Silent Vows

34

“You know, not many people would push my dad like you did, arguing against his request to send one of his men with us.” I was curious about him. Enough to embolden me to ask questions. Keir smirked. “I wasn’t arguing; I just didn’t roll over. You’ll never get anything in this world if you don’t fight for it.” “That implies you didn’t want Umberto with us. Why did it matter to you?” “Isn’t it obvious?” he asked. “I wanted you alone.” His eyes cut to me before returning to the road. My stomach dipped and swerved as though we’d taken a hard turn. Keir had answered my question while simultaneously remaining vague. Unease flitted at the base of my spine. “Are you close with Conner?” I asked, hoping that if I better understood their relationship, I might understand why Conner had been so adamant against me taking this jaunt with his cousin. I prayed I hadn’t overlooked a threat to my safety. I’d been convinced Conner’s objection lay rooted in jealousy, but I was in trouble if there’d been more to it. “We grew up together—all of us Byrne kids. Our family is close.” Again, he glanced at me, and I got the sense he was feeling me out, but I wasn’t sure in what way. “I imagine parting from your family has been an imposing prospect.” I swiped at invisible lint on my dress and shrugged. “Life is all about change. And I’m not exactly moving across the country or anything.” “Still, I can’t imagine you were raised to think highly of other … families. Other organizations. This had to be a big shock.” Was he … questioning my loyalty? Did he think I was acting as some sort of mole? “Dad wasn’t around much growing up, so that type of stuff wasn’t really a part of my world,” I explained in a firm tone, my spine stiffening. “Sometimes it doesn’t take much. A few subtle undertones can color the way someone views the world,” he pushed. “So can cruelty. That puts things into perspective more than anything, focusing a person’s priorities and redefining loyalties.” Keir stared at me long enough that I worried he’d crash the car. I hoped that if he was feeling out where I stood, my message had been received. I www.ajpdf.com didn’t give a f**k who worked for whom. All that mattered to me was protecting the people I loved. When he finally looked back to the road, he grunted. I took that as a sign that I’d passed, and we both remained quiet for the rest of the short journey. “NANA, Paddy, this is Noemi Mancini. She’s Conner’s fiancée.” Keir stepped aside, presenting me to his grandparents. I extended my hand toward Padrick Byrne, who ignored my offer and pulled me into a hug. “An unfortunate Italian birth, but with those green eyes, no doubt you were meant for the Irish.” He pulled back and winked. The Irish lilt to his words added to the playfulness, but a sharpness in his eyes hinted at an underlying strength. They had to be at least eighty, but I had a feeling Paddy had been positively ferocious in his day. Nana shooed him away and took both my hands in hers, pulling them wide as she swept her gaze down the front of me. “Lovely from top to bottom, ya are, lass. Come here.” She pulled me into a hug. “We’re delighted to meet ye,” Paddy added. “But why is it not Conner that brought ye?” My lips parted to answer, but Keir beat me to it. “He was busy and asked me to bring her by.” “Ach, too busy for us? Maybe, but surely not for such a lovely bride. I’ll have to give him a piece of my mind next time I see him.” Nana looked at me as she sat back in her recliner. “That’s the first thing you’ll need to learn— never give ’em an inch, not these Byrne men. They’ll take it and run a mile.” Paddy grunted. “You causin’ problems for the boy before he’s even walked down the aisle, Aine? Hold yer whist.” She shot him a look that could have withered a newly bloomed flower to ash. I had to bite down on my lips to keep from laughing. “Now, tell me if I’m wrong,” Paddy went on, “but I could have sworn I was told you were mute.” He rubbed his scruffy jaw with a wrinkled hand and studied me. “I was,” I explained. “But in a strange twist of fate, my voice returned www.ajpdf.com just last night after six months of absence.” Nana crossed herself. “Ain’t that just the way of him? Workin’ miracles we can only guess at. Why, just last week, Paddy here took out the trash without me even havin’ to ask.” She cut her eyes wryly to her husband. I grinned, deciding I officially adored Nana Byrne. We talked for several minutes before a knock sounded on the front door. “Well, who could that be?” Paddy said to no one in particular, getting to his feet. Before he could move toward the entrance, the door opened and closed, and Conner joined our little party. “What a lovely surprise, Paddy,” Nana cried. “Do ye see who it is? Conner’s come to see us.” “I’m old, not blind,” Paddy grumbled. “Glad you came, son. It’s only fitting.” Conner hugged his grandparents, a fondness to his soft smile. “I agree, Paddy. It’s only right I’m here to introduce my bride.” He shot a glare at Keir, then me. Nana clasped my hand and grinned. “And did ye already know the incredible news? Our girl here can talk again!” “As a matter of fact, I did know. I was lucky enough to be the first to know when she released her first sounds.” Conner’s devilish stare pinned me to my seat, where I suddenly wished I could melt into the floral fabric. Nana and Paddy seemed oblivious to his innuendo, but Keir smirked. Flames licked at my cheeks. If I could have slugged him in the arm without looking insane, I would have. “I’m surprised you’re here,” I shot at Conner instead. “I thought you’d made other plans.” “Not at all. I try to stop in and visit Nana here whenever I can.” Nana snorted. “That’s some bollocks if I’ve ever heard any.” I coughed out a poorly disguised laugh. “Well,” Conner continued. “If I hadn’t meant to visit, would I have come prepared with these?” He lifted the paper sack I hadn’t noticed he was carrying and handed it to his grandmother.