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He studies me for a minute. “Aye, you do, lass. Especially if you’re being dragged right through it all. You deserve ta know.” Walking around the side of the hospital bed, I drag one of the chairs up beside his bed.
“Back when the Snake was terrorizing the Italians, I was worried they’d come after us next. The whole situation was banjaxed—I wasna’ sure what that gobshite would do next, ye hear? So I ordered weapons from the Russians on credit to arm our men. Our businesses were still doin’ well at the time, and I believed we would be well enough off.” His jaw clenches. “But then the businesses started goin’ under, and the whole thing was as messy as a Dublin whore. I believe the businesses went down because of the Russians—to force us into their debt. But it’s too late to stop it all now.”
“You tried making deals with the Russians? On credit?” I’m too shocked to try and make sense of it.
“I believed the Italians would take care of themselves—the Scaranos and Rosania families have always been at each others’ throats. But, they made an alliance, making them stronger than before, even after the Snake tried to bring them down.” My father looks away, his eyes darting over my shoulder towards the window. “I was just tryna’ protect our family.”
“But credit?” I ask again. “We had enough money a year ago to buy a small shipment.”
“Aye. And that’s what I did. But we needed more.”
“More?” I sit back, staring at him. “You were planning on stockpiling.”
“In case o’ war.” He nods slightly, wincing in pain at the movement. “I paid fer a small shipment first—one we could afford. Building trust, ye know? Then they gave us a bigger shipment. The Russians aren’ stupid, lass. They saw the Italian families' merger for what it was—a threat. They grew stronger a hell of a lot quicker than any of us e’r expected.”
“So, you think the Russians gave up on the idea of an alliance with us and just tried to milk you until you owed them too much?” I ask weakly. “That would put us entirely in their pockets. They’d be able to take control of our businesses, our territories….”
“E’rything,” my father mutters darkly. “They’d be able to take e’rything we have.”
“Dad…How could you do this?” I’m on my feet before I realize I’m moving. “You put us in this mess, and then you try to clean it up by selling me off to the Italians?”
Something dangerous flashes in his eyes. “I’m doing what I can to save our family.”
“You think me marrying Killian will save us?” I scoff. “When the Italians find out what you’ve done—that you were purposely stockpiling weapons in case of war with them, they’re not going to trust us enough to bind us together legally. They’d see that as a betrayal and a lie—which is exactly what it is.”
“Careful, lass. I’m still yer father,” he growls, eyes following me around the bed.
“My father,” I spit, “would never be so stupid. He would never have put us in this position in the first place. You not only messed with not one criminal family, but two. And now I have to pay the price.” I snatch my tote from the floor, heading towards the door. “I honestly cannot believe you thought either of these plans would work,” I hiss. My hand grips the door handle so tightly that my knuckles turn white. “I was taken by the Russians, had my life threatened by them, and now I have to somehow survive telling the Italians about your little would-be betrayal.”
“Lass—” He shifts on the bed as if to come after me. “Listen to me well. You cannot tell the Italians the truth. If the Italians don’t kill you themselves, they’ll break the alliance and leave you defenseless. Which will leave you vulnerable to the Russians—especially if I’m to be in here fer a bit.”
I stiffen. “If you honestly think I’m stupid enough to tell the Italians the full truth, then you don’t know me very well.”
Slipping out into the hall, I let the door slam a bit behind me. Nurses and doctors look over, startled. I shoot them a smile before heading towards the elevator, my mind reeling. I knew my father had been hiding the truth, but I never expected this. Killian will kill me if he ever finds out, and he’s already suspicious that something else is going on here. Gripping my tote straps, I try and think of a way to avoid the truth but still satisfy his suspicions. There’s no way in hell I can ever tell him what my father’s done.
Ever.
30
KILLIAN
Icouldn’t stay at the hospital. For all I know, Cara could be staying there for a while, and I really, really hate hospitals. They smell too clean and feel too cold, and there’s always a depressing weight about them. As soon as Cara disappears up the elevator, I’m out of there. I prefer waiting in a more comfortable environment, like her house.
“Is her father alright?” Niccolo asks as soon as I run into him at the hospital’s doors. He turns with me, heading back to the car.
“I’m assuming so. Cara will update me later.”
Niccolo unlocks the car door, getting into the driver’s seat as I slip into the passenger side. “Where to?”
“The Callahan’s house. I’ll wait for Cara there.”
Niccolo grunts but doesn’t say a word. He pulls out of the parking space, heading out onto the street. As much as I do hope Cara’s father is alright and doing well, I can’t help but feel that there’s more to this story he’s given us. And that makes me not so generous when it comes to doling out sympathy.
I warned Cara to find out the truth. Still, I’m not entirely sure she’ll tell me anything, especially if it means protecting her family. I can’t blame her, but I also can’t afford to let her and her bastard of a father lie to us. Something is going on between the Irish and the Russians, and I have a feeling it’s much more than Callahan’s letting on.
His whole excuse for wanting the alliance is that his businesses are failing, which they are. We had them checked out. Now that I know Callahan owes the Russians money, that might have something to do with it. His businesses were well off just a few months ago until they suddenly took a turn for the worst. If Callahan wasn’t able to pay what he owed, the Russians could have been undermining his businesses to force him to pay up. But…if his businesses were losing money, he’d never be able to do that anyway.
It just didn’t make sense.
