Chapter 28
Alina
Igrew up in a house like this.
On the outside, it’s built to impress. My father used to always say that image is power. We live in a gilded palace to show anyone who comes through that we have strength and resources far beyond anything they could imagine. Even if that isn’t true.
The Whelans understand that perfectly. Their home is nearly as opulent as the one I grew up in, or at least from first impressions, it comes off that way.
But the second we get inside, everything changes.
“I was beginning to think you’d never take me up on my invitation.” Seamus’s mother Siobhan sweeps him up into a hug and kisses his cheek. “Since when did you get so tall?”
“Since I was fourteen, Mom.” He smiles, but it doesn’t seem to relax him.
Siobhan turns to me. She glides over, graceful as an egret, and kisses both my cheeks. “I hope you weren’t aware that I’ve been practically begging for you two to come to dinner.”
“I had no idea. We would’ve been here sooner.”
“I knew it.” Her eyes twinkle with amusement. “My son’s always been the rude one.”
We’re ushered inside, past the open sitting rooms, past the beautiful and priceless art hanging on the walls, and into a more comfortable and smaller section of the house.
The table’s set for a big meal, and there are already a few people sitting around it.
Finn stands and greets us both, looking bashful as he gives me a quick hug.
“No car this time, promise.”
“Hope not. Although with your driving record, I wouldn’t be surprised if you were parked in the yard.”
He bursts out laughing and has to explain that one to Siobhan while I say hello to Seamus’s father and his oldest brother, Declan.
“Cormac’s the only one missing tonight. He and Bianca have a date night.” Siobhan’s eyebrows raise up and down.
“Ah, leave the boy alone. You’re just jealous,” Seamus’s father teases his wife.
She pretends to be angry. “I wouldn’t be so jealous if you treated me half so well as your boy treats his wife.”
“Are you saying you haven’t been spoiled rotten for forty years?”
“Is that what you call the occasional dinner out and a present on our anniversary? That’s spoiled rotten, is it?”
I sit back and watch the banter. Declan gets involved, although I don’t think I’ve ever seen that man joke before, much less smile. Seamus gets me some wine and sits at my side, his knee touching mine under the table.
For a little while, I can forget why we came.
Because the key difference between this house and the one I grew up in is this: Seamus’s family actually loves each other.
It’s warm in this place. Not temperature-wise, but emotionally.
They’re all deeply comfortable with each other, and it’s clear that they have a tight, close relationship.
Siobhan runs the conversation, idly refilling drinks and bringing out snacks.
She dotes on her boys while they crack jokes and make her laugh.
I get the feeling that making their mother smile is one of the most important parts of dinner.
It’s genuinely nice.
I’m not used to this sort of bond, especially not in a crime family.
Usually, everyone’s trying to kill everyone else.
Not struggling to be the first person to open a new bottle of wine.
I try to enjoy it while I can. Even Seamus seems to lighten up and revert back to the wisecracking joker he was when we first got together. But I knew it couldn’t last, and Siobhan’s the one who finally broaches the subject.
“You said over the phone you have to talk to everyone about something,” she prompts Seamus once there’s a brief lull in the conversation. I feel the attention at the table shift to my husband. “I hope you’re not about to break the most important rule of family dinner.”
“No business at the table,” Declan murmurs, shaking his head. “Which is also the one rule we never actually follow.”
“I’m sorry, Mom, but this is too important.” Seamus’s face darkens. He takes a long drink before looking to his father. “I haven’t been completely honest with you all. I need to talk to you about Molchanie.”
His father stares back grimly. “Go on and say it then.”
Seamus talks about his meeting with her, but this time, he gives them the crucial bit of information he’s been holding back. “And if I don’t leave Alina, she’s going to kill someone I care about.” He pauses, letting it sink in. “Someone most likely at this table.”
“Or missing from it,” Finn murmurs, clearly thinking about Cormac and his wife.
Everyone’s silent. The mood sours considerably. Padraig leans forward on his elbows, glaring at his son. “And why didn’t you tell us this sooner?”
“Because I wanted to fix the problem myself first.”
“How did that go?”
“Clearly not well.”
Declan breaks in. “You should’ve spoken up sooner, Seamus. Now we’ve got less time to figure this out.”
“What’s there to figure out?” Padraig bangs a fist on the table. “We should’ve had the whole family’s strength out on the streets hunting down this assassin bitch from the start.”
“Paddy, watch your language,” Siobhan says gently, not looking happy either. “But I agree with his sentiment.”
Padraig pats his wife’s hand. “Sorry, darling. I meant to say she’s a cunt assassin.”
Siobhan sighs. “What are we supposed to do with this now, Seamus? You gave us three days.”
“Two, really,” he corrects and shrugs. “Today’s nearly over.”
“Even fucking better,” Padraig snarls, gripping his wine glass. “I’ve a mind to throw a fucking knife in your eye.”
“Let’s not start blinding our own children, dear.”
“The solution is obvious. You leave the girl.” Padraig waves a hand at me. “No offense to you, Alina. You seem nice enough. But you aren’t worth getting us killed for.”
“Absolutely not,” Seamus says flatly, meeting his father’s gaze. He grabs my hand roughly, gripping it hard. “She’s my wife. And she’ll stay my wife.”
Padraig explodes. He calls Seamus an ungrateful and selfish prick. Seamus calls his father a hot-headed douchebag. Siobhan has to finally cut in to calm them both down.
“As much as I hate to admit it, Seamus has a point. Not about you being a douche, darling, but about Alina.” Her eyes meet mine for the briefest moment. There’s no kindness in her gaze. All the motherly gentleness is totally gone. Instead, she’s a predator.
“Explain.” Padraig’s still seething, but at least he’s not flinging insults.
“If we’re seen giving in to Molchanie’s demands, it’ll reflect poorly on the clan as a whole.”
“That’s exactly what I thought,” Seamus adds.
“Enough from you, stupid boy.” Padraig brandishes a dinner fork. “Or I swear—”
“You’ll do what? Stab me with the silverware? I beg you to try it, old man.”
“Old man?! I can still fucking wrestle you to the ground—”
“Enough,” Siobhan snaps, speaking sharply and loudly. “We’re a family, not a bunch of squabbling idiots. Cut it out, both of you.”
Declan leans in, taking that moment to speak up. “I agree with Mother. We can’t look weak, not right now. I have no interest in dying for my brother’s wife, but I would rather take that risk than seem like anyone can threaten us and push us around.”
“What about you, Finn? Are you as dumb as them too?” Padraig rounds on his youngest son.
Finn holds out his palms. “Appearances are everything, right?”
That starts off another round of bickering.
Padraig’s word holds more weight than the three boys, but he’s backed into a corner and outnumbered.
As they argue, Siobhan gently pulls me away from the table and takes me into the kitchen.
We can still hear them, but we’re far enough away that we’re not part of the conversation anymore.
“I suppose this wasn’t your idea.” Siobhan busies herself opening more wine and refilling glasses. I do my best to help.
“None of this was. I didn’t even really know until recently.”
“Typical Seamus. Keeping everything to himself. I swear, that boy. I’ve always complained that he’s too flighty and bends too easily, but this is almost worse.” She gives me an appraising look. “This stubbornness over you.”
I feel myself blushing slightly. “I didn’t ask for it.”
“I’m sure you didn’t. How would you react if he wanted to divorce you tonight? Would you be upset about it?”
I turn away slightly and lift a glass to my lips. How would I feel? The thought of it makes my stomach twist. It seems inconceivable, but if it’s the right thing to do?
“I don’t want anyone to die because of me.”
“So you’d accept it?”
“Yes. Definitely.”
“Happily?”
I pause then shake my head. “No. Not happily.”
“Reluctantly then. Because you want to stay with my son?”
“Yes. I do.”
“You and he are getting along well?”
“I think so.”
“That’s good.” She smiles slightly. Some of the stress lines around her eyes relax. “I’m happy to hear it. I was worried about him, you know.”
“Worried how?”
“The way all mothers worry about their kids. Or maybe not all, but I do at least. Seamus has always been one of those people who can’t sit still for long.
Even as a kid, he was always bouncing from one game to the next.
As he got older, that translated into a restlessness.
He says it’s just him going with the flow.
Never settling down for long. But that’s never seemed like a satisfying life to me. It’s being alive, but it’s not living.”
I think about what she means. I can almost see it in his house, in the way it’s beautifully furnished and decorated, but barely lived in. Like he’s constantly away. Always drifting.
But now he moved in with me.
“I’ll do whatever will help the family, but if I can stay with Seamus and find out if this marriage might actually work… I’d like that.”
“That’s good. Maybe you can help keep him settled for once in his life.” She glances back at the table. The men are still arguing, but the tone is calming down. Padraig seems unhappy, like his side is losing out. “One more thing. This Molchanie is Russian. What can you tell me about her?”
“Not much, honestly. I tried to ask my father, but he seemed strange about the whole situation. My brother didn’t know anything either. I can ask around some more.”
“Don’t put yourself in danger, dear.” Siobhan puts a hand on my arm. “I’ll speak with your father myself and see what I can get out of him.”
“Good luck with that. He’s as stubborn as they come.”
“I don’t doubt it, but I have lots of experience with stubborn men.” She’s smiling again as she slips her hand through my arm and leads me back to the table. “Now, everyone, are we finished bickering? Can we start eating yet?”
“More wine first,” Finn declares. “And then we can eat.”
“Works for us.” I help Siobhan hand out the refilled glasses. She raises a toast. “Here’s to the new couple. Hopefully their marriage is to die for.”
“Oh, God,” Finn groans, covering his face.
“Mom, that’s awful.” Declan’s grinning huge. “Truly horrendous.”
“At least we agree on one thing tonight.” Padraig kisses his wife on the cheek. “I swear, your jokes keep getting worse and worse.”
“Ah, it wasn’t so bad.” She’s grinning though, and the mood changes all over again, and I get the feeling she made that awful pun on purpose.
I don’t feel settled. But at least I’m here with this family. Seamus rests a hand on my knee, and the talk moves on to simple things, and nobody mentions getting a divorce again.
Which is about the best outcome I could’ve hoped for.