During the meal,I'm seated between Phoenix and an associate I don't recognize. Phoenix barely acknowledges me except to occasionally brush his fingers against my exposed thigh, a gesture meant to remind me of my place. It makes me shudder in disgust although it’s possible he’ll think it’s in lust.
When the men become engrossed in business talk, I turn to Jenna across the table. “I see you’re expecting.”
Jenna looks down at her belly and then at Blaise, who smiles at her. “Yes. It won’t be long now.”
“Flynn will have a cousin to play with,” Lucy says, sitting on the other side of Blaise.
“Flynn?” I ask.
“Flynn is my and Flint’s son,” Lucy answers.
“Oh, how wonderful.” I think of Brigit and the cousins she’ll never know. For a moment I feel bad about that because Lucy and Jenna are good people. Even Flint and Blaise seem okay.
I turn my attention back to Jenna. "I’m delighted to hear your mother is well. She, and of course later, you, always had lovely orchids in my room."
Surprise flickers across Jenna's face, perhaps that I would remember such a detail. "She is doing wonderfully. She had a heart transplant last year."
"That's wonderful news," I say, genuinely pleased. "I'm so glad to hear it."
Jenna's smile seems genuine. "She speaks of you fondly sometimes. Says you always made sure she had the proper supplies for the greenhouse."
I feel Phoenix's attention shift to our conversation, though he pretends to be listening to the man on his other side.
"Your mother taught me everything I know about gardening," I tell Jenna. "I’m terrible at it, of course. A complete black thumb." When my father rebuilt this home over the Ifrinn house, I was in a terrible state. It felt wrong to live here. I grieved for Phoenix and his family. Jenna’s mother coaxed me little by little into the garden. Had me dig my fingers into the earth. Shared her love of gardening with me. She planted seeds in me, helped me bloom and become a woman who could weather harsh storms.
I noted earlier that a brother is missing, but wasn’t sure if I should ask. But I figure Jenna is a safe person to inquire to.
"Is Ash unable to join us tonight?"
Jenna immediately looks at Phoenix whose fingers tighten on my thigh under the table. "He's with his wife. Hannah was shot during Hampton's little kidnapping scheme."
I nearly choke on my wine. "Shot? My father kidnapped someone?" I don’t know why I’m surprised. Many people have gone missing or dead at the hands of my father.
The table falls silent. All eyes turn to me with expressions ranging from surprise to suspicion.
"You didn't know?" Lucy asks more out of curiosity than surprise.
"No, I…" My voice trails off as I process this revelation. "I've been… removed from family business for some time."
Phoenix's laugh is cold. "Removed? You live in the same house."
"Living here doesn't mean I'm part of what happens here," I say quietly. He should know this. Why does he act like I’m part of my father’s inner circle?
Ever since I came home from Europe with Brigit, I've existed in a careful bubble within these walls. I avoided dinners where my parents hosted his associates. I turned a deaf ear to the raised voices behind closed doors. I pretended not to notice when strange men came and went at odd hours.
All to protect Brigit. To keep her innocent. To shield her from the violence and corruption that defined the Kean legacy.
"So you're claiming ignorance?" Phoenix's voice is dangerously soft. "That you had no idea what your father was doing under this roof?"
"It's the truth." I meet his gaze steadily. "My only concern has been…” I trail off, not wanting to remind him about Brigit.
His eyes narrow. “Your lover?”
I roll my eyes and purse my lips as I turn away.
“Who’s the girl?” Blaise asks, and inwardly, I wince. The last thing I want to do is bring attention to Brigit.
“She’s my god-sister.”
