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“Something stronger than tea, maybe,” she took off her scarf and put it on the arm of my sofa. “That’s what you were having, right?”
I nodded and got up from the couch and walked to my small kitchen, pulling out a bottle of whiskey and two glasses. I poured us each a drink, handing one to her as I took a seat back next to her.
“What do you think?” I asked, taking a sip of my whiskey.
“Honestly? It means more territory for us,” she paused, taking a long sip of her drink. “But that’s not what I’m here about.”
I raised my eyebrows, waiting for her.
“I heard Dad talking to Malachy Callahan,” she tapped her long, manicured fingernails on her legs. “He didn’t know...he didn’t know I was home. I stayed overnight last night because I had some things to do in the city. But while I was getting ready this morning, I overheard them talking in the living room. Dad was saying something about you.”
“Wait. Malachy Callahan was in our house?”
“That’s what I said,” Carmen replied. “I thought they were going to shoot each other but they were having a very civilized conversation.”
My heart raced as I processed the information. What did my father say about me? And why was Malachy Callahan at our house? He was a notorious figure in the criminal underworld, known for being brutal and ruthless. There was no reason for my father to be having brunch with someone who’d tried to kill him on more than one occasion.
The Callahan family was our biggest rival; any conversation with them could mean trouble.
“What were they talking about?” I tried to sound casual, even though I was clearly worried.
“You, Ade,” Carmen said after taking a deep breath. “They were talking about brokering some sort of peace deal and Malachy was talking about his eldest son being single...”
I raised my eyebrows as I looked at my sister’s intense gaze. “You can’t be fucking serious right now.”
Carmen took another sip of her whiskey. “I wish I wasn’t,” her voice was laced with frustration. “But that’s what they were talking about. Dad was considering it, and said it could be a good way to bring the two families together.”
“Wait. What do you mean?”
Carmen tilted her head. “You know what I mean. A partnership. A wedding.”
“An arranged marriage?” I scoffed, shaking my head in disbelief. “This is absurd and, I don’t know, medieval. How can they possibly think this will solve anything?”
“Right, I was thinking about this. I know it’s hard to accept, but maybe it could work,” Carmen suggested tentatively, before she took another sip from her drink. “If you two can find common ground, it might bring our families together and put an end to this war.”
“Why don’t you marry Tristan Callahan instead of me, Carm?” I shook my head and then finished my drink, the alcohol burning the back of my throat.
“Because I don’t have the impeccable reputation of my little sister,” Carmen replied, a mocking smile on her face. “Turns out you get caught with a few drugs on you one time and suddenly you’re not the Callahan's first choice.”
I stared at her. “And Dad doesn’t think you’ll listen if he asks you to do it, right?”
“Yeah. There’s also that.”
“Carm...”
“Look, Ade, I wouldn’t ask,” she leaned forward, her gaze never leaving my face. “In fact, I’m not asking. I’m just telling you so they don’t drop a bomb on you without any warning.”
“This is an insane idea.”
“Babe, it’s not my idea. And, like, have you seen the Callahan brothers lately? They’re looking...good.”
“Great. So I’ll have sex with one. Not marry him.”
She stared at me.
“I'm just saying. Maybe I should get caught with drugs.”
“I think it’s a bit late for that,” Carmen snorted. “Well, either way, it’s better than being caught in the crossfire if this war continues.”
