Page 58 of Mob Bride

That one word is all she says. It comes out with a puff of air. It proves that revelation stunned her.

She pulls away from me and scoots to the edge of the bed. I follow her. She gets dressed, and we head back downstairs.

“Off to the executioner.”

“It won’t be that bad,cailín.”

“My head’s bound to be on someone’s plate by tonight.”

Chapter Thirteen

Shane

Dillan sees us first as we enter his office. I texted him while Carrie put her clothes back on, so anything they discussed that Carrie can’t hear ended. All the guys stand as she comes in. Our parents drilled into us anytime a woman enters a room or comes to a table to sit down or leaves, we stand. Immediate family members don’t count. But since Carrie isn’t one yet, they demonstrate etiquette that’s so a part of the core of who we are, we don’t even realize we’re doing it.

Ironically, the other three families are exactly the same. Their parents drilled etiquette into them just as sternly as our parents did. We are the politest mobsters you’ll ever meet.

“Hello, Carys.”

Dillan gestures toward the couch I’m already leading her to. I didn’t think about it while we walked down the stairs, but I’m holding her hand. It doesn’t go unnoticed by any of the guys. She offers him a tight smile when she returns the greeting.

“Hello—everyone.”

She hesitates between words, unsure exactly what she should say, if anything. I make the rounds of introductions, and we’resoon all seated on the sofas, love seats, and armchairs spread throughout Dillan’s office. It’s a converted den he expanded through to a guest bedroom, creating a meeting area large enough for all of us.

They just finished the work a couple weeks ago. We wound up in the dining room when we had family meetings that included our dads. They don’t come on missions very often, but they still do sometimes.

Carrie gives the quick rundown of what she told me. She hides nothing from them and is open about the knowledge she has. It’s not like she confided things in me she was unwilling to tell the others. It pleases me she feels comfortable enough to be that open.

Anything she told me, she knows I would have repeated to my family anyway, so she could have relied on me to do it, but she didn’t. When she finishes explaining how she got involved with Bartlomiej and where things stand now, she sits back against the sofa, and I tighten my hold on her shoulders. She starts to lean against me but catches herself.

I know the guys won’t think she’s weak for it, so I ease her against my side. It only takes a moment before she puts her head on my shoulder. I can tell she’s even more exhausted than she was when we got here.

It’s worn her out having to run for her life, then sharing secrets that could get her in more trouble than she could imagine. Not just with her work and the Poles, but with us.

Dillan speaks first. “Carys, you have our protection. Not just Shane’s, but our entire family. I won’t pretend like part of this isn’t because of your mother, but most of it is because you clearly mean a great deal to my cousin. We will do everything we can to shield you from the Poles, but that doesn’t change who employs you.”

She stiffens, so I press my fingers against her shoulder.

“I know, and that’s still something I have to figure out because as long as I’m still an agent, I have obligations that could wind me up in jail if I don’t fulfill them.”

I sweep my gaze around the room, and I know what the others are thinking. If she reports back to her handlers that we offered her shelter, it’ll only turn their attention to us. None of us believe she will, but if they figure it out, any additional attention could make them realize we’re the ones doing the deal in Eastern Europe. I know it means I’ll hide even more from her than I normally would.

I haven’t had that conversation with her yet about the lies of omission and the boldface lies I’ll have to tell her to protect her, my family, and our men. I don’t know if that’s something she can accept, considering the position she’s already in. I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it, but it certainly presents yet another challenge.

“I’m taking Carrie to my place. She’ll be safe there, but I want extra guards.”

Dillan looks at me askance as though he’s insulted I’d mention it. “Of course. That’s not even in question. We’ll get those men assigned right away. They’ll be there by the time you get home.”

Uncertain what to say, a simple “thank you” sufficed. We all understand how she feels physically after such an arduous day, and I think we mostly understand how she feels mentally and emotionally. I’m ready to stand and leave with her, even though I know there’re other things for us to discuss. However, we can’t do that with her here, and Dillan’s wife isn’t home from work yet, so Carrie would be on her own. Not only would that be rude, but that’s not what she needs right now.

My big brother opens his mouth but hesitates. Finn’s thinking twice about what he says. He opts for blunt. “What about your work?”

Carrie and I have gone around in circles several times without resolving that. We’ve stated the obvious more than once, but to what avail?

“I have to see them soon. I’ve got to ensure they’re safe, if nothing else. Jacek emailed a bunch of photos to Bartlomiej. They included ones of me meeting with Angela. He’ll have recognized her because we posed her as a friend of mine named Stella. I told Bartlomiej I was going over there for a girls’ night, but it was really the safe house for a check in. Since he knows where it is, they need to get out. There’s a good chance Jacek’s already raided it, assuming I’d eventually go there rather than stay at Misha’s. That’s the last place any of them know I went. He could toss it to find out more about the set up.”

“Carrie, I’m going with you. I’ll wait in the car and make sure they’re none the wiser I’m there, but I’ll be able to protect you if need be.”

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