AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“First thing, I’ve got to meet with the estate lawyer back at the Callahan place,” I said, watching for her reaction. The last place I wanted her was in the midst of family turmoil, but the determination in her gaze told me she wouldn’t back down easily.
“Sounds thrilling,” she deadpanned, then shook her head. “But seriously, I want to be there. I need to know everything that’s happening, Tristan. No secrets. If I’m going to be your wife, and I know that’s still up in the air, there are legal ramifications to consider.”
The words “up in the air” when it came to marrying her felt like a slap in the face, but I couldn’t exactly tell her she was wrong. I nodded instead.
“Alright, you’re in,” I said, with a nod. “Get ready; we’ve got a long day ahead of us.”
As she rose to dress, I couldn’t ignore the unease that knotted in my stomach. Today would test us both. I just hoped that she was ready for it.
She stood up a little shakily, and then her legs almost gave in. I stood up quickly to catch her, but she braced herself against the wall instead, her eyes pressed tightly together.
“Can I do anything for you?” I asked, masking the concern in my voice.
She shook her head, a ghost of a smile flickering across her pale face. “No, I’ll be fine,” she insisted, though her voice lacked conviction.
A moment later, she staggered, rushing toward the bathroom with a hand clamped over her mouth. The door slammed shut behind her, and through it, I could hear the sounds of her distress. “Do you want me to come in and hold your hair?” I asked through the door.
“No, I think I’d like some privacy,” she replied, then started to throw up again.
My every instinct screamed to go to her, but I knew she valued her privacy in moments like these.
I had other things I could focus on. I pulled out my phone, the weight of the family’s problems heavy on my shoulders, and dialed Kieran’s number. He picked up after the first ring, his voice low and urgent. “You okay?”
“Fine,” I replied tersely, pacing the length of the room, my gaze flickering back to the closed bathroom door. “But we’ve got more moving pieces than we thought. Did Ray pick you up?”
“Yeah, he was there in a second,” he said. “Helped me finish taking care of our problem.”
“So our friend with the Italians won’t be a problem for us going forward?”
“Our friend decided to take a swim during the winter storm,” Kieran said, his tone casual, but I caught the underlying meaning. Vinny wouldn’t be bothering us again. “Adrenaline junkie. We won’t have to worry about him.”
“Good,” I murmured, nodding absently as if he could see me. My mind churned, processing this one solved issue while a dozen others waited in line. The Callahan family was a tangled web of loyalties and betrayals, and every day brought new challenges.
“Listen, Tristan,” Kieran added, a hint of caution edging into his voice, “there’s more we need to discuss. But that can wait until you get here.”
I looked at the bathroom, where Adriana was still vomiting.
“Kieran, talk to me,” I said, my voice laced with a weariness that reflected the sleepless nights and unrelenting stress. “The more I can do now, the better.”
“So you know we’ve got a problem with Killian,” Kieran’s tone was grim, and I straightened, alert. “He’s been cozying up to Silvio Orsini behind our backs.”
“Yeah. Did you order him to?” I asked. “Since you’ve been dealing with Orsini yourself.”
“Dammit.” The word was a hiss between clenched teeth. “Did you order him to?”
“God, no.” There was genuine shock in Kieran’s answer. “I only caught on when I saw him whispering with Orsini after that sit-down, Liam at his side looking clueless.”
“Killian’s betrayal could tear us apart from the inside out,” I said, the implications of his actions unfolding like a dark tapestry in my mind.
“It might not be betrayal. That’s why I stopped you from kicking his arse when we ran into him.”
“Kieran. You should have told me sooner about your dealings with Orsini.”
I thought he would defend himself, but he didn’t. “Should have,” he conceded, annoyance flaring up. It was a rookie mistake, and we weren’t rookies anymore. “But between Malachy’s death, Adriana’s pregnancy, and the wedding mess, I know your plate’s been full. Believe it or not, I didn’t want to add to the stress.”
“Excuses,” I shot back, but without heat.
“You’re right. We’re in this together. You don’t have to carry the Callahan crown alone.”
