Page 46 of Rags to Royals

I really dislike this woman.

I glance around. The entire café is watching. They seem entertained. But not shocked by any of this. I need to know more about what’s going on here.

I stand.

“Cian,” Henry warns.

“I’m not just going to sit here.”

“You will make it worse.”

“Nah, I’ve got this.”

I could absolutely be about to make this worse. I do that sometimes. But I’m not going to just sit by and let Scarlett do this alone.

“Well, I guess it’s safe to say that there’s no way Leah will ever be getting that money,” Scarlett says with a fake, forced laugh. “Mariah would never go anywhere with your snotty, mean,misleddaughter.”

For the first time, Hannah’s smile wavers.

“Keep your church bullshit away from my daughter,” Scarlett tells her. “I don’t want it and she doesn’t need it.”

“Oh, of course not,” Hannah bites out. “Because you know everything and are perfect all on your own, right?”

Scarlett sucks in a quick breath, then presses her lips together and shakes her head. “That’s not what I meant.”

“Well, just because yourfatherhas given up onyou, we still worry about our youth. Even Mariah.”

She hasn’t seen me yet, but I can see Scarlett’s face and her eyes are glittering with tears.

Oh, fuck no.

I come up on her right side. “Scarlett! Hey! So glad to run into you.” I step in front of her, between her and where Hannah is sitting. I take her elbow and steer her toward the counter.

I hear Henry addressing the table of women. “Afternoon, ladies,” he says smoothly.

Andthat’swhy I don’t worry about jumping into situations, no matter what they are. I have Henry.

“Sorry to steal her away,” Henry said loudly enough for the whole diner to hear. “But she’s fixing our car. We broke down here this morning and just got some news about the special part we need. It’s a bit of an emergency. Here, let me buy your lunch.”

I continue walking with Scarlett across the diner, until we get to the take-out counter and bakery case.

I turn her so her back is to the table and then lean in. “Breathe.”

She stares up at me, confused, and it takes me a moment to remember my makeover.

She frowns. “Cian?”

“I’m actually going by Dean Brady.” I give her a grin. “Kind of sounds like Cian O’Grady, right?”

Her frown deepens. “What?”

I’ve dyed my hair black, shaved, and I’m wearing glasses. I’m also wearing dress pants and a button-down dress shirt to cover my tattoos. It doesn’t sound drastic, but all together, it’s altered my appearance significantly. Especially for people who don’t know me, have only seen me in photos, and are in no way expecting me to show up in their little town.

At least that’s the plan.

Scarlett’s voice drops. “What are you doing?”

“I’m undercover.”

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