms out of it, Cora bares her teeth.
“I have to go pee,” she announces. As soon as I’m coatless, she grabs my hand and tugs me toward the bathrooms.
I don’t have to glance over my shoulder to know that the men are unhappy about this. And not just because Cora’s drawing appreciative looks in her dress, though that’s definitely part of it.
When we’re standing in front of the sinks, she raises her eyebrows at me. She wants me to ask her what’s wrong, for me to take her side against my fiancé, but I can’t. My stomach roils with too many horrible possibilities. As much as my curiosity squirms like a worm in my brain, it’s best for me to rely on my original policy for all things mafia-related.
“I don’t ask questions if I don’t want to know the answer.” I give Cora a helpless shrug, and she flares her nostrils at me.
“You’re choosing ignorance?”
“I’m choosing happiness.”
She shakes her head at me. But with the way she wrinkles her nose, it feels like her disappointment has an element of disgust, something that makes me feel ashamed. Then, upset. I shouldn’t have to defend the measures I take to protect my heart. And Cora, as my friend, should understand that.
We’re different people.
I turn away to the sinks, washing my hands for something to do. I keep my head down to avoid my own gaze in the mirror. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Cora cross her arms.
“You should know—”
“Whatever it is,” I interrupt, wincing at my own rudeness. “I’m sure that Liam was doing his duty.”
This is how things go, he’d told Cora.
And I trust my fiancé. I trust my lifelong best friend.
He already has so much to bear, he doesn’t need Cora, or anyone, questioning his choices.
“Yes, but was he just doing his duty?” she asks.
“Cora…” I turn off the water and flick my hands in the sink. Unintentionally, I splatter droplets on the mirror, and I cringe to think of the employee who has to clean up after my carelessness.
Cora passes me a paper towel, and I’m unable to finish my thought. I didn’t really have one, other than, Liam’s doing the best job that he can. Because he is. I know that implicitly.
And if his best job involves some extreme measures sometimes, well… It’s my job to bolster him through that. Liam’s never been anything but supportive to me.
After I throw away the paper towel, I wrap Cora in another hug for good measure.
