Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 103141 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 516(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103141 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 516(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
“If you don’t want to go, it’s fine. Dad will do whatever you want,” Cillian says.
Okay, well, that makes it hard not to smile. “I want to go,” I answer, realizing I really do. I just want to feel normal tonight and try to forget all the bad shit that’s happened.
“Good. It’s good for him to get out,” Cillian says.
“I’ll remember that.”
A few minutes later, the house is filled with more voices as Rian, Conan, and Finan come in.
When Rian comes to me, reaching to cup my face, I can’t help but notice the bruises on his knuckles. It’s the only sign I notice that gives away any of what he was doing today. He said he wouldn’t come to me bloody the way he had the night with the Bellinis, and I believe he won’t.
“Hey.” Rian presses a soft kiss to my lips. “Are you okay?”
“Yes. Are you?”
“Yes. Come on. Let’s go upstairs.”
I nod and follow him up, Rian telling the others we’re going to get ready. It’s not until we’re in our room, door closed, that he asks, “Do you want to know anything?”
“Just what you learned.”
He sighs. “Not much. He won’t give up who your father was working with or for—I don’t even know. He’s scared of them, whoever they are. He’s not official government, which we already knew, and just like the others, he doesn’t have much official history.”
“Shit,” I say.
“Yeah, agreed. He did confirm he’d been watching you since you’ve been back, but he wasn’t the one who originally tried to kill you. He said they’re dead, but again, wouldn’t tell me who made that order. He doesn’t try to hide the things your father did and admits…” He lets the words linger, trying to protect my feelings.
“That he’s a rapist?” I ask.
“Yeah. I’m so fucking sorry.”
“I am too.” Not surprised, but I’m sorry. “He wanted me dead because I’d asked him about the women?”
“That seems to be the case. They were trying to clean up his shit behind the scenes, then you started asking about it. I think he got paranoid. His approval ratings had already been slipping. No one expected him to win reelection, so I’m sure he didn’t want to risk anything coming out.”
“He used my mom’s death for political gain. Jesus, you should have seen the press conferences he gave afterward. He would have done the same with me.”
“I wish I could have killed him for you. And I promise you, we’ll keep trying. We’re keeping this guy alive for now.” He wraps his arms around me, pulling me close. “Fia would like us to go over for dinner. She wants to meet you, and I thought maybe you could use a night surrounded by family.”
Family. Because that’s what I have now, even if I don’t know any of these people well—or when it comes to Fia, at all.
“We don’t have to go.”
“No.” I shake my head. “I want to.”
“Good.”
We get ready, and then the group of us all head to Fia’s house. When we pull up, I see her standing on the porch—a woman with long, black hair and a wide smile.
“Abbott!” she says, meeting us in the driveway. There’s a girl there too, who I assume is her daughter, Aislin, holding hands with a Black woman with braids. “Oh my God. You’re so handsome!” Fia says, and I smile.
“Fia…” Rian grumbles, but the genuine love between them is palpable.
“Shut up, Rian. I’m busy meeting your boyfriend.”
“Hello. You’re kind of great,” I say to her.
“Thank you,” she replies, giving me a hug. “You must be too. I never thought it would be possible for Rian to give his heart away again. He’s a good man.”
“The best,” I reply.
“Come here,” Rian tells her, the two of them hugging before Rian kisses her temple.
Aislin introduces herself next, then her girlfriend, Zuri.
Dean and Tiernan are in the house when we arrive, Conan, Finan, Cillian, Ollie, Rory, and Shai having gone in as well.
The scent of savory meat, potatoes, and garlic fills the loud house, as everyone talks and laughs together.
I’m surprised when Flynn shows up soon too—and Torin, his wife, and their two children.
Everyone makes a point to speak with me, showing me respect because I’m Rian’s, but also, I think, just because that’s the kind of people they are.
At one point, I see Torin and Rian together, laughing about something, Torin wrapping his arm around Rian and pressing a loud kiss to his cheek. It’s wild to see them this way together after their argument the night I met him, but the true love between everyone in this family pulses in the air.
I’m not even sure family is a strong enough word. My father was my family, and he never loved the way they do.
We eat together at a long table, elbows touching, we’re so crowded in.