"Those families remember how things were before you betrayed the Ifrinns. They're ready for change."
His hand moves fast, gripping my jaw. "You stupid girl. Those families fear me. Your pathetic attempts at rebellion will only get them killed, just like your guards today."
I wrench my face from his grasp. "Ash will make you pay for this. Killing his parents, Meghan, attacking me, you've only made him more determined to destroy you. And they will. They got to Ronan inside your safe space.” It occurs to me that arguing back isn’t a good idea. Then again, I know how this will end. I have nothing to lose by giving him a piece of my mind. I’m already dead.
“You’re nothing but business collateral.”
The words cut deep, but I refuse to show it. "You can mock our marriage all you want. But Ash will come for me. And when he does, you'll finally face justice for everything you've done."
"Justice?" He laughs. "Your husband isn't capable of delivering justice. And now his foolish wife has given me exactly what I need to break him, all of them, completely."
“You’ll never break them.”
He shakes his head. “I’ll admit, you’ve got spunk. They will all die if they try to come for me. You can’t possibly think anyone is really on their side. They all came running to tell me about your husband's plans. They know where their true loyalties should lie."
"You're lying." But doubt creeps in. Is it possible all those families were humoring us? Spying on us for Hampton?
"Am I?" He leans close, his breath hot against my ear. "Your dear husband thinks he's gathering an army, but he's really walking into an ambush.”
All our careful planning, the alliances we thought we were building, it was all a trap. And I just helped lead Ash right into it.
"You see," Hampton continues, clearly enjoying my distress, "loyalty can't be bought with pretty words and promises of justice. It's earned through fear. And everyone in Boston knows exactly what happens to those who cross me."
My heart sinks as Hampton's words register. Every dinner party, every carefully orchestrated meeting, they were all feeding information straight back to him. I've been so naive, thinking I could help Ash by playing hostess and diplomat. Instead, I've handed the Keans a roadmap to destroy everyone I love.
Did my parents know? Were they trying to protect me when they initially resisted helping Ash? And now because of my stubbornness, they could pay with their lives.
I can barely breathe. I wanted so desperately to prove myself worthy of being Ash's wife, to show him I could be more than just a political arrangement. But my pride and determination may have doomed all our lives. Including our child’s.
26
ASH
Today, I’ve been working on business. With everything going on in taking the Keans down and trying to figure out what’s going on with Hannah, I haven’t been on top of things like I should. Luckily, the money is still rolling in, helping us fund our campaign of revenge. And when we finally take back what Hampton Kean stole, we’ll be richer still.
To be honest, I’m not motivated by money. Sure, I like having it. When Hampton killed my parents and took all their assets, my brothers and I were left with nothing. But our father had already trained us in business, and it wasn’t long before we were making money, and all of it went to revenge.
Still, having money is better than not, so being rich suits me fine.
What doesn’t suit me right now is how Hannah hasn’t responded to any of my texts today.
"Come on, pick up." I hit redial, but her phone goes straight to voicemail again.
Something's wrong. Hannah always answers my calls, even when she's mad at me. I dial her guards next but get nothing.The fear clawing at my gut intensifies. No way Marco doesn’t answer my call.
I grab my keys and race home, praying I'm overreacting. The house is quiet when I burst through the door.
"Hannah?"
Antonio emerges from the kitchen, wiping his hands on his apron. "Mr. Ifrinn, Mrs. Ifrinn left for lunch hours ago. She hasn't returned."
My blood runs cold. "What lunch? With who?" She’s not supposed to leave the house without telling me.
"The Sullivans, sir. To make up for the other night."
Not good, not good, chants through my brain. The Sullivans were too hostile at dinner. Fucking hell, what is she thinking?
“Where did they go?”
