Page 23 of Twisted Secrets (The O’Malleys #3)

For a second, she actually looked shocked before she managed to get an expressionless mask in place.

Why was what he said so surprising? Sure, Irish mob families had a tendency to put family first and everyone else dead last, but as long as Olivia wasn’t some kind of sleeper agent or spy intent on bringing them all down in flames, there was no reason his family should have a problem with them dating.

In theory.

But he meant what he said. The more he found out about Olivia, the more he liked. He wasn’t about to give her up without a fight. Not now. Not until they’d had their fill of each other.

And what if that never happens?

He shoved the voice away. He’d cross that bridge when he came to it. “So, why don’t we try something easy? Tell me about your hopes and dreams and fears.”

She laughed again, the sound like the best whiskey. He could almost taste it if he closed his eyes. That night with her in the alley had been the first time he’d been with someone in…a long time. A seriously long time. Olivia picked up her water. “That’s your idea of small talk?”

“Sure. What’s wrong with that?” He knew damn well that it wasn’t small talk, but he liked that she was teasing him. He liked it a lot.

“Oh, I don’t know.” She grinned. “Everything?”

“Sit back, sweetheart. I’m about to school you.”

“This should be interesting.”

She had no idea.

***

Sloan had never been a big drinker, but she was thinking now might be a good time to start.

Keira certainly hadn’t felt that five thirty in the evening was too early to begin tipping whatever was in her flask into her drink when she thought no one was looking.

She caught Sloan’s frown and grinned. “Don’t look so disapproving. It’s after five.”

That logic was flawed in a seriously large way, but since her sister shut her down every time she tried to actually talk to her, Sloan turned to face the room.

When Teague had invited her to the Sheridan residence, at first she’d thought it was going to be just the two of them going over the last details of her extraction.

But, no, he’d invited all the O’Malley siblings.

She hadn’t realized when he said all he meant all .

Carrigan caught her eye, and Sloan immediately turned back to Keira. “I can’t believe he invited her.”

“She’s still our sister, even if she’s pretty much a traitor.” Keira swirled her drink, took a sip, and then added more from her flask. “Though Teague obviously doesn’t agree with our parents on that.”

Which was probably why their parents were noticeably absent tonight.

She wasn’t sure if they’d gotten an invite or not, but she understood why they’d chosen not to come if they had been invited.

She might have done the same if she’d known Carrigan would be here.

“She’s with a Halloran. That’s inexcusable. ”

“Is it?” Keira shrugged, taking another sip. “It doesn’t make Devlin less dead, either way.”

“Keira.”

“What? It’s the truth, isn’t it? We’re all so damn miserable. What’s wrong with one of us dredging out a little slice of happiness for herself? Maybe that’s why Mother and Father are so pissed—we’re so much easier to maneuver when we’re suffering.”

She was about to tell her sister not to talk like that, but she stopped herself.

Wasn’t that part of the reason she was leaving?

She was finally taking her future into her own hands and grabbing whatever happiness she could find.

She nodded to where Teague stood with his arm around Callie’s waist. “Not all of us are miserable.”

“Well, duh.” Another sip. “You want to know the other thing that stands out with those two lucky little shits? They got out. Oh, not out -out.” Keira waved her hand. “But they aren’t under our parents’ thumbs anymore. Bet that helps with the whole happiness thing.”

It probably does . But she couldn’t say so out loud—not even here.

No one could know she was planning on leaving.

Their father couldn’t risk forcing Carrigan back into the fold and provoking a true war with James Halloran, but Sloan had no such power in her corner.

Teague could get her out, but his first priority would always be Callie and the stability of the Sheridans. “You need to stop talking like that.”

“Why? Who’s going to hear me?” Keira made a show of looking around, her whole body tilting unsteadily with the movement. “It’s just us, Sloan.” Then she frowned. “ Where’s Cillian?”

Sloan studied the room, only now realizing she hadn’t seen him. “I don’t know. Surely he was invited?”

“He’s been wearing his cranky pants lately. Maybe Teague decided to leave him out of it.”

She shot her little sister a look. “Because he was worried about you?” Considering her sister was obviously drunk and had decided that a pair of black leggings, combat boots, and an oversized white tank top that showed her black bra was appropriate attire for this dinner, Sloan wasn’t sure she blamed him.

“It’s none of his business. It isn’t anyone’s business.” Keira’s chin came up, a sure sign she was ready to fight. “He sent Liam after me, and I had to deal with a babysitter for the entire night. Talk about a buzzkill.”

Good . She worried about her sister’s nighttime activities enough as it was. It was good that Liam tailed after her when he could. Sloan was about to say as much, but Teague raised his voice. “There is a reason I asked you guys here tonight. If you’ll sit…”

Sloan followed Keira over to the couches situated around the living room, carefully choosing one between her sister and the arm of the couch so she wouldn’t risk sitting next to her other sister.

She wasn’t ready to face Carrigan. It didn’t matter if every other one of their siblings seemed willing to forgive and forget—even Aiden from the looks of it. She wasn’t.

Not now. Maybe not ever.

Teague stood behind the overstuffed chair Callie had taken, his hands on her shoulders.

“I know we haven’t always seen eye to eye in the past year—some of us more than others.

” His gaze temporarily rested on Aiden before he looked at the rest of them.

“But I’m hoping that we can set all the baggage aside for a night because I have great news.

” His grin was downright blinding. “You’re all about to become aunts and uncles. ”

Sloan blinked once, twice, a third time. Her mind churned, trying to make sense of his words, even though her gut already knew what he’d said. “You’re…Callie’s pregnant?”

Callie reached back to cover one of Teague’s hands with her own. “Yes. We’re due January eighth. I’m thirteen weeks pregnant on July fifteenth.”

Four days from now.

Oh my God . She forced a smile. Teague had always wanted kids, and to have them with a woman he was so obviously head over heels for was his dream coming true. She watched Carrigan push to her feet and hug their brother and then his wife, her thoughts a buzz of white noise.

She was happy. But there were other, uglier, emotions in there, twisting that happiness until it was downright unrecognizable.

She wanted what Teague had, and at the same time, she resented him for having left her behind to gain it. It was selfish and horrible and she hated herself a little bit for feeling that way, even if she couldn’t stop.

I’m not even going to be here to see this baby. I’m going to miss it. I’m going to miss everything .

She waited for something to rise in her, some sign that she should change her mind, but there was nothing but a growing determination to leave Boston and everything in it behind. I’m a monster .

She realized that most of her siblings had moved over to congratulate Teague and Callie, and forced herself to her feet.

She had to fake it—for both of them. To do anything else would take away from his happiness today, and she wasn’t anywhere near monster enough to do that.

Not yet. Because I’m leaving. They never have to know how conflicted I feel about this whole thing. How jealous .

So she hugged Teague and cooed over Callie and managed to keep a smile on her face through the whole thing. They were so busy with everyone else that they didn’t seem to notice she wasn’t totally on board.

Which was good, because she was counting down the minutes until she put Boston behind her, once and for all.