Chapter 2 Chapter Two

Fianna. 

A sharp series of knocks sounded on my bedroom door. I groaned loudly, pulling my hair with both hands. My skull was hurting, it felt like someone had slammed a pint glass into it. 

I’d too many drinks after dinner last night. Who wouldn’t? Anyone would have drowned themselves in whiskey after being offered like a cattle at the dinner table. 

James’s voice came urgent. “Fianna, you should get up now. Your grandfather wants to see you.”

Of course, he did. I had walked out on him last night, right in front of everyone. The consequences couldn’t be avoided at any cost. 

“Just tell him I’m dead,” I muttered into my soft pillow. 

“Fianna!” James snapped louder this time. “Please get ready or you will have my ass flogged too. I’m not dying on your behalf.”

I groaned again, but quickly rolled out of bed. 

By the time I tugged a loose blouse over my head and styled my hair into a bun, I had already decided I was going to shut this marriage nonsense down today. Slane was not going to own me, not in this lifetime and the next. 

I walked into the hallway, massaging my aching temple. Every sound was echoing in my head, making it pound. Ronan was standing by the kitchen counter, happily munching on sausages like he hadn’t been part of that atrocity. 

He had the nerve to grin. “Morning, Stór.”

I ignored him but not without glaring at him first. 

James cornered me halfway down the corridor, wringing his hands. 

“Fianna—wait. There is a guest in your grandfather’s study for now.”

I narrowed my eyes on him. “Care to explain why you dragged me out of bed then?”

He tilted his head with that annoying smile. “Because if I didn’t, you would still be under your blanket pretending to be unconscious. Trouble wakes you faster than coffee, Fianna.”

I would have actually laughed at that but I was seething!

“Not when the trouble is with my old man. In that case, James, I don’t need any encouragement. I surely do need a funeral plan.”

His grin faltered. “Please don’t get yourself killed.”

“Too late,” I responded, pushing the door open without knocking. 

The heavy oak opened widely, and my grandfather’s deep voice floated out first. “…..and the shipment of drugs to the Slanes should be discreet at all cost. I need them to trust—“

I froze. Drugs to the Slanes?

And then I saw the guest. 

Kian O’Sullivan.

My childhood whatever. 

He was sitting like a dark, polished statue on the other side of the room. Legs spread apart, hands folded, every inch of him was meticulous. 

He was wearing a black suit, hair slicked back like he had spent the whole morning torturing it into submission. He looked clean and infuriatingly composed as always. 

He didn’t even glance at the opened door. 

I clenched my fists and turned to my grandfather. “Did I hear correctly? Don’t tell me we are working with the Slanes now.”

His head snapped toward me, eyes hard. 

I took another step forward. “I don’t care what you are plotting, Daideo. I’m not going to get married to that man.”

This time, his voice cracked like a whip. “Yes, you are.”

My breath caught. My chest was burning. 

I laughed loudly. “You raised me to have a voice, to fight, to take what’s mine. And now, you want to snatch that from me? You want me to marry a stranger—our enemy, like some sacrifice?”

His fury silenced the room but I wasn’t close to being silenced. 

“You are hiding something,” I snapped, my voice breaking. “What do the Slanes have on us? What did they whisper to make you shove me at their cowardly son? Are they blackmailing you?”

His face darkened, voice a growl. “No Callahan bends to blackmail! And no Callahan runs from a duty. You were born and raised in this family, Fianna. That means taking part in everything that comes with it. Even if that means marrying for peace.”

“Peace?” I spat the word like venom. “Old man, we don’t need their peace. We are fucking stronger than them, we can even bury them if we want.”

His jaw clenched and in three strides, he was in front of me. He towered over me, his shadow swallowing me whole. I hated how small I felt. I hated how much his eyes burned into mine when I had pushed him too far.

He spoke up, voice low and dangerous. “You will do as I say….unless you give me a better offer.”

The words stung me. A better offer?

My throat suddenly felt dry. “What the hell does that mean?”

“You want to dare fight me on this?” His voice rose again. “Then bring me something stronger, otherwise, this deal is sealed. Now, go prepare yourself. In ten minutes, you will spar with Ronan in the ring until your stubbornness bleeds out of you.”

My stomach flipped. I had been punished in the ring countless times. And I would fight again if I had to. But this—this wasn’t even about fists or knives. This was about my freedom being pawned away just like that. 

Before I could stop myself, the words ripped out of me. 

“I’m in love with someone, Diadeo.”

The silence was deafening. His eyes narrowed into knives. “What did you just say?”

I lifted my chin, my chest pounding loudly. “I said I’m in love. Crazily. Madly. And you know better than anyone, grandfather. You know how that feels…”

For just a little moment, I saw the soft edges of the man who had once been maddening in love with a woman. 

But then, his voice came out flat. “Love doesn’t save our kind of family. It would certainly not benefit us.”

“It’s not some random love.” I rushed out. “I fell for someone who could help us. Strengthen us.”

That got him. His brows furrowed, his interest sparked. 

“Who?”

“Kian O’Sullivan.”

He was still sitting like an emotionless machine, but this time, his eyes were on me. 

My lips curled into a reckless smile. He was going to slit my throat, I knew it but I wasn’t sorry. 

“Yes, grandfather. As you know, Kian and I had known each other a long time ago. We found out recently that we love each other…”

If Kian was shocked, he didn’t show it. He never did. Psychopath. 

Grandfather’s face was drained of color. “Kian, is this true?”

The silence stretched. Kian didn’t say a word. Just that relentless stare pinning me in place. 

I held my breath. Waiting for my old man’s verdict. 

He finally exhaled, the sound heavy as stone. “Go,” he said, turning his back at me. “Wait in the ring. I will decide how to deal with this mess.”

Relief exploded in my chest. My lips curled into a faint smile. Of course, he wouldn’t reject Kian. No one ever rejected that bastard. Every family in Ireland needs the cartel king on their side. 

I bowed to my grandfather and turned to leave when Kian’s cold voice sounded behind me. 

I hated to admit that it sent shivers down my spine. 

“Let’s have a few words, Tiger. Privately.”