Fallyn let out a harsh gasp when a grim face she had not been expecting appeared in the mirror. She whirled around to face Carrigan, whom she had certainly not invited out. “What are you doing here?” she demanded, and then looked to Jen for explanation.
“Don’t look at me like that. I didn’t tell him where we were.”
“I’ve been watching Jen to see if you’d meet with her,” Carrigan explained, stony faced in his cop uniform. “You’re coming home with me. Get out of that dress right now. You look ridiculous.”
His words cut Fallyn like a slash from a knife. Her self-confidence threatened to shatter, but she held onto her moxie, lest she devolve into tears. “I look beautiful, and I can’t believe you’d say that to me when I’m standing here in my wedding dress.”
“It’s not your wedding dress because you’re not getting married. Go change. That dress is disgusting.”
The saleswoman scurried away, judging Fallyn to be in some sort of trouble with the law. “That’s all you have to say to me? I’m standing here in my wedding dress, and all you can tell me is to go change?”
“Take that thing off. I can barely look at you.”
Jen blew out a gust of disappointment through her lips. “Jeez, Carrigan. Who knew you’d turn out to be such a tool? Your sister’s in her wedding dress. Show a little respect.”
Fallyn shook her head at him, depressed and lonely all over again. “The worst part is I never expected any of you to act any different. Vince is the one who thought you should all know. I knew you’d never let me go. I knew you’d never let me be happy.”
“So your plan was to just get married and not tell any of us you were even seeing him? How’s that a plan?”
“I was going with the plan that didn’t get my fiancé jumped by six selfish brats. I’ve always been pragmatic that way.”
“Don’t call him that,” Carrigan growled. “I’ve been up all night with the guys, and I’m tired. Go change.”
“If you’re tired, then go take a nap, like the child you are.” Fallyn disappeared into the dressing room and changed into her tan capris pants and fitted peach button-down shirt, taking the gown out with her and handing it to the nearest saleswoman. “I’ll take this one,” she said, handing her a card. “Ring me up quick, though. I’m leaving.” She watched the woman scurry away toward the cash register.
“You’re not taking that dress. You’re coming home. Everyone’s upset and they want to talk to you. Let’s go.”
Jen stood next to her best friend, chest puffed up in defiance. “You all had your chance to say the right thing, and you blew it. Don’t try your bossing her around crap in front of me. She’ll go where she feels like.”
Carrigan’s glare flitted to Jen. “Stay out of this, Jen. It’s family stuff that doesn’t concern you.”
Fallyn let out a noise of disgust and pushed past her brother after the woman brought the gown to her in a bag with her card and the receipt. She made her way to the exit, not bothering to look behind her at her angry brother. “Have a nice life, Carri. I really thought for a second you wanted me to have a good life.”
Fallyn held Jen’s hand and stepped out into the sunshine, wishing for one second that the UV rays made her feel better and took away a fraction of her pain. Of course she’d envisioned her wedding day to be an afternoon of bliss surrounded by her brothers as her father walked her down the aisle. They’d dance and smile with everyone there, even Keenan. She knew none of that would happen and shoved her dress in the backseat, hugging Jen goodbye as she ignored Carrigan’s threats. “Thanks for this, Jen. Thanks for loving me even when you don’t understand it all.”
“All I need to know is that I love you. I trust you. If you say Vince is a good guy, I believe you. I’m still afraid of him, no lie, but I’m happy you’re happy. You deserve that.”
“Don’t encourage her!” Carrigan chided Jen. “Fallyn, get in the patrol car. I’m taking you to Dad’s house.”
Fallyn pulled back, kissing her friend goodbye and sending Jen to her car so she didn’t have to see Carrigan’s full wrath if it surfaced. “Carri, Daddy doesn’t know me anymore. I won’t be going back there again. My dad isn’t there. He doesn’t think I’m his daughter, and it only upsets us both when he sees me. I don’t want to upset him, so I’m out.”
“Dad loves you, Fal. You know that. He just has a hard time seeing that sometimes.”
“Daddy hit me!” she protested, indignant. “He was so upset at having a random stranger in his house that he attacked me! Don’t you see it’s not safe for me to be there?” When Carrigan opened his mouth, Fallyn leaned against her car, holding up her hand to stop him. “No. Don’t bother saying a word. I tell you I’m engaged, and you all attack my fiancé? That’s not how this works. And what kills me is that you’ve actually had time to process things, to get on my side. Yet here you are, being the cop instead of my best friend. I’m done, Carri. I’m out. Get a dog you can order around or something. I can’t stop living so all of you feel better that I’m locked up in a convent somewhere. I would never have done to you what you all did to me.”
“Fallyn, you have no idea how dangerous he is. Vince is not the guy for you!” He looked up to the heavens in exasperation. “I can’t believe I actually have to say that!”
Fallyn stayed her arguments, knowing there would never be any reasoning with them. She leaned up and kissed his prickly five o’clock shadow. “Goodbye, Carri. I really do want you to have a good life. You were my best friend in the whole world before you stopped loving me.”
“You know I never stopped. I’m mad at you, but I’m still your brother.”
Fallyn shrugged, unable to believe him or indulge in hope that things would ever be good between them again. “I love you, even when your love is ugly and looks like this.”
“Stop, Fal. Declan called a family meeting for tomorrow night. He couldn’t get ahold of you because your phone’s off.”
“That’s the thing about not wanting to hear from any of you. I blocked all your numbers, so you can call all you want.”
Carrigan was frustrated, his words curt. “Can I tell them you’re coming?”
“Is Vince invited? If he’s not invited, I’m not coming.”
Carrigan cracked his knuckles. “Sure. Bring him along. But just to Dad’s house tomorrow night, not any night after that. Killian’s sending Vince a message tomorrow night that the D’Amatos won’t be welcome in O’Keefe territory anymore.”
Fallyn started talking with her hands, incredulous. “Then I’m not coming back to O’Keefe territory, you dummy,” she ruled, cringing at the sacrifice she had to make. “Vince is my fiancé. If he’s not welcome, then I’m not.”
Carrigan rolled his eyes. “Your house is in O’Keefe territory, brainiac.”
“Not anymore. Angelo and Tony moved me out last night. I’m living with Vince’s family, who’ve been nothing but supportive of us.” The second the words birthed from her, she wished she could shove them back inside. She backed against her car, recoiling from Carrigan’s vitriolic reaction.
Carrigan blanched, his face vacillating from enraged to confused to sick. “You’re not serious. You’re not living with your boyfriend!” he ruled, sounding every bit like his father.
Fallyn ducked into her sedan and locked the door, fumbling with her keys as her fingers shook. She drove off when her brother’s fist pounded on her window, not looking back at Carrigan’s fury.
Fifteen.
Keenan’s Sister
Fallyn didn’t want to drive to the county jail, but she knew she had to. Keenan was part of the family, and didn’t deserve to be cut off without being given his fair chance at being supportive. She had a monthly standing appointment to visit her brother, but today was a bonus visit. She went through the necessary checks and inspections without a blink, her heart lifting and crashing as the familiar smile greeted her. Surprise colored the smattering of freckles across Keenan’s wider nose. “Fallyn?”
&
nbsp; The two sat at a circular table, fighting back the need to hug the other one, lest the guards take Keenan back to his cell for violating the “no touching” rule. The cold gray concrete walls were firm in their decree that no one should feel comfortable here. The handful of inmates who had visitors held their quiet conversations at tables around them, giving Fallyn no illusion of privacy. “Keenan, how are you?”
Keenan shrugged. “The same. Not much changes in here. But twice in a month? What’s going on? What’d I miss?”
She took a steadying breath as she tried to figure out where to start.
“Whoa. I missed something big, then. Usually you’re talking a mile a minute. Now I’m nervous.”
Fallyn didn’t feel like beating around the bush. The bare concrete walls felt like they were closing in on her, locking her inside with her brother. She’d had to keep the joy over her grand engagement to herself for too long, and the restrictions had grown irksome. She was happy with Vince, and didn’t want to hide it from the people she loved. “A lot’s been changing, actually. I started seeing someone a couple months ago. A really great someone.”
Keenan’s smile faltered. “Is that so? Does he still have both his kneecaps, or are the guys handling that?”
The hope that had welled in Fallyn that at least one of her brothers would be supportive crashed in her chest. She slumped at the table, stress and disappointment weighting her shoulders. Carrigan had already pushed her to the edge, but this was the breaking point. “That’s not fair. You don’t even know who it is, and you already hate him.” She lifted her face to show him how deeply his betrayal hurt. “You’re just like the others. This was a mistake.” She made to stand, but Keenan stopped her.
“Wait! I was only kidding, Fally. He’s probably great. I just know our brothers, and I’d be surprised if the poor guy was still walking.”
Fallyn slowly lowered herself back down, her hands trembling as she tried to grip onto her last chance at having a bit of her family stay in her life. “You’ll hear me out, then? You’ll be nice to me?”
Keenan motioned to his jumpsuit, his green eyes a mix of confusion and dismal acceptance that life would go on without his say-so. “Not like I can do anything from in here, but yeah. If you’re happy, I’m on board.”
“Carri found out and beat him up real bad. He could barely walk for days.” She bit her lower lip. “I’m scared, Keenan. I’m deep in love. Like, so deep. But they hate him, and I’m afraid they won’t leave him alone and let us be together.”
Keenan softened, his shoulders relaxing in sympathy. “Oh, sweetie. You can talk to me. I won’t freak out.”
“Promise?”
He drew an X over his chest. “Cross my heart. Being in here gives you lots of time to focus on the important things. The petty stuff isn’t worth fighting about. Is he good to you?”
Fallyn exhaled, nodding with too much enthusiasm. She was eager to make her case now that someone was finally listening. “He’s so good to me. He’s helping me with the bakery, making the business end more profitable. He’s patient with the guys. Didn’t even fight back when Carri did him in. Said he understood.”
“That’s something. Sounds like a good guy.” Keenan stared up at the tall gray ceiling, lacing his hands atop his head as he leaned back in his chair. “I gotta warn you, if you’re having sex with him, ain’t no amount of awesomeness gonna get him off the hook for that. You and I both know that Killian will bash his face in without blinking.”
Fallyn’s retort was clipped. “Yes, I’m well aware of the double standard in the family. You all can sleep with whoever you like, but Daddy made me promise I’d stay a virgin until I got married.”
Keenan was unperturbed at the blatant unfairness. “So you’re not…”
She lowered her voice. “Not that it’s anyone’s business, but no. I made Daddy a promise, and I’m not a liar. My guy is fine with it. He’s great to me. I wish you could see us together.”
“Don’t feel like introducing us with me in all my glory?” Keenan forced a smile and motioned to his orange jumpsuit. “I promise to dress nice.”
“Actually, you already know him.”
“I do?” His expression mutated into a scowl. “Not Jeremy. I really don’t want to get paroled one day only to get thrown back in for manslaughter. Be smart, Fal.”
“It’s not Jeremy, obviously.” Her heart beat so hard, she could almost hear the uneven rhythm. “It’s Vince.”
Keenan shrugged. “Don’t know a Vince. Did you go to college with him or something?” His wide mouth twisted to the side. “No, you went to an all-girls school. I give up.”
“You know Vince. It’s Vince D’Amato.”
“What’s Vince D’Amato?”
“My boyfriend.” She held up her hand, turning around the diamond so it was displayed to her brother. “Well, my fiancé, actually.”
Keenan shouted, despite the quiet murmurings around them. “What? No! You’re engaged? You’re engaged to Vince D’Amato? Gross!” His face soured at the mere thought of the rival family’s boss doing unspeakable things to his sister in the dead of night. “No, Fal! No! He’s like, twice your age! He’s a D’Amato! He’s… He’s Vince D’Amato! Are you crazy?”
“I don’t need your permission or your blessing. And he’s not twice my age. Vince is twelve years older than I am, and we’re both fine with it.”
“Do you hear yourself? He’s got two brothers closer in age to you, not that they’d be any better. Gross!”
Fallyn straightened, trying to maintain her dignity. “I just thought you should hear it from me before we get married. You’ll have a new brother soon.”
“Soon? Fally, no. Wait on this terrible decision. Wait a year. See how you feel then.”
“It’s not your decision. Not anyone’s but Vince’s and mine.”
Keenan ran his hands through his auburn hair, mussing it so the thick follicles stood on end. “Tell me how this happened! Tell me how the guys dropped the ball so bad that you’re hooking up with Vince and his filthy dick. Sick, Fal! Do you even know where’s he been? I thought he was still with Maria.”
“Well, clearly not anymore. Vince and Killian started meeting up at the bakery to bury the hatchet. The families have been working great together, actually. I told you all this already.” She’d informed him of a great many things involving the burgeoning peace between the families, conveniently leaving out the fact that she had been secretly dating Vince for months. “The O’Keefes and D’Amatos cleaned up a large part of the west side together. The families have been getting together for Saturday night dinners. After the cleanup,” she paused to ensure the conversation was censored for the guards, “we all went to the cabin together. Got along great, all of us. We’ve all been going up there once a month to chill. It’s only now that we’re together they’ve decided they all of a sudden hate him again.”
Keenan spoke through gritted teeth. “He spat on our mother’s casket. Do you remember nothing at all? He’s using you to cause a rift, Fal. He’s using you. You’re decades younger, you’re naïve, you’re sweet. End it.”
“Vince is twelve years old than me, not decades. I’m happy, and you should love me enough to send me off with a smile. I don’t care if you have to fake it, you smile and tell me congratulations.” She rose up out of her seat, her rage lifting her on its own power so she could tower over him in her anger. “I’m done with this nonsense from all of you! Someone will be on my side in this, so help me! Either get on my side, or I’m not coming back here ever again!”
Keenan rested his elbows on the table and buried his face in his hands. “Give me a minute, okay? I mean, it’s Vince.” He frowned up at her. “Sit down and give me some time to process this.”
Fallyn’s anger crested slightly, so she sat back down, waiting out Keenan’s shock. “Choose your words wisely.”
“I haven’t been around for all the family dinners, the vacations, or the brotherly love time. He’s still the filthy dick
who spat on my mother’s casket and let Papa D wreck his end of the city with drugs.”
“Papa D made a bad call, and Vince is the one who’s cleaning up the mess. He’s doing good things, Keenan. Please be with me in this. Please!” It wasn’t a plea anymore, but a command.
“I have some questions first.”
“They’d better be of the ‘how lovely is your wedding dress’ variety.”
“You got your wedding dress already?” He mustered up a smile for his sister, fighting through his desire to yell so she didn’t bolt. “You’re not supposed to grow up this fast.”
She lowered her chin when the next sentence tumbled out of her. “Carrigan saw me in my wedding dress and told me I looked disgusting and ridiculous, but I think it’s pretty.”
Keenan let out a low whistle. “Yikes. Never thought I’d see the day something broke apart the dynamic duo. Carri really said that to you?” Keenan took in his sister’s despondency with compassion. “So you’re getting married soon, then. I know you. If you’ve already picked out a dress, you’re not waiting around on this.”
Fallyn nodded, but that was the only information she was willing to give on the date she would officially become a D’Amato.
Keenan was silent for nearly a minute before he nodded into his hands, defeated. His voice was quiet and laced with weighted unhappiness. “Okay. If this is what you want, I won’t stand in your way. It’s a bad decision, make no mistake, but if you really want to be with Vince, my feeling that way shouldn’t stop you.”
The air gusted out of Fallyn’s lungs in a wave of shock. “Really? Is that like, your blessing?”
Escaping: A Mafia Romance (The O'Keefe Family Collection #2) Page 8
