Page 30 of Then We Shatter

Tremors run through my body as I hold back my anger. If I lose my shit now, I’m definitely going to reveal things about Katarina I shouldn’t. “Where are the twins?” I ask, for once missing their inane interruptions.

“They got distracted back at the club. You know what that pair of idiots are like,” replies Dad. “But before we get any more distracted, tell me what’s happening in Chicago.” He holds up a hand in warning to Malachy without looking at him. “No fucking heckling from the back row.”

I swallow a slug of freshly brewed black coffee. Thankfully, Lorcan knows I’m not averse to being an idiot myself and he’s added a splash of cold water so the coffee doesn’t burn my mouth. “I’ve been able to persuade Katarina to put off setting the date for her wedding,” I explain, once again failing to mention that there never was and never will be a wedding. As far as my family are concerned, I’m one corner of a genuine love triangle.

“I still want to know why the Moncriefs are letting this go ahead,” he replies. “And why aren’t the Griffins stepping in?”

“Ash is confident it’ll come to nothing.” Again, not a lie.

“Does he know you’re fucking her?”

I give Malachy a side eye. “No one outside our circle can know we’re seeing each other. Her protection has been upgraded and one of them, Danyl, is high up in Vasili’s command. If her uncle finds out she’s jeopardizing her latest engagement, she’ll face serious consequences.”

“So?” asks Malachy, not letting up with the smart remarks. He’s practically begging me to smash his face into the marble countertop. “The whole point of you being there is to make it known she’s cheating on Duke.”

“I know what I’m fucking doing.” No, I don’t. I really don’t. “We can’t rush things if we’re to hide our involvement, and if I get this right, it’ll look like Duke was the one to back out.”

“So you can protect Katarina?” adds Malachy.

“Yes,” I hiss. “To protect a woman who’s been tossed around from one man to another like a piece of property.”

Dad’s brow creases. “She’s not an innocent, Killian. This is the woman who almost trapped Ash. She’s clearly got something that has men losing their shit over, and I don’t want one of them to be you.”

“It won’t be, Da.”

The fuck it won’t. My hackles have risen just at the suggestion other men might lose their minds over her. No one else gets my woman.

I force my jaw to relax. “Look, Katarina is already complaining about how cold the Moncrief guy is.” I hate saying Duke’s name. “Their relationship will fall apart, I can guarantee it. Give me to the end of the summer.”

Dad drains his whiskey and heaves himself off his stool. “I don’t like that it’s dragging on so long. And I don’t like you being in Chicago on your own. You’re going to get noticed eventually.”

“Don’t you be worrying about me. I don’t go out without a disguise.”

I’ve become very attached to Patrick. The girls at the beauty salon say I look like some celebrity hairdresser or other. In fact, Katarina’s stored my number in her cell as ‘The hairdresser.’

“I must be doing something right,” I continue. “The Griffins still haven’t figured out I’m in town.”

“Speaking of Ash, I want you to have a face-to-face meeting with him. Soon. Let him know our concerns,” Dad says. “I like Ash, but that would change if he became connected to the Barkovs by association with the Moncriefs. I don’t want a day to come where we might have to consider him the enemy.”

“I’ll meet with him,” I assure him, not looking forward to another conversation where I’ll have to lie through my teeth.

When Dad’s gone, I see the deep breath Malachy takes as he prepares to set into me. “No heckling from the back row,” I remind him.

On cue, Malachy jumps out of his seat. “You think I’ve been stuck on the back row these past weeks? Are you trying to be funny?”

“I usually am,” I reply as I pick up my coffee and take a sip without looking at my brother.

“Yeah, well, you usually think with your head and not your dick. Dad might fall for the act, but I don’t. You’re falling for her, Killian. Tell me I’m wrong.”

“I’m not falling for her,” I say, shrugging off the suggestion. “I like her is all. So what?”

“She’s a fucking Bratva princess! Which means she’s trained to reel in dickheads like you,” he hisses. “She’s snapped up a Moncrief and now she’s leading you by the cock. If her goal is to undermine this family, she’s doing a fucking good job so far. You’re already lying to Dad.” He sucks in a breath. “And I, for one, don’t trust you the way I should.”

Shit that stung. Malachy and I have always argued, and Mam said we were like chalk and cheese, but our loyalty to each other was never in question. It shouldn’t be now. “I would never do anything to jeopardize this family, Mal.”

He blinks too many times. He wants to agree, but he shakes his head. “Not deliberately. Maybe. But what if you put us in danger unintentionally? Have you swept yourself for bugs lately?” He looks to Lorcan. “We should screen him.”

My jaw tics. “Not necessary. I trust her.”