Page 24 of Lawless Sinners

“I’d be careful, Father,” Fionn says, without taking his eyes off me. “Miss Tallon bites harder when cornered, and I’d hate for anyone to lose a hand.”

“Relax, Harrington,” I say. “I only bite men worth the effort.”

His mouth curves, just enough to be irritating. “Then I won’t take your restraint personally.”

Heat crawls up my neck before I can stop it, and I force my arms tighter across my chest. “We should head out for our lunch before they start measuring ya for a veil, Eilish.”

Her eyes find mine, and there’s a tiny fracture there no one else would see because no one else knows how hard she works to keep herself intact.

“We’re having a champagne lunch,” Mara says. “Given you’re not dressed for dining, you can leave now if you wish, Sera.”

“I’ll take her upstairs and find her something to wear.” Eilish finally uproots her feet and sidesteps Fionn. “We’ll be back down for lunch.”

“I wonder what you’ll talk about,” Fionn says, watching me meet Eilish by the door.

“Divorce,” I say over my shoulder.

Eilish tugs me, and I go with her before my mouth gets me buried under the patio.

We climb the stairs without speaking, her hand sliding along the banister, mine wrapped around my midriff as I mull it over.

Fionn and Eilish.

Married.

Together.

Two housemaids vanish through a side door before we reach the landing, their lowered eyes carrying more information than gossip ever could.

Inside Eilish’s bedroom, the air smells of roses and the expensive candle she lit earlier.

After a beat, she turns toward me. “I mean… At least he’s hot.”

The laugh that leaves me is too dry to be useful. “Sorry, I thought you said hot when I know ya meant rot.”

Her lips twitch to a small smile. “I can’t believe it, Sera. Of all the families in Ireland, it just had to be the Harringtons. Please promise me this won’t come between us. Don’t stop hanging out with me because you hate him.”

I told Eilish about the barn. That Fionn was there, watching, calling enough of the shots to damn him. However, I didn’t tell her how much that night haunts me, or that his voice comes to me in the dark when I close my eyes.

As far as I’m concerned, we’ll never be that close again.

Eilish watches me for a long moment because she knows me better than almost anyone.

“I know you’re angry,” she says. “I can see it in your face. Just promise me you won’t distance yourself from me now. I can’t pick my husband, but I can pick who I spend my time with.”

I let out a heavy sigh and head for her wardrobe. “Fine. I won’t let the Harringtons ruin our friendship.”

She comes up behind me and wraps her arms around my waist, resting her chin against my shoulder.

“They always said I’d marry for power.” Her arms tighten. “They’ve been preparing me for it my whole life.”

I cover her hands with mine. “You’re Eilish Kinnane. You can handle Fionn.”

Her breath catches against my shoulder. “I know.”

“For the record, plenty of marriages end in divorce,” I tell her. “Marry the bastard, keep your parents happy for a while, then get rid of him. Easy.”

That gets a light laugh out of her before she reaches for the wardrobe rail, trailing garments across it one by one without looking at any of them properly. “I don’t think it’ll be that easy, Sera.”