Page 31 of House of Soot

I lift my head, studying his face. "You ask a lot about them. Why so curious?"

"Just trying to understand where you come from." His green eyes lock with mine. "The history of this place, now that I’m moving up."

I trace the line of his jaw. "Most people don't know there was another family before the Keans."

He tenses, almost imperceptibly. "That’s sort of sad. An entire family forgotten?”

He’s right. It is sad. “Not by us. The Keans rebuilt the home. Mom worked in the garden just as Mrs. Ifrinn liked until she got too ill.”

“You knew them too?”

“A little. Mom and I lived here then, just like now. The Ifrinns were good people. Kind. Like the Keans."

"Were you close with them?"

My brow furrows, wondering why he has such an interest in the Ifrinns. "Why does it matter?"

"It doesn't. I just…" He pauses. "You're important to me. I want to know everything. If they’re mostly forgotten, it soundslike they didn’t leave much of a legacy. You can tell me the truth. Did you not like them?"

Something in his tone catches my attention. There's an edge there, hidden beneath the warmth. Like he's searching for specific answers but won't ask the questions.

“Like I said, I was a kid. I didn’t know them well, but my impression of them was that they were nice.”

“Hmm.”

I get the feeling he doesn’t believe me. “I know the Keans better. They’ve been so wonderful to everyone. They took over after that horrible tragedy with such grace. Ronan's father made sure everyone kept their jobs, took care of the staff's families."

His jaw clenches. He must feel the same annoyance that someone would be after such an upstanding family.

"And now they're under attack.” I shake my head.

“I don’t think that was a real attack. I think someone is just fucking with them.”

I stare at him wide-eyed. “Really?”

He nods. “That was designed to make a lot of noise and smoke, but that’s about it.”

“Still, who would do that? After everything the Keans have done for this community.”

He strokes my hair. "Shh. The Keans are well-protected. Especially now."

I take in the man I love and admire. "Thanks to you. You're their hero."

“You give me more credit than I deserve.”

“Modest too.” I give him a quick kiss. "What about your family? You've never mentioned them."

He tenses again. "Not much to tell. Pretty standard childhood."

"Standard how?" I shift to face him better. "Where did you grow up?”

He shrugs. "I told you before. Boston, for the most part.”

I bite my lip, sensing his withdrawal. "And your parents?"

"Gone."

"I'm sorry." I squeeze his hand.

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