Page 145 of Bride By Initiation

We get in the elevator, and he hits the rooftop button.

I question, "Why are we going to the roof?"

"There's a helicopter up there."

"Seriously?"

"Aye," he replies.

Within minutes, we're flying over Chicago and then landing at a private airport. We board a plane, and once again, the window shades are locked so I can't see out.

I ask him, "When will all the secrecy go away?"

"When you have your seat at the table," he replies.

"But you know what's happening since you have your seat, right?"

"Aye, son, I know. But I don't have a seat at the table," he declares.

Shock fills me. I gape at him.

He asks, "Why do you look so surprised?"

"You claim you were my father's best friend. Why don't you have a seat at the table?"

"I don't want one."

I jerk my head backward.

He chuckles, then states, "Not everybody decides to take their seat."

"Why wouldn't you take your seat?" I press.

"Not all of us are cut out for it. I like my role. It's better this way. For me at least. But you..." He points at me. "You are meant to take your seat."

I stare at him.

He sits back and takes his tattered beret off. He runs his hands through his messy, orange hair, then says, "If you don't mind, I'm a bit tired. I'm going to take a quick snooze."

"Yeah, no problem," I murmur.

He puts his seat back and closes his eyes. He's soon snoring.

I stare in front of me, tapping my thigh, wondering what Zara is involved in, and vowing that if anyone has touched her, I'll kill them.

We finally land and get off the plane. It's a similar hallway to the one from initiation night.

We get to a door, and Byrne stops me from turning the knob. "Hold on a minute, son."

I glance at him, arching my eyebrows.

He pulls out a pocket knife and says, "You might want this."

Anxiety flares within me. "Why? What are they doing to my wife?"

He shakes his head. "Nothing. But take this. Your father gave it to me. It's time you have it."

Emotions choke my throat. I stare at the knife, putting my fingers over the Celtic knots, and then look closer.O'Malleyis engraved on it.

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