Page 38 of Then We Shatter

“What have I missed?” Rory asks.

I’m wondering the same when I catch Ash narrowing his eyes at me. Did I just give myself away somehow? “Why would you be so sensitive about Rory repeating your name?”

“I would have thought that was obvious,” I reply, a little too defensively.

Our friendship has never been broadly advertised. It wouldn’t do for the public to know the Griffins get their hands dirty now and again, and Mace Griffin puts a lot of effort into keeping the gossip out of the press. He must be very busy at present because news of Duke and Katarina’s engagement is clearly being suppressed. If the photos of them leaving the restaurant the other day were posted online, they’re not there now.

When Ash continues to wait for a fuller answer, I tip my head in Rory’s direction. “Maybe I’m a little touchy right now about his family joining forces with my family’s enemy.”

“Ah, you have nothing to fear,” Rory says. “It’ll fizzle out before they get to the altar.”

“Yeah, well, someone might need to convince my dad of that.”

“Like Rory says, it’ll run its course,” Ash replies.

“And I repeat, someone needs to convince my dad instead of offering empty platitudes.” I pour Rory a generous measure of whiskey. “How involved is Duke?”

Ash and Rory share a look. Is this where they tell me about faking Katarina’s death?

“It’s not as serious as Vasili would like to believe,” Ash insists.

I turn to face Rory so I’m less open to Ash’s scrutiny when I ask, “Is he sleeping with her?”

I know I’m a shit for asking, but it’s not Katarina I’m questioning. Not really. It’s Duke. And maybe my judgement too. I go weak at the knees just looking at her. She could tell me the sky was green and I’d believe her.

Rory opens and closes his mouth, but no words come out. The more flustered he gets, the worse I feel. He’s only struggling because the answer is obviously no. They’re not sleeping together.

I’m the big idiot.

“Could you blame Duke?” Ash asks. “I’ve seen the way you look at her. You would if you could.”

“What the fuck does that mean?” I snap, my blood pressure shooting through the roof. It takes a second to register that the so-called confirmation I didn’t want to hear was framed as a question. Ash didn’t want to outright lie about them sleeping together so he’d tagged it with the comment about me wanting to fuck her too. At least I can use that part to explain my sudden anger. “My dad would drop me from a great height for riding a Barkov.” Needing to deflect the lie, I poke a finger at Rory. “And your dad should disown Duke.”

“Duke and Katarina’s relationship isn’t all it seems,” Rory insists. He’s always been easier to crack than Ash. “There’s no romantic involvement. Not at all.” His voice lowers, a rarity for him, when he adds, “Duke’s heart belongs to someone else. Their engagement is just a ruse to stop Vasili sending Katarina back to Russia.”

“The details of which needn’t concern you,” Ash interjects, shooting Rory a glare to shut him up. “And I’d appreciate it if you kept that strictly to yourself. You just need to assure your dad there’s an expiry date to the engagement and it won’t end in a marriage.”

I knock back my drink before I speak. “How long do you plan on keeping up the pretense?” How long do I have left with my Kitty?

“At the moment it’s hard to say, but we’re well aware everyone’s patience is wearing thin. Mine included,” Ash adds, his jaw twitching beneath his beard. I was right. We’re pissing everyone off. “We’re talking weeks, not months.”

The whiskey turns sour in my stomach. Ash could have said years and it still wouldn’t have been enough. I won’t settle for anything less than eternity.

When I force myself to relax back in my seat, Rory blows out a breath. He sends a look Ash’s way, which Ash pretends not to see because he knows I’m watching them. Rory is built like a Celtic god, as are all the Moncrief men, and with the right training he’d be tough to beat. What he lacks is the killer instinct. He’s a perfectly crafted sword without an edge. A big softie.

“So…” I say, enjoying the feeling of being back in control. “Time to share the gossip. What the fuck do you mean, Duke’s heart belongs to someone else?”

Ash curses under his breath. “Forget you heard that.”

“Sure, I will,” I say, reaching for the bottle and refilling three drained glasses. I lift Rory’s to his waiting hand. “You were saying…”

“For fuck’s sake…” Ash growls.

“What? I thought we were friends? I swear to God I won’t tell a soul. Dad included.” True. There’s only one person I’d share juicy information with, and she’s the first to admit she doesn’t have a soul.

I nudge Rory. “Ah, go on. I know you’d tell me if Ash wasn’t here. And it’s not like he isn’t a sucker for a good love story. His and Belle’s story most of all.” I chance a look at Ash’s deepening scowl. “Especially the part where I helped save his wee girl.”

“Remind me why we’re still friends.”