Page 130 of Pride

“Maria! I will not warn you two girls again. Another crass word from your mouths and you are both leaving and going to bed hungry.”

Maria shuts her mouth, but Luciana is still laughing. The two of them are a total nightmare, but I hope as they get older, they won’t be so stupid.

Cain clears his throat. “I’ve got to admit, Darcy, I’m impressed with your work. If you wouldn’t mind some time, I’d love to grab a drink and discuss your success. After all.” He glances at Dad. “Our father won’t be here forever and I’m in line to take over.”

Dad nods. “Indeed, it’s a good idea. Cain has a lot to learn.”

Cain’s jaw clenches. I know that Dad has always treated him like nothing more than a baby. It may be one of the reasons why he always acts so immature.

Isiah clears his throat. “Sure, I’ll be in touch to arrange it.”

Cain smiles, looking thankful that Isiah agreed, as it’s not like him to ask for help from anyone.

And I know he’s going to need a lot of help after Isiah kills our father. Cain isn’t ready to lead, but I can’t think about that right now.

Dad clears his throat. “We’re up against some kind of threat, as always. Four of my long-standing men have been murdered in the last week.”

I glance at Isiah as he tenses a little before quickly recomposing himself. “Do you have any suspects?” he asks.

Isiah had revealed that he’d identified the four men responsible for breaking into his house fifteen years ago in masks. The men who had murdered his brother, Aiden. And he’d made it clear that he intended to murder them—it feels almost surreal, knowing that I’ve accepted it as if it were commonplace and inevitable. Clearly, he went through with his plan.

As I glance around the table at my family, I think ahead of the days following my father’s impending death. Life will never be the same again; I only hope I have the strength to keep this truth concealed from all those who love me, or I might lose them all.

The rest of the evening goes smoothly, and my dad unfortunately invites Isiah and Cathal to have a drink with him in his study. However, it gives me a chance to apologize to Nina.

“Hey,” I say as I walk over to her.

Her expression is irritated. “Hi.”

“I’m sorry for not trusting that you know your own mind.”

She sighs heavily. “I know you are just looking out for me, but you can’t do that for the rest of my life.” She pats the space next to her on the sofa. “Sorry for snapping like that.”

I shake my head and take her hand as I sit. “You’re right, and you have nothing to apologize for.”

Maria approaches us, an odd look on her face. “I’m not sure what the hell she’s thinking.”

“Who?” I ask.

Her lips purse together. “Luciana has run off with James. They went almost an hour ago now.” She passes me a letter, which is in Luciana’s handwriting. “I’ve known for a while they were sleeping together, but—”

“What?!” I ask, jumping to my feet. “He’s a forty-year-old man and Luciana is only fifteen.”

Nina looks gobsmacked. “Why didn’t you tell anyone?”

Maria looks down at her feet. “I-I… I don’t know.”

“Fuck’s sake. We better tell Dad, Isiah and Cathal. They should be able to find them and bring them back,” I say.

Immediately, I wonder if I’ve always been such a terrible judge of character. My initial opinion of Isiah was that he was a complete and utter asshole, stuck-up and womanizing. And I believed James was a gentleman, down to earth and kind. How wrong I was.

I rush to my dad’s study and open the door, not bothering to knock.

“Bella! What is the—”

“Shut it,” I say, shaking my head. “We’ve got a crisis. Luciana has run away with James Wick. Apparently, she’s been sleeping with him for a while.”

My dad’s expression turns furious as he glares at Cathal. “Your man has run away with my fifteen year old daughter. What is the meaning of this?”

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