Killian #2
I glance to the cut on Ronan’s cheek, inviting Malachy to follow my gaze.
It’s a reminder that he has more to learn.
What I don’t do is say anything out loud in front of our father.
Unlike my brother, I’m not a fucking prick.
And I don’t want to embarrass Lorcan. He hasn’t contributed to the discussion yet and I don’t know if it’s his usual detachment or if he’s dwelling on his latest lapse.
He’d gone six months without an episode.
We were all hoping he’d beaten his demons.
“Enough,” Dad says, breaking the loaded silence. “I’m the one in charge, thank fuck, not you pair of idiots, and it’s my opinion that counts. I don’t like this woman being anywhere near my family, or my so-called allies. Killian, you need to speak to Ash and get some answers.”
“He and I need a debrief anyway after last night. There are bodies we need to relocate so no one finds out what went down at the compound.”
“Does Ash know you’ve been fucking the Barkov woman?” Dad asks.
“No, and there’s no reason to tell him,” I answer. Something like regret tugs in my chest when I add, “It was one fuck. That’s all.”
Was it though? I’d warned Katarina I was coming back for more, but as she pointed out, I talk shit sometimes. She’s in Chicago. Engaged to another man. And at some point she’s going to disappear off the face of the earth.
Dad drops back into his chair and stares into space for a second or two. It’s not a good sign when he nods to himself. “It doesn’t have to be the last time.”
I’m not the only one who’s stunned. Malachy flinches at the suggestion. “Say that again?” I ask.
“Ash broke off his engagement to Katarina because she was fucking around with Duke. The lass has built a reputation for herself so it shouldn’t be too hard for you to cause enough of a stink to force Duke to break off his engagement too.”
Before I can leap to Katarina’s defense and point out that her reputation is undeserved, it slowly sinks in what Dad’s suggesting.
I clamp my mouth shut. Thank fuck I didn’t tell him about the Griffins plan to help her disappear.
Let him believe her relationship to Duke is genuine.
I’m about to get approval to go back for a second taste of my forbidden fruit.
Maybe more than that if I can persuade Katarina to hang around a little longer.
“One small problem,” Malachy says in a tone I don’t much like. Arrogant bastard. “If you fuck up whatever plans Vasili has in mind for a Moncrief alliance, we’re the ones who’ll face recriminations. And we’ve lost enough good men recently.”
I swear I catch our dad rolling his eyes as he turns back to me. “Suggestions?”
I suck air through my teeth. “With a bit of planning, I could set something up where my identity remains hidden,” I say if only because more time with Katarina is my one and only objective.
“I’d have to be sneaky. We can’t let anyone know I’m in Chicago.
But if I can persuade Ki– Katarina to hook up in secret,” I stutter, stopping short of using my pet name for her.
I refocus on the lie I’m spinning. “All I’d have to do is leave enough of a trail to prove she was cheating.
Duke might choose to ignore rumors, but the Moncriefs move in circles where reputation is everything. ”
Malachy tuts. Loudly. “Their reputation will be shot simply by marrying a Barkov. I don’t see it working.”
“It’ll work as long as you don’t get involved,” I insist. “I’ll start making plans.”
“I’ll help,” says Lorcan.
I grin at him, grateful that now he has opened his mouth, it’s to speak up for me. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
“We have two funerals to arrange first,” Malachy reminds us. “And families to support.”
“Then let’s get to work,” Dad says. “Now, fuck off the lot of you.”
I’m out the door first, grabbing an apple from a fruit bowl in the main foyer on my way back through the house. I’m taking my first bite when Tiernan slaps me hard on the back, almost making me choke.
“Lucky bastard. You always get the good jobs,” he says with more than a hint of envy.
“Just watch yourself,” Ronan adds, appearing on my other side. “Kittens have claws.”
I grip the apple hard and juice drips over my white knuckles. “Don’t call her that.”
“But you were going to call her kitten,” Tiernan answers for him. “We all heard you in Da’s office stumble over her name.”
As we step into the desert-dry heat and look out from our spot high up on the Ridges, there’s a haze over the valley, dulling the sharp edges of the Strip.
I can’t tell my brothers why Katarina doesn’t like the nickname, or why it aggravates me on her behalf.
Not when Malachy is lurking behind us, taking fucking notes.
“Killi and Kitten,” Ronan repeats. “It’s cute.”
“You two arse wipes had better make yourself scarce if you don’t want me to drown you,” I warn, deliberately taking a path that brings us nearer to the edge of the pool.
“But we want to hear all the–” Tiernan starts.
“We’ll see you later,” Ronan interrupts, pulling his brother away from the danger zone.
“They’re right about her having claws,” Malachy says, replacing Ronan at my side and positioning himself as the devil on my shoulder. “And she sunk them into you far too easily. I bet the Bratva taught her how to fuck a man’s brains out and leave nothing but–”
I swivel fast, the apple disintegrating in my fist as both meet the soft cartilage of Malachy’s nose. He flies backwards into the pool with a yell of frustration and humiliation. Not waiting for his response, I carry on towards the guest villa.
“That was a waste of a really nice apple,” I complain to the only brother left standing.
“There’ll be plenty more apples,” Lorcan says philosophically. “But there’s only one Katarina Barkov.”
I slow my pace as we cross the courtyard. If it was any other brother, I’d assume he was being sarcastic. Lorcan is deadly serious.
“I get it,” he explains. “She might act like a Barkov, but she’s not.”
I’m expecting him to say more, but that’s the sum total of his observation, and he’s not wrong.