Page 124 of Unrequited
It twists in my gut.
“So,” Caitlin says, pouring a glass of white wine. “Tell us about yourself.”
I take a sip, fruity, sweet. I like it.
“I’m the youngest in my family. Three older brothers, one sister. She lives in South Africa with her husband. My brothers are all married. I stayed close to home.”
“How’d you meet my brother then, staying so close to home?” Kyla asks boldly, tearing into a roll.
My cheeks burn.
“She gets snappy when she’s hungry,” Bronwyn says.
“Eat, Kyla,” she says calmly. “And maybe shut up.”
“Girls,” Caitlin warns, sharp-eyed. “Go on, Zoya.”
I clear my throat. “I got tired of my brothers’ rules. Took a little trip to a pub one night. Met Seamus there. He’s always been good to me.”
“When was this?” Kyla presses.
“A while ago,” I say, dodging the trap.
Seamus said I was safe here. But am I?
“If only he didn’t act the feckin’ traitor,” Ash mutters.
I set my wine glass down, hard. My gaze slices to Ash. “I told you. Don’t call him a traitor.”
He scoffs. “You can defend him if you want, but it won’t work.”
“No,” I snap. “You want to go at him, do it to his face. But I’m telling you right now, my husband is not a traitor.”
I jab my finger into the table, my fury rising.
“Is that right?” Ashgets up.
“That’s right,” I say, standing.
“That’s my girl,” I hear Seamus say behind me. Relief floods through me.
I exhale at the sound of his voice, like a warm tide cutting through the chaos.
“So brave. That’s my good girl. Ashland, sitdown. You want to call me a traitor to my face, lad?”
Ashland scowls, his jaw tight. “You brought a fucking Kopolov into the house.”
“I did.” Seamus’s voice is calm, but there's steel underneath. “Obviously. I did more than that, actually. I put the man she was about to marry into the ground.” He turns to face Ashland directly, like he’s challenging him to argue. “Does that say anything about my decision?”
Then he steps to my side, fingers weaving through mine like it’s second nature. He bends down, kisses my temple, slow and deliberate, and says, “I love her.” Then, eyes back on Ashland, “You want to take this outside?”
A shiver runs through me at the tone of his voice.
Ashland hesitates. Then, quietly, “No, sir.”
He sits down.
“Kyla?” Seamus asks, narrowing his eyes at his sister. “I heard a tone I don’t care for when you were speaking to my wife. Want to try that again in front of me?”
