Page 3 of Sanctuary

“In the event that Declan doesn’t become the pussy that I know he is. I leave my personal library and the contents of the locked safe under the gold horse in my study to you Connor. The key is hidden within the desk. Just ask Declan where it is, the little shit was spying on me one time and knows exactly where I keep it.”

I stopped him right there. “I... I don’t understand,” I stammered, my voice sounding strange to my own ears. “There must be some mistake.”

The lawyer shook his head. “No mistake, Mr. O’Brien. Mr. MacGallan was quite clear, as you heard, about this. He left a letter explaining the circumstances, which I’m to give to you privately.”

My mind reeled as I tried to process this information.

Declan stood up and took hold of Wren’s hand. “Connor, I had no idea you were my brother, but it does make sense considering how much we resemble each other.” He looked at the lawyer and said, “The South of France is calling me. Nothing is holding Wren and I here any longer. I am stepping down immediately. I’ll swap with Connor. The contents of the safe for the estate, all its holdings and clan captain.”

My chair scraped loudly against the floor as I bolted out of it. “Like fuck Declan! I’m a cook for Christ’s sake. I don’t know the first thing about running the clan.” I looked at Rory. “You’re second in command, you take it!”

Rory stood and pulled Kat up along with him. “We already established that neither I nor Kat want the job as Captain. It’s all yours,” he said as a mischievous smile played on his lips.

Wren piped up, “You run an excellent household Connor! Being Captain can’t be any harder than that. Mia, my sister, is coming to visit. Why don’t you see if she can help you? She’s a good sharpshooter. Remember when she took out Cookie?”

I ran a hand through my hair and groaned at the four smiling faces staring at me. “Is she in the market to get married, do you think?”

Wren’s eyes widened with excitement. “Oh, Connor! Are you interested in Mia? She certainly had the hots for you. She mentioned it when Declan and I got married. I can’t see that changing. Unless of course she’s currently attached to someone.”

I felt my face flush. “That’s not what I meant—I just—”

Declan clapped me on the shoulder, grinning. “Look at you! Not even Captain for five minutes and already thinking about securing the bloodline. I knew you had it in you.”

“I’m not—” I started to protest, but Kat cut me off.

“Oh, hush, Connor. You’ll do brilliantly as Captain, and if this Mia can help, all the better. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find more than just a clan advisor.”

The lawyer cleared his throat. “If I may interject, there are still some legal matters to discuss regarding the transfer of power.”

I sank back into my chair, feeling overwhelmed. “Right, of course. Let’s get on with it then.”

As the lawyer droned on about documents and signatures, my mind wandered. Me, a clan captain? It seemed absurd. It was absurd.

I cleared my throat. “Ah can I ask something?”

The lawyer looked up and nodded. “Why the hell not.”

“If I don’t become clan captain, who does?”

Mr. Fitzgerald dropped his pen on the desk. “There is no ‘if’ you become one. You’re next in line by blood, even over your sister. Declan has stepped down. Rory and Kat refuse it, so it automatically goes to you. The swearing in ceremony will need to be prepared so that will take some time. However, to retain the title of the estate, for some asinine reason your father stipulated that you must get married within a six-month timeframe. Otherwise, all is forfeited to…”— he shuffled some papers — “your cousin, Donovan MacGallan.”

I felt the blood drain from my face. That pompous, power-hungry ass? The thought of him leading our clan made my stomach churn.

“Donovan?” Declan exclaimed, echoing my thoughts. “Fuck that. I’ll burn the place down before that!”

Mr. Fitzgerald shrugged, seemingly unperturbed by our reactions. “I don’t make the rules, I merely enforce them. Your father’s will is quite clear on this matter.”

I slumped further into my chair, my mind reeling. Not only did I have to become clan captain — a role I felt woefully unprepared for — but I also had to get married. It was too much.

Wren piped up. “Well, that settles it then! We’ll just have to find you a wife if Mia isn’t game, Connor. How hard can it be?”

Declan chuckled. “If your sister is anything like you, it might take awhile.”

As they bantered, I caught Kat’s eye. She gave me a sympathetic look, one that said I was in deep shit.

“Look,” I said, running a hand through my hair, “this is all happening so fast. I never wanted to be anything other than a cook. I’m not even sure I’m cut out for it. Maybe it would be better if—”

“Don’t you dare finish that sentence, Connor,” Kat interrupted, her eyes flashing. “You’re the rightful heir. This is your destiny, whether you like it or not.”

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