Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 90919 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90919 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
“All of us?” Saoirse asked.
“Everyone,” I confirmed.
We didn’t speak as they followed us onto the elevator, out through the lobby, across the driveway, and into the garage.
“Myla, can you drive her?” I asked as we reached Aoife’s car.
“I can drive,” my sister argued dully.
“I’ll drive,” Myla said quickly, moving closer.
“Wait for me and follow me back to the house,” I ordered as I fished through Aoife’s purse and found her keys. “Don’t stop for anything. Don’t make any calls.”
“That goes for all of you,” Will ordered, looking around at us. “I’ll call Tommy and have them meet us at the house.”
“The house is a mess,” Aoife said as I helped her into the passenger seat.
“Nobody gives a fuck,” I replied. I closed the door and looked at Myla across the car. “Straight to the house.”
“Got it,” she confirmed, dropping out of view.
The rage that had filled me so completely earlier had disappeared under a blanket of numbness and disbelief by the time I pulled into the driveway of our house.
I was prepared to deal with the police. I was prepared to deal with lowlife drug dealers and the pieces of shit that would stab you in the back for a cigarette. I was prepared to deal with the fallout of decisions I’d made or the club made. I’d put my ass on the line more times than I could count, knowing that if things went south, I might never make it home again.
What I hadn’t prepared for was my family having to deal with any of that. I’d kept my life with the Aces separate for a reason. I wanted the two parts of my life to intersect—I wanted them to know each other—but never in a million years would I have accepted it if Ronan had asked to join the club. I made sure that my choices had never blown back on Aoife and the kids.
The irony was absurd.
When I pulled up to the house, Will had already parked and was waiting for me next to his bike.
“Witness protection,” I said, striding over to him before Aoife and Myla made it out of the car.
“Fuckin’ idiot,” Will muttered. “Figured as much when Aoife came out lookin’ like she’d just been tased.”
“Got there too late,” I replied quietly. “Should’ve stayed and told him to keep his mouth shut. By the time I got back in there, he was fuckin’ discussin’ options.”
Will ushered everyone into the house, and as they filed by me, I realized that Noel and Titus had brought Ruthie with them.
She squealed when she saw me, leaning toward me so sharply that Noel had to quickly readjust her before she toppled onto the ground.
“Hey, baby girl,” I said, taking her as I followed them into the house. “You miss me?”
“I don’t think you can move out,” Noel said sweetly, grinning at me over her shoulder. “She’s been watching the door for you since you left.”
“You love Uncle Cian, huh?”
Ruth threaded her fingers through my beard and yanked.
“You saw Richie?” Aisling asked me quietly, stopping me in the entryway. “Did you talk to him?”
She knew. She’d known the whole time. It was why she wouldn’t talk about it. Why she’d clammed up anytime someone asked her about it. My baby sister hadn’t been willing to rat Richie out. I just couldn’t figure out why.
“Noel,” I called. “Can you take her back?”
“Of course,” Noel replied, walking back to take Ruth from me.
“He’s talking?” Aisling pressed.
“Come with me.” Taking her by the hand, we threaded our way through the crowded downstairs and out the sliding glass door.
“He’s awake and talking,” she said dully once I’d closed the door behind us. “Does Aoife know?”
“She knows,” I replied gently.
Aisling nodded, staring out at the yard.
“Why didn’t you tell us?”
“And completely fuck up Aoife’s life?” she asked bitterly. “I think we’ve already done enough, don’t you?”
“Richie fucked it up. Not you.”
“She’s spent her whole life taking care of us,” Aisling said, not bothering to look at me. “Finally, she’s at a place where she’s living the life she chose, you know? Just her and Richie and Sean in the house. Good job. Comfortable life.” She shook her head. “I wasn’t going to be the one to fuck that. No way.”
“So, you would’ve just…what? Never said anything if Richie died? Just acted like his shit didn’t get you like this?”
“What does it matter?” she asked thoughtfully, turning to face me. “This happened either way. Why would I add on to it? ‘Oh, Aoife, you know your husband that just died? Well, funny story. He pissed off the wrong people, and they decided they’d take it out on me.’ What’s the point of making it even harder for her?”
“Ash—”
“No, you know I’m right. This was never my fault, and everyone knows it. He kept me for an entire day after he shot Richie, it wasn’t even about Richie then. He was just…into it. He liked the fact that I couldn’t stop him. So, why would I tell them it was Richie’s fault? Especially if he was dead or a vegetable or something? How would that help anyone?”