Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 85322 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85322 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
She jutted her chin. “So you won’t even deny it.”
“Am I supposed to?”
“Yes!” she cried out. “Yes, you are, West! You’re supposed to do more than that! You’re supposed to choose your own family over an entire mafia organization!”
I took a quick sip of the whiskey, then set the glass on the coffee table. “I did choose. Ironically, it’s Alfie who’s been trying to get me to call you—or, at the very least, make sure the children maintain a relationship with you.”
She had nothing to say to that. She merely watched me as if I spoke in a language she couldn’t understand.
“But I think I’ll pass,” I said. “If Dad wants to disown me, I won’t stand in his way. It’s not the threat you think it is.”
Confusion and hurt flicked by for a moment, and I could practically read her mind in that instant. She knew me as little as I knew her. She was just realizing it now.
“What happened to you?”
“I stopped pretending.” I couldn’t help but get a little cold in my response, because I was so over this. If I was completely honest, I probably hadn’t planned for more than a hiatus. Despite Alfie’s worries, I supposed I saw us moving on one day to keep the peace somehow, to see my parents every once in a while, if only for the children. But now…? What was the point? They were never going to change, and I was never going back to what had once lost me my husband.
Shan did have a point. I could exist in more than one world—but my parents’ wasn’t one of them. Instead, I had work. I had Alfie’s family, his parents and grandparents and cousins and…all of them. And then, the Sons of Munster. More cousins. A new uncle for Alfie whom I enjoyed golfing with.
In a couple of weeks, Alfie was going to put on nice clothes and accompany me to the annual holiday party at my office. We were going to drink Christmas cocktails and eat shrimp. We were going to survive by sending each other lingering looks that promised of later. And the morning after, we’d head out to Finn and Emilia’s for our own little Christmas brunch and gift exchange.
Those were my worlds.
“So that’s it,” Mom said. “We’re the enemy now.”
No. She had that wrong.
I shook my head. “I never viewed you as the enemy, Mom. I’m grateful for how easy you made my life in many ways. You gave me opportunities most people only dream of. But I never wanted to act like I’m better than everyone else—and that’s what gets you up in the morning.”
She had the nerve to look offended.
“Don’t fucking deny it,” I murmured. “Not once did you try to make Alfie feel welcome in our family. Instead, you went out of your way to show him he’d never fit in. But in doing so, you alienated me as well.” I paused when she broke eye contact. “For God’s sake, you’ve never worked a day in your life, and you still have the audacity to call people working minimum wage lazy.”
That one earned me a glare. “That’s unfair. You’re taking that out of context. I merely point out that everyone who wants to get somewhere in this country can.”
“Very easy to say when you were born at the top.”
She scoffed. “Not this again. If I hear about the alleged one-percent one more time—”
“Alleged?” I chuckled. I couldn’t help it. “It’s fucking statistics. It’s not something people fabricated.”
She shook her head and put on her gloves again. “You’ve clearly made up your mind. Your father and I have done everything for you—and this is the thanks we get.”
It was no use to argue. She’d never understand or admit to a single wrongdoing.
I was better off just opening the door for her, which I did.
“If you say so, Mom. Have a wonderful life.”
She threw me one more dirty look on her way out.
It was curious to me that she hadn’t protested about not seeing the children…
With perfect timing, Shan had pulled up next to my car, and he was about two seconds away from crossing paths with my mother.
He nodded politely and let her pass. “Hello.”
Mom said nothing at first, but she did turn around to look back at me. “That’s Shannon O’Shea, son. Do you not realize that?”
Shan’s expression flashed with surprise, followed by confusion at what was going on.
“Yes, he’s been kind enough to help me plan my proposal to Alfie,” I replied smoothly. “Enjoy your walk home. Give Dad my best.” With that said, I shifted my attention to Shan and nodded for him. “Come on in, my friend. Pardon the moving-box mess in the hallway.”
“Are you packing up so soon?” he asked and walked in.
“This is from Alfie’s house.” I shut the door and locked it. “We’re finally handing over the keys next week.”