Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 88263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“What about your family?” I ask, resisting a slight smile. “Should we invite them too?”
“No thanks,” she says, looking away. “I’d rather not.”
Roger comes in then, and I take the opportunity to slip out the back door. But not before giving Keely one last look, wondering if maybe my mother was right.
The family corrupts everything, including its own children.
Chapter 28
Keely
I’m annoyed all morning.
I tried to do something nice for Nolan and his mother—I figured seeing Molly more often would help ease some of her isolation, at the very least—but that conversation went totally wrong. I should’ve left out what Molly said to me outside, but I’m still so torn about it.
And maybe some part of me wanted him to convince me that she’s wrong.
Instead, his anger only made everything worse.
I know what Nolan is. I know what they all are—but there’s a difference between knowing it and being told to run far, far away by the matriarch of their family. Nolan’s dangerous, his business is deadly, but I find it hard to see that in him.
Ever since my conversation with Molly and her warning, I keep thinking about the blood on Nolan’s hands. About what joining a family like that would do to me in the long run.
Except I’m not joining. I have to keep telling myself that. I have five months—or maybe less, depending—then I’m out of here. That’s the deal I made, and I never promised Nolan more. He’s acting like our vows were meant to be forever.
I never said those words, till death do us part.
Nolan rushed us past that.
So how much do I owe him, really?
Or am I just trying to rationalize?
Roger gives me more busywork, basically whatever menial tasks need doing that don’t involve any skill. The guys head out at lunchtime, leaving me alone at the front counter, picking at a salad I bought from a diner a few blocks over. I’m about to give up on eating entirely when the door opens.
And Ash steps through.
I put my fork down in surprise. She smiles at me, glancing around, her eyebrows raised. “It looks amazing in here,” she says, gesturing at all the half-finished seating and the front counter. “The last time I was in here, it was gutted.”
“We’re making progress.” I close the to-go lid. “Shouldn’t you be at Smoke helping them open?”
She waves that off and comes over to give me a hug. “Nah, Bernie and Fulco can handle it. Jamila’s pitching in a little now, too.”
Guilt hits me. “How’s she doing?” I hate that she’s back at Smoke. I’m not sure how I’d handle knowing she was forced to pick up her old job because of me.
“Fine. A little lost without you. When are you two going to make up?”
“I don’t know,” I admit, looking down at the floor. “Soon. I hope.”
“Keely.” Ash puts a hand on my arm. “She misses you too. It’s okay, you know.”
“Right. But she’s pissed. It’s just—” How am I supposed to break this to her?
“It’s just that you married Nolan Crowley, and Jamila’s not happy about it?” Ash sits back, arms crossed, a playful smile on her lips.
She knows already.
I flinch back, eyes wide. “How did you—?” But of course she knows.
She’s Carson’s wife.
“I guess this makes us sisters-in-law,” she says, but she sounds strangely sad. “How’d it happen? Let me guess, Nolan made you an offer?”
“Something like that.” I’m trying not to cry as I walk her through everything, spilling the story out like a broken dam. When it’s all in the air, Ash sighs and leans up against the wall.
“How are you feeling now? You know, since you’re the latest Crowley wife?”
“I’m not sure. Things are… weird between us. I met Molly last night. She had dinner with me and Nolan at his place.”
“Really?” She seems surprised. “Dara and I have been trying to get Molly to come to of her wing for weeks now. I think she’s depressed.”
“She’s definitely depressed,” I confirm. “She told me to run away from the family.”
Ash laughs, but her smile fades. “Really?” She looks concerned. “That doesn’t sound like her. Molly Crowley’s whole life has been that organization. If anything, I would’ve bet she’d make you swear a loyalty oath.”
“Did she do that with you?”
“No, but Orin passed around the time I joined the family. She’s been a little preoccupied.”
I chew my lip, nodding, not looking at her. “I guess I’m at a loss. I don’t really know what to do.”
Ash studies me. I can’t tell what she’s thinking, but it can’t be good. I refused to take her money on principle, but I was willing to marry Nolan instead. She can’t possibly understand that choice—how Nolan essentially forced me into it, how going to Ash felt like giving up—and I fully expect her to be angry.
Instead, she only seems sad.