Page 159 of Bad Bishop

“That’s because your brothers bribed him not to,” she balked.

I considered her words. “Tiernan is not strapped for cash. If he wanted to rape me, money wouldn’t stand in his way.”

She stared at me in wonder. “Does he cheat on you?”

My mind immediately swerved to Becky. But could I really call it cheating? It was before we were together. Before we kissed. Before I revealed to him that I was who I was.

“No.”

She visibly sagged with relief.

“But my feelings for him scare me. I would die for him, and that doesn’t feel right. This man has a lot of blood on his hands, and I look past all that. When does a monster stop being a monster, Mama?”

“Oh,bambina, when you love it.”

I smiled miserably. Falling in love with my husband was a terrible inconvenience.

“I’m happy for you, Lila. I am. I was a terrible mother for the longest time. I thought if I got the point across that I don’t support your marriage, you’d come back to me. That we could raise this baby together, maybe in Italy, and leave this place. I am sorry for trying to take yet another decision out of your hands. I now see you chose right. And I respect that.” She looked uncertain all of a sudden, almost shy. “If ever you find it in your heart to forgive me, I promise to make it up to you.”

“I forgive you. I’m not moving past everything that happened right now, because that is a lot to ask, but I definitely want to try to restore our relationship.” I lowered my hands, mulling it over. “And I want to hear more about my late father. See some of your paintings, and his. I always thought it was odd I was the only one in our family who loved drawing.”

“I will tell you all about him. I will make it up to you,” she promised. “And I’m going to start right now.”

CHAPTER FIFTY

LILA

Three days later, I was discharged from the hospital.

Tiernan was insufferable. Whatever precautious measures he took to keep me safe before the accident were nothing in comparison to what I had to endure now.

“Hunts Point’s on lockdown. No one comes in, no one comes out,” he announced to his soldiers before I’d been discharged. When we pulled up at Fermanagh’s, the neighborhood was barricaded. When the media started asking questions, Tiernan’s friends at the NYPD called it a drug raid.

I was always with Tiernan, andwewere always surrounded with enough soldiers. Worse still, we now had to drive with a four-vehicle entourage. He was resigned to wrap me in a bubble until we found whoever caused the accident.

“It’s all connected,” Sam announced the day I returned from the hospital.

We were all in the tiny living room of our apartment. Achilles, Luca, and Fintan included. “Whoever is responsible for the car accident is likely the person who sent Lila that letter.”

The first thing I did when Tiernan and I came back from the hospital was show him the letter I’d received. Hence why we were having this meetup. I’d never been one of the boys, so to speak.

Had never been included in an important meeting.

Now, I was sitting in my husband’s lap, privy to everything that was said.

“You think it’s the guy who attacked her?” Achilles folded his arms over his chest.

“Yeah, and I think he’s freaking the fuck out,” Sam provided. “That letter? Reeks of sloppiness.”

It was weird, having the men discuss something so traumatic that happened to me so openly. Then again, they were all trying to help. And Tiernan had his arms around me, which made me feel invincible.

“Why now?” Luca frowned.

“Baby’s almost here.” Fintan took a pull of his pint. “Now’s the time to try to blackmail you for money.”

“He tried to kill her.” Tiernan bared his teeth.

“Orhe tried to warn her,” Fintan volleyed back.