Cadence
P RESENT TIME
I've never been on a private jet before—not even with Keiran.
Fancy is the only word I can think of to describe its interior, but as much as I want to enjoy it...
"How are you doing?"
I can't.
Not when my whole world is falling apart.
And so all I can do is muster a weak smile for Giancarlo. "I'm coping."
"That's more than good, all things considered."
His gentle voice makes me want to cry, and I'm not even sure why that is.
My mind drifts back to the past, and I remember how Giancarlo and I made our escape from Keiran's penthouse apartment. And the entire time, all I could think about was...
Is this really happening?
Is it?
Really?
And to be honest, the question is still at the back of my mind, like some ingested poison that's about to take effect at any given moment.
"We're here."
I glance out of the window...but it's not Boston I see below.
St. Martha's Vineyard?
"Think of this as a proactive strategy," Giancarlo murmurs. "We cannot let your parents be used as leverage against your husband, sì? "
All I can do is nod...while the poison starts to spread.
Is this really happening?
Is it?
Really?
I thought we'd be waiting for days. But all it takes is twenty minutes for Giancarlo's men to extract my parents from their self-purchased (un)safe house with military precision.
The look on my father's face when he sees me seated inside Giancarlo's private jet is almost...comical. But I think I've lost my sense of humor, and so all I can do is stare.
"? What the hell—"
"Hello, Dad."
My mother comes in next, and she loses all color when she sees me. "C-?"
Am I being too sensitive here...or are my parents really not happy to see their one and only daughter?
"Apologies for cutting the family reunion short, but we need to take off immediately. So Mr. and Mrs. Quinn, if you will?"
Giancarlo's silken drawl has my parents hurriedly doing his bidding.
The seatbelt sign lights up. We take off. And all I can do is watch my parents look anywhere but me.
Because they know what they've done.
And just like always, they're unwilling to take the blame.
A few more minutes pass before the seatbelt sign goes off, and before I realize what I'm about to do—-
"How could you?"
I'm already crying the words out.
Because all I can suddenly hear in my mind is the alarms in Keiran's penthouse apartment going off.
"You used his name—-"
My dad bristles. "He's my son-in-law—-"
His gall nearly has me throwing up. "So now he's your son-in-law...just because it suits you? You painted a target on his back—-"
"Stop talking to your father like that," my mom says shrilly. "We had to do what we had to do! And that man is one of them—-"
"You should be the one to stop," I burst out. "Just stop talking about Keiran like he owes us something when he never did. I was the one who was lucky—-"
"You've clearly lost your mind," Marvin rages at me. "You always lose your mind where that man's concerned—-"
"That man has a name!"
"Do I look like I care?"
"If you know what's good for you—-"
It's Giancarlo who says this, and the dangerous softness of his tone has both of my parents stiffening in their seats.
"You should choose your words very carefully from here on. Keiran de Laigny is the only reason I wasted my time in saving you."
Marvin looks at me again, and his gall...
It just makes me want to throw up.
How can he not see how selfish he is?
How?
"Are you going to let this man get away with talking to us like that?" Marvin demands.
"I think I should," I say unevenly, "since I don't think I can say something just as polite—-"
Marvin turns red with rage. "You ungrateful—-"
Giancarlo casually takes his gun out.
—-and my dad is forced to swallow the rest of his words.
"I cannot believe you are treating us like this," Gail throws at me.
Back at you, Mom.
Because I honestly can't believe how they're still capable of being so...vile.
"We raised you—-"
"But you never loved me," I whisper.
"And you think that man you married does?"
No.
Now that I know the truth about my brother and the blood debts he's asked of other people—-
I don't think Keiran ever loved me.
But even so.
"Keiran never made me feel I wasn't good enough for him. And that's why I fell in love with him. And why I'll always love him..."
And why I have to let him go...
Even if he chooses to come back to me.