Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 78773 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78773 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
The men nod to me as they come in the room, and I wonder what will happen when I tell them what I found out. Will they still accept me as one of their own, when they know my direct bloodline to the O’Gregors? Bloody hell, what a mess.
“You seen Fiona?” Lachlan asks, his brows furrowed. “Was supposed to take her for a driving lesson later today, but she’s nowhere to be found. Ain’t answering her cell, no one’s seen her.”
Tiernan frowns. “I haven’t, but that doesn’t sound good at all.”
“No,” Lachlan says. “Fucking hope this meeting is over quickly, I need to track her arse down.”
He slumps into a chair and scowls into thin air.
“Thank you, gentlemen,” Keenan says. “We’ve got a few new developments that need discussing.”
Murmurs and nods of agreement.
“Carson?”
I hate what I have to tell them. Hate it.
“This afternoon, Megan brought this to me.” I take the dilapidated diary from my bag and swallow hard. “Was Eve’s.”
None of the men talk for a moment, as they observe what the diary looks like. “It got nearly ruined in a flood. Megan found it in my flat, pulled it out, started to read it. Didn’t show me. Brought it with her that day in Stone City, and we got stuck in a torrential downpour.”
Keenan nods, “Ah, right.”
“But it isn’t fully destroyed. There’s plenty here with evidence we need to go on. Details I don’t want to share but feel like I have to.”
All eyes are on me. I take a deep breath, and I read.
I tell them that my Eve, the mother to my child, was a spy.
My voice shakes when I tell them the harried last pages of her diary, fraught with nerves and fear as she recounts her fear that she’s going to be killed as traitor for the O’Gregors.
I tell them she was a spy because of me, how I was the bastard son of Guy O’Gregor.
Every point I make feels like a lead weight in my belly, dragging me further down. These men are the brothers I’d give my very life for, and I hate feeling like I’ve let them down.
I’m O’Gregor blood. My woman was a spy. I have no idea what she shared with them.
“Makes sense,” Keenan says thoughtfully, when I’m done speaking. “Doesn’t it, now?” The others nod. “Her death seemed so senseless at the time, but knowing that she spied for them, their motive is clear. And so is our course of action.”
I look at him sharply. “Come again, Keenan?”
He hasn’t mentioned anything about my being of the O’Gregor line.
“Isn’t it clear, Carson? We know what we have to do.”
“But I just told you.” I’m on my feet in a second, and my voice sounds as if it's amplified, as if this moment is suspended in time and my words are distant. “I’m not a McCarthy.”
Keenan scowls. “You bloody well are.”
“Aye,” Cormac says with a growl.
“Don’t you fucking say anything to the contrary,” Nolan says, his eyes flashing with anger. Keenan holds up a hand to stop both of them.
“Quiet.”
The room stills.
“They’re right,” Keenan says. Tully, Boner, and Lachlan remain silent, yet all are nodding their heads in agreement. “We never thought you were McCarthy by blood, Carson, and you know that. My father said on more than one occasion you were his adopted son. He loved your mother, and said you were one of ours. You may have been O’Gregor by birth, but your allegiance to the McCarthy clan, the vows you’ve taken, the blood oath you’ve sworn, make you one of us.”
I open my mouth to speak, but Keenan holds up a hand and shakes his head. “Not another word about this. You say another word about you not being McCarthy family, and I swear to Christ I’ll give you a beating I’d have given my fucking brothers.”
I close my mouth and swallow hard. Jesus, I love the son of a bitch.
“Now,” Keenan says, glaring sternly at every one of us in turn. “Have I made myself clear?”
“Don’t have to tell me twice,” Nolan says, giving me a glare like he wants to kick my arse for even thinking what I’ve said aloud. “We know Carson’s McCarthy family. Seems like he’s the only one that needs reminding.”
At that, I actually smile. No, I grin.
“Come at me, then, motherfucker,” I say, getting to my feet. “Care to remind me?”
Nolan grins back. “I’d kick your arse and you know it.”
I bounce a bit on my feet and crack my neck. “Oh really?” I look to Lachlan and Boner. “You two want to place bets?”
Even Keenan grins. “My money’s on Carson.”
“Hey!” Nolan looks at him with mock effrontery.
“Eh, Nolan’s a bit more nimble now that he’s off the drink,” Cormac says thoughtfully.
“’Tis true,” Keenan says. Nolan and I settle down, and honest to God, my heart’s at rest. These men are my brothers, no matter what’s happened in the past.