CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
francesca
The coffee shop buzzed with the soft hum of conversation and the sharp hiss of the espresso machine. I sat at a corner table, fiddling with the strap of my purse as I waited. Conall had insisted that I meet his sister, and although I was curious, I couldn’t shake my nerves. First impressions mattered, and I wanted her to like me. I hoped she wouldn’t be upset about not having been at the wedding. Not that it had been my fault.
Finn and Sean sat at one of the distant tables, their drinks mostly ignored, while Sean rapidly demolished a Rice Krispy treat.
The bell above the door jingled, and I spotted her immediately. Cora Volkova was hard to miss—her dark hair pulled into a messy ponytail and a t-shirt that read, ‘Zombies Are Proof That Sometimes You Can’t Get Ahead In Life!’ paired with jeans and bright yellow rain boots. She looked like she had just stepped out of a music festival. A camera dangled from her neck, its strap worn and frayed as her eyes scanned the room until they settled on me.
“Francesca, right?”
she asked, stepping forward with a shy smile. Conall hadn’t told me much about his sister, but I had met her briefly at her wedding to Maxim. I was curious about her as someone else who had experienced the whole arranged marriage situation.
“That’s me,”
I said, standing up to shake her hand, but Cora bypassed the formality and went straight for a hug.
“Conall suggested we should be friends,”
she teased, pulling away. “So that’s my mission. Step one: tea and sarcasm. Step two: make friends.”
She gave me another shy smile. “I could use a friend.”
I felt instantly at ease with her energy. “I could always use another friend.”
We sat down as she tossed her camera onto the table, tapping it affectionately. “I just came from the park, taking pictures of people on their lunch breaks.”
She shot a dark glare at her protection detail. “I had the lurkers with me, though, and it killed the mood.”
“So, you’re a photographer?”
I pointed at the camera. “And you like zombies?”
I asked, raising an eyebrow.
One of her protection detail brought her a steaming cup of what appeared to be tea. “Thanks, Lev. Decaf?”
“Da.”
The response was quiet from the man who appeared gruff and unapproachable.
“Yep, I love them,”
she said, her eyes lighting up. “Movies, comics, games. There’s something about that whole ‘apocalypse but make it fun’ vibe, you know? What about you? What’s your thing?”
“Nursing,”
I said. “It’s not quite as interesting or fun as zombies.”
“Are you kidding?”
she asked, leaning forward. “That’s super interesting. You’re like a real-life hero. Do you get to yell ‘stat!’ and save lives? I’d shout ‘stat’ just for fun and create chaos.”
Her eyes sparkled with mischief. Theo would adore her.
I chuckled. “Not quite that dramatic, but close enough. I’m still really new at it and learning. You know I have another friend, Angelo’s sister Theo, who I think you’d get along great with.”
“Ah, another one of the ‘chosen.’”
She winked at me, but I could see her brows furrow. “How are you handling this whole thing?”
She waved her hand over at Finn.
I knew that she was referring to the marriage arrangement and the blood oath in general. She had the situation sprung on her by surprise. At least I had a few years to acclimate to the idea — if that was even a thing. I wasn’t sure any woman wanted to be told that their fathers basically sold them off.
“It’s been a lot,”
I admitted. “I know you understand. I found out about it years ago, but to be honest, I was angry about it then, and I’ve been angry about it ever since.”
She nodded. “I understand. Conall got an earful when he told me.”
She turned her cup in her hands, playing with the end of the tea bag. “I won’t say that I’m not in love with Maxim. It could have turned out horribly, though. Our fathers just gave us away for their own gain.”
She squinted hard at her cup.
“I’m glad you found happiness, and I agree. It could go very wrong. I don’t know how things will turn out for my brother Angelo and Theo.”
I looked out over the café for a moment, reflecting on the different paths my life could have taken and how things might have unfolded if my mother had stayed. “I’m happy with Conall.”
I snapped my mouth shut, surprising myself. “Still, I’d always rather be the one in charge of my own destiny.”
“I don’t blame you at all. Sometimes, I’ve found that destiny has other plans for me.”
She gave me a small smile. “We haven’t told anyone else yet,”
she trailed off. “Maybe you’d like to be the first one to know …”
she laid a protective hand over her stomach.
“I’m going to be an auntie?”
The thought made me feel strange. The idea of little clothes and sticky fingers. “I’m so excited for you.”
I reached out to clasp her hand in mine.
“It’s scary, but I’m really excited.”
Her cheeks flushed. She was beautiful, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Can we keep this just between us for now?”
“For sure.”
I nodded, taking a sip of my coffee. “You can tell people whenever you’re ready. Thanks for trusting me. I’m excited to be an aunt.”
The thought surprised me a little. I wasn’t familiar with little kids or babies, but the idea was appealing. Maybe it could be a test run. “Just a warning, let’s not tell Conall that I knew about this before he did. Like, ever.”
Cora laughed. “Oh, Conall’s not so bad. He just has a ‘resting scowl face.’ It’s probably hereditary, but that would give the sperm donor too much credit.”
She grimaced. “Besides, Maxim has it too. So that theory is already disproven. I still think that’s a good plan, though. He’d be pretty upset to know that people have information before he does.”
She gave me a wink.
“Conall calls it his intimidation tactic,”
I said with a smile. “It works on most people.”
“Not me,”
Cora said with a wink. “And Maxim’s a teddy bear once you get past his death glare. Conall, though, he’s… well, let’s just say he’s fortunate to have you keeping him in line.”
“I try,”
I said, feeling warmth spread through me at her words. “What about you? Are your brothers always in your business like mine is?”
“Only when they’re bored,”
she said with a shrug. “Conall likes to act like he’s my dad, but I don’t mind. It’s nice to know he cares.”
She bit her lip. “I don’t remember my dad at all. Conall is the only father I ever had.”
I had known the basic story, but I hadn’t realized how young she had been. I wasn’t sure whether it was better or worse to remember our parents. Mine were awful, and I’d almost prefer not to remember them at all.
“My brothers are busybodies as well. Angelo and Remo mostly raised me after my father died. My mother left us. Thank goodness.”
I aimed for a light-hearted tone, but I could see from her expression that I hadn’t succeeded. “So, tell me all the plans for the nursery.”
Her eyes brightened.
The conversation flowed easily after that, and by the time we finished our drinks, I felt as if I had known Cora for years. She was funny, sharp, and unapologetically herself—exactly the kind of person I could see myself being friends with.
As we were about to leave, she gave me another hug. “We should do this again,”
she said. “Maybe next time, we can meet for pizza.”
“Deal,”
I laughed. “Only if I pay.”
“Fine,”
she said, feigning exasperation. “But I warn you, I’m particular about my pizza.”
“I’ll survive,”
I said with a smile. “We can meet up with Theo. I know you’ll love her.”
As we parted ways, I felt lighter. A sense of connection replaced the earlier nerves. Conall’s sister wasn’t just someone I had to meet—she was someone I wanted to know. I had a feeling this was the beginning of something good.
**
The sun hung low in the sky as we stepped out of the coffee shop, the warm scent of roasted beans trailing behind us. Cora insisted on taking a selfie before we left, claiming it was for her “siblings’ group chat,”
which I strongly suspected was merely a way to tease Conall later. I laughed as she held up her camera, capturing a quick shot of us before swinging it back around her neck, just as Lev helped her into a blacked-out SUV.
Finn and Sean flanked me as we approached our car parked at the curb, their casual postures concealing their constant vigilance. Sean wiped his mouth with a napkin, likely savoring the remnants of his devoured Rice Krispy treat, but his eyes scanned every shadow and passerby. Finn walked just a step ahead, his shoulders squared and his hand resting gently on his jacket. I felt safer with them nearby—safer than I had in weeks.
The air shifted as they emerged from the black SUV parked a few feet from ours: Cosimo Oliveto and Nico. My stomach twisted into a tight knot, and I froze mid-step. Cosimo’s sharp suit and easy, wolfish smile contrasted with Nico, who clenched his jaw and looked away.
“Well, if it isn’t the new Mrs. O’Kelly,”
Cosimo said, his voice laced with malice. “What a surprise to see you.”
Sean and Finn instinctively shifted, positioning their bodies between me and the men. I couldn’t see their faces but could sense the tension radiating from them like waves.
Cosimo’s smile remained steady as he paused a few feet away. “You look well,”
he said, his eyes briefly scanning me before resting on Finn. “Gentlemen, always so observant. I admire that.”
“What do you want, Oliveto?”
Sean’s voice was icy, a tone that made my skin prickle.
Cosimo feigned an offended expression. “Must I always want something? I was simply in the neighborhood and thought I’d say hello. It’s not every day that I get to see the lovely Francesca.”
He inclined his head toward me while maintaining eye contact, and it took everything in me not to flinch. “I heard about your… unfortunate incident. Such a shame. I trust you’re recovering well?”
His words oozed with false concern, and my throat constricted as the memory rushed through my mind. The man in the hospital who grabbed me had his hands around my neck as he hissed the warning. You’re a murderer. We’re watching you. I had no proof, but every fiber of my being screamed that Cosimo was behind it.
“I’m fine,”
I said, forcing my voice to stay steady. “Thank you for your… concern. That’s very kind of you. I’ll be sure to mention it to Conall.”
Nico shifted uncomfortably, his eyes darting to the side as if he wished he were anywhere else. He always seemed to carry a weight he didn’t know how to put down. However, his discomfort felt sharper today, as if he sensed something I didn’t.
“Forgive me for saying,”
Cosimo continued, “but I couldn’t help but notice that Conall isn’t here with you. It’s odd, considering the circumstances. I would have thought he’d want to keep you closer these days.”
My stomach pitched as he watched me with malevolence. It was evident what he intended. It was a threat.
Sean stepped forward, his voice calm and firm. “Conall trusts us to protect her. If you have something to say, then say it.”
Cosimo raised his hands in feigned surrender. “Easy, easy. I’m just trying to make conversation. There’s no need for hostility among allies.”
“We aren’t allies,”
Sean said plainly. “We’re business partners. Let’s not confuse the two.”
Cosimo’s smile sharpened. “Ah, I see. Business, then. In the spirit of business, I’ll leave you to escort your charge home. But, Francesca”—his gaze landed on me again, sending shivers down my spine—“let me know if you need anything. After all, the O’Kellys and I share a mutual interest in keeping you safe.”
Safe. The word twisted like a knife in my gut. He wasn’t offering safety, reminding me how easily he could take it away.
“I will keep that in mind,”
I said, my tone intentionally neutral.
Cosimo tilted his head, a predator’s farewell. “Until next time.
Nico cast me a brief, apologetic glance before following Cosimo back to the SUV. I couldn’t tell if his discomfort made him more or less dangerous, but he was marked in the untrustworthy column.
Finn turned to me as the car pulled away, his jaw tight. “You okay?”
I nodded, despite my shaking hands. “Fine.”
But I wasn’t fine. Not at all. I could feel Cosimo’s words clinging to me like smoke, a reminder that he was watching and waiting. I glanced at Sean, who stared after the SUV, his expression inscrutable.
“He’s checking his chessboard,”
Sean muttered. “Looking for a weak spot.”
I swallowed hard, feeling the knot in my stomach tighten. I didn’t know what game Cosimo was playing, but I was certain of one thing: he wasn’t here by chance. He wanted something. If Sean was right and he was looking for a weak spot, I didn’t want to be it.
**
My hands trembled as I sent Theo a message:
Me: I think Cosimo knows something
Theo: What are you talking about, Frankie? Did something else happen? So help me, God, I will drive over there right the hell now and punch that Oliveto in the damn face for you.
Me: After I met up with Cora (who you’ll love, FYI), Cosimo popped out of his car like a jack-in-the-box. He had been waiting for me. The guy gives me the creep factor times ten. He commented on the attack at the hospital and how sorry he was.
Theo: You had guards, right?
Me: Yeah. Finn and Sean were with me. I’m scared, though. I think I need to tell Conall what happened.
Dots appeared and then stopped.
Theo: Are you sure?
Me: What do you think? I should, right?
Theo: We can do it together.
Me: Are you sure?
Theo: Yeah. If you’re going to tell him the truth, let’s explain what happened. He’ll keep our secret and understand why Oliveto is a problem. He’s your husband. You can’t keep him in the dark if Oliveto is approaching you on the fucking sidewalk like a creeper. I’ll be there in thirty.
Me: Thanks, bestie.