Page 47 of A Dark Mafia Christmas

“You can talk to me about it now.” I address Mary, and man if I don’t sound like the biggest asshole going. I see the way my mom purses her lips like she didn’t bring me up to be this controlling.

Mary follows me to the conservatory overlooking the garden which is still patchy white with icy snow. I feel her eyes on me, but I stare out the window while I try to reassemble my thoughts.

It shouldn’t matter to me where Mary lives, we’re going our separate ways after this anyway, so why am I angry with her for withholding her plans? Is it because she didn’t discuss it with me before reaching a decision? Did I believe that bringing her here gave me full control over everything she did? Or is it because she’ll ultimately be spending more time with my family than I will?

“I’m sorry, Emmett.” Mary breaks the silence first.

It hasn’t been this uncomfortable between us since my fight with Ronan at the pub, and I don’t like it.

“I needed a few days to think about it. That’s why I didn’t tell you sooner. I…” I hear the emotion in her voice, and I still don’t look at her. “I can’t come back to New York with you. I can’t see you in the office and … and think about our time together here.”

“You won’t see me in the office.” Because I never noticed Mary until the Christmas party.

She takes her time responding. “There’s nothing else for me to go back to if I don’t have my job. This is an amazing opportunity, and I really want to make it work.”

“You could find a job like this in New York. I’ll connect you with some of my contacts. They’ll find you work if I put in a good word for you.”

I choose this moment to make eye contact, and the hurt in her eyes tears my heart open. Who do I think I am, persuading her to change her mind so that I can palm her off onto a client and forget about her?

“Mary, I didn’t mean?—”

“Yes, you did, Emmett. It’s fine, really it is. I’ve realized how much I’ve missed this country. I belong here. My roots have been tugging at me ever since we arrived.” She smiles. “Here, take your granny’s ring.”

She slides the engagement ring off her finger, but I stop her. If she takes it off now, my family will never believe that I’m not angry with her for staying in Ireland, and there’s no way I can tell them the truth now that they’ve all fallen in love with her. My parents will never forgive me.

“Tell them tomorrow. At least let them see in the New Year with their excitement intact.”

“Tomorrow? After you’ve gone?”

Fuck, that came out all wrong.

“I know you think that I’m swerving all the responsibility onto your shoulders, Mary.”

“Aren’t you?”

There’s a hard edge to her voice that I haven’t heard since she ran away. Was that when everything changed, when I went looking for her and brought her back?

“I’ll call them myself. Tomorrow. I’ll tell them that we’ve decided to take a break while you get settled here, and I have so much going on in New York.” She isn’t saying anything. “Then you can give Granny Mary her ring back.”

She stares at me for what feels like hours, her eyes searching mine, looking for something that she isn’t going to find. “Fine.”

“Fine.”

“Good luck, Emmett.” She stands on tiptoes and kisses my cheek. “I hope you find what you’re looking for.”

Then she walks away, and I’m left staring at the door as it closes behind her.

I don’t seeMary again before I leave. She stays in her room when I say goodbye to my family, and even though I stare inside the house while I hug everyone and wish them Happy New Year on the doorsteps, it’s obvious that she isn’t coming to wave me off.

“I wish you would stay.” Mom hugs me tightly. She holds on to my arms when she pulls away and glances over her shoulder. “Don’t worry about Mary. We’ll take good care of her.”

Jesus, if she only fucking knew. “I know you will, Mom.”

She dabs her wet eyes with a tissue. “When will you be back?”

“I don’t know.” Deep breath. I should make more of an effort to see them. “I won’t wait so long this time.”

I get in the car before she starts crying. As Dave drives slowly along the driveway, I glance back at the guest room window, hoping for a glimpse of Mary, but she isn’t there.

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