And with that, he disappears down the hall.
I wait until the front door shuts and then move to the bathroom to get cleaned up. The woman staring back at me in the mirror looks like shit. And I feel like it too. No matter how much I tell myself it’s the right thing, I can’t bring myself to get excited about leaving.
But it is the right thing. That’s what I need to believe. And there’s no better time than the present to talk to Lachlan about it. But when I walk out into the parlor, the only one still here is Mack.
“Good morning,” she says from the kitchen. “I had Conor buy donuts. I tell ya girl, I’m really getting used to this. Did you know I can send them out for me any time I want? Seriously considering changing my name to the Queen.”
I laugh and sit down at the kitchen table, grateful for the coffee she shoves in my direction. I cup it in my hands and let the warmth spread into my skin.
“Are you with me for the day?” I ask Mack.
She nods. “You aren’t getting rid of me that easily.”
“Then I hope you don’t mind running errands with me, your highness,” I tell her. “I’ve got to go to the funeral home. Pick out a casket. I have a ton of phone calls to make…”
“Sasha.” Mack reaches across the table and grabs my arm to stop me. “It’s all been taken care of.”
“What?”
She smiles at me softly. “It’s been paid for. Everything is taken care of, you don’t have to do a thing but show up.”
“By who?” I ask.
“I highly suspect you already know that.”
There’s pressure behind my eyes again and I push it away. “God, I’m such an awful person.”
“Why because you slapped him last night?” Mack asks. “Don’t worry about it, they need to be put in their places every now and again.”
“It was a really nice thing to do,” I say.
“It was,” Mack agrees. “Just when you think he’s another bastard, he has to go and do something nice like that.”
I nod, because I know Mack is all too aware of how I’m feeling right now. But I can’t let it sway me. I can’t let this world suck me back in, and especially when I don’t even know how Ronan really feels about me.
“There is something else I have to do,” I tell her. “I think that I should talk to Lachlan. The sooner the better.”
“Okay,” Mack agrees. “But I have a big favor to ask you, Sash.”
“What?”
“Lachlan and I are getting married. Next week.”
I’m dumbfounded, and my face shows it. Though it shouldn’t come as a surprise, but she seems happy.
“Stay until after the wedding,” she begs. “I can’t get married without you there. You’re the only one I’ve really got, besides Scarlett, and it would mean a lot to me if you were there.”
“Of course.” I give her a weak smile. “I wouldn’t dream of missing it.”
Chapter Nineteen
Ronan
When I walk into Crow’s office, I notice straight away that something is off. He’s sitting at his desk, staring at a manila envelope when he gestures to the chair across from him.
“What is it?” I ask.
“Someone delivered this to the diner,” he says. “Asked Niall’s sister to give it to him.”
“And?”
“And Jaysus, Ronan.” He throws a stack of grainy photos across the desk. “Did ye really fucking kill Blaine?”
Tension springs up inside me, and all I can think of as I sort through the photos is Sasha. Wondering if there is anything in here that will implicate her in any way. I need to be sure that doesn’t happen.
“Aye,” I admit. “I did.”
He stares at me and sighs. He’s getting married next week, and this is the last thing he wants to sort out.
“I’ll take whatever punishment you see fit,” I tell him. “Whatever the cost.”
“Care to tell me why?” he says. “Or is that all I’m going to get?”
“He was hurting her,” I say. “So I stopped him.”
“For good, apparently,” Crow replies dryly. “Niall knew something about that wasn’t right. He’s suspected it, Fitz. He wants answers. Whoever sent this is likely to have more copies.”
“Probably,” I agree.
“Are ye even aware of the fact that he could have you killed for this?” Crow asks. “Or do ye really just not give a shite about any of it?”
“I do,” I answer. “I told you I’m prepared for whatever punishment you see fit. So long as none of it falls on Sasha.”
Crow leans back in his chair and appraises me. “So that’s what this is all about.”
“She had nothing to do with it. I won’t stand to see her harmed in any way.”
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Crow grins. “Now who’s gone mad?”
“I’d have done the same for any woman in the same situation.”
“Ah, sure,” Crow replies. “Of course.”
I don’t like his tone, but I’m in no position to argue at the moment.
“You let Donovan of all people see you,” he says. “I can’t even fathom how that occurred.”
“I was distracted.”