Page 89 of Arranged Control

“No car this time, promise.”

“Hope not. Although with your driving record, I wouldn’t be surprised if you were parked in the yard.”

He bursts out laughing and has to explain that one to Siobhan while I say hello to Seamus’s father and his oldest brother, Declan.

“Cormac’s the only one missing tonight. He and Bianca have a date night.” Siobhan’s eyebrows raise up and down.

“Ah, leave the boy alone. You’re just jealous,” Seamus’s father teases his wife.

She pretends to be angry. “I wouldn’t be so jealous if you treated me half so well as your boy treats his wife.”

“Are you saying you haven’t been spoiled rotten for forty years?”

“Is that what you call the occasional dinner out and a present on our anniversary? That’s spoiled rotten, is it?”

I sit back and watch the banter. Declan gets involved, although I don’t think I’ve ever seen that man joke before, much less smile.Seamus gets me some wine and sits at my side, his knee touching mine under the table.

For a little while, I can forget why we came.

Because the key difference between this house and the one I grew up in is this: Seamus’s family actually loves each other.

It’s warm in this place. Not temperature-wise, but emotionally. They’re all deeply comfortable with each other, and it’s clear that they have a tight, close relationship. Siobhan runs the conversation, idly refilling drinks and bringing out snacks. She dotes on her boys while they crack jokes and make her laugh. I get the feeling that making their mother smile is one of the most important parts of dinner.

It’s genuinely nice.

I’m not used to this sort of bond, especially not in a crime family.

Usually, everyone’s trying to kill everyone else.

Not struggling to be the first person to open a new bottle of wine.

I try to enjoy it while I can. Even Seamus seems to lighten up and revert back to the wisecracking joker he was when we first got together. But I knew it couldn’t last, and Siobhan’s the one who finally broaches the subject.

“You said over the phone you have to talk to everyone about something,” she prompts Seamus once there’s a brief lull in the conversation. I feel the attention at the table shift to my husband. “I hope you’re not about to break the most important rule of family dinner.”

“No business at the table,” Declan murmurs, shaking his head. “Which is also the one rule we never actually follow.”

“I’m sorry, Mom, but this is too important.” Seamus’s face darkens. He takes a long drink before looking to his father. “I haven’t been completely honest with you all. I need to talk to you about Molchanie.”

His father stares back grimly. “Go on and say it then.”

Seamus talks about his meeting with her, but this time, he gives them the crucial bit of information he’s been holding back. “And if I don’t leave Alina, she’s going to kill someone I care about.” He pauses, letting it sink in. “Someone most likely at this table.”

“Or missing from it,” Finn murmurs, clearly thinking about Cormac and his wife.

Everyone’s silent. The mood sours considerably. Padraig leans forward on his elbows, glaring at his son. “And why didn’t you tell us this sooner?”

“Because I wanted to fix the problem myself first.”

“How did that go?”

“Clearly not well.”

Declan breaks in. “You should’ve spoken up sooner, Seamus. Now we’ve got less time to figure this out.”

“What’s there to figure out?” Padraig bangs a fist on the table. “We should’ve had the whole family’s strength out on the streets hunting down this assassin bitch from the start.”

“Paddy, watch your language,” Siobhan says gently, not looking happy either. “But I agree with his sentiment.”