Sin told Thane and Isobel I’m a former agent. He was left with no choice after Abram uncovered my history. My in-laws also know I’m Amanda’s daughter. It was the only way Sin could explain my infiltration into The Fellowship without revealing my intention to kill Thane.
It’s a huge bump in the road but my goal hasn’t changed. It’s transitioned into a new stage. I know less than I ever have. I’m back to square one on finding my mother’s killer.
“I have to figure out who it was.”
“Perhaps we can put our known facts together and come up with a list of suspects.”
This is a strange situation to be in. Thane’s asking me to discuss my mom—his mistress—in front of his wife. It’s uncomfortable. And I don’t wish to be disrespectful to my mother-in-law.
I understand Thane and Isobel’s relationship but I need to have her approval. “Are you okay with us discussing my mother?”
“Of course. But I’ll step out if my presence makes ye uneasy.”
I guess there’s no reason to be ill at ease if she isn’t. “No. Stay.”
I retell the horrid events of the day my mother was killed and I can see the pain in Thane’s heart; it’s reflected in the expression on his face. “You have a grave with a headstone next to your mother. I’ve seen it.”
“Dad’s doings. He was afraid my mom’s killer might come back for me if he believed I could identify him. He decided it would be safer if everyone believed I was dead.”
“You spent all these years believing I was her killer. I swear it wasn’t me.”
I wholeheartedly trust that he’s telling me the truth. “I believe you.”
“I understand you didn’t see the killer’s face but do you remember anything that might be identifying?”
I know very little. “He smelled of sweet tobacco and liquor. I know now it was Jack Daniels. Neither of those things helps with determining identity but my dog attacked him. There was a lot of blood so I believe he should have a significant scar on his right lower leg.” At least that much is solid.
“You were convinced you recognized my voice.”
“I had heard your voice many times during your visits to my mother. Her killer’s accent was identical to yours. As a child, I always assumed it was you. When I became an adult, I knew I couldn’t go on assumptions alone so I researched her connections. You were her only Scottish association.”
My findings didn’t prove his guilt. It would never stand up in a court of law but I didn’t need that; I made myself judge and jury. I didn’t convict Thane based on concrete evidence. I did it using my gut. And I was wrong. I can admit my mistake now.
Can’t lie. My blunder shakes my confidence.
“Several of my men were in the US when Amanda was murdered but I don’t have reason to suspect any of them. None had motive. They would’ve been too afraid to cross me.” Thane may need to rethink the loyalty of his men.
“Perhaps a rival, then?”
“It’s possible but I doubt they would’ve taken something so precious to me without claiming responsibility.” He’s right. A rival would’ve loved nothing more than him knowing what they’d done. Whoever did this wants to keep it quiet.
“Would you be willing to make a list of Fellowship members in the US during that time?” That’s probably our best place to begin.
“Aye. I’ll have a list for you in the morning.”
“That would be a great start. Thank you.”
Isobel slaps her hands together. “Good. Now that we have that out of the way, I want tae talk about why I’m here.”
I don’t think anyone is questioning Isobel’s reason for coming. “It’s not every day The Fellowship’s future leader takes a wife so we need tae have a formal commemoration tae announce and celebrate yer marriage. That bastard, Abram, robbed ye of the wedding ye should have had here with yer family but we’ll make up for it with one hell of a reception. And he will be there, front and center, smiling about it.”
Abram may be there but I highly doubt he’ll be smiling.
“Our wedding was beautiful, Mum,” Sin says. “And the end result is the same. Bleu is my wife and that’s all that matters.”
I wouldn’t take a posh wedding in a beautiful cathedral over the one I had at my father’s bedside. It was perfect.
“I’m sure it was lovely. I’m sorry I missed it. But we’ll make up for it with a reception The Fellowship won’t forget anytime soon.” Isobel removes a large binder from her bag and I know what it means. She has big plans in store.
My initiation ceremony was grand so I can only imagine what she has in mind for a wedding reception. “I have an event planner scheduled tae come later this week but we need tae have some ideas of what we want before he comes.”
My husband and father-in-law get up to make their escape. “This is our cue,” Sin says.
The jackass I married is grinning at me. He’s laughing because he knows choosing tableware, flowers, and cake flavors aren’t my thing. But it’s something I’ll do for my beloved mother-in-law—with a smile on my face—because I want to make her happy.
Isobel closes the folder once Sin and Thane are gone. “I’m ecstatic about the reception but I don’t want tae discuss the plans for it right now. I only pretended I did so the men would leave.”
Thank God. “That’s a relief.”
“I thought it would be.”
Seems my mother-in-law knows me pretty well.
“I have things I want tae tell you about the brotherhood and what it’s like tae be married tae its leader. Their input isn’t needed.”
“There are times when it isn’t.” I laugh.
“Ye’ve only been back a few hours but The Fellowship doesn’t offer the courtesy of a transition period into yer place as wife of a leader.”
That may be the case, but I have no idea what is expected of me. There’s no map or guidebook. “I don’t know the part I’m to play. I’m lost.”
“Then ye must quickly find yerself because that can be construed as instability. That’s no good for ye or Sinclair. There are those who would call you weak and use that against ma son.”
I won’t be a liability to my husband. “I’m a lot of things but weak has never been one of them.”
“Ye were expected tae pick up the reins the moment ye arrived. No one cares that ye weren’t raised within the brotherhood. They’ll be watching—and some hoping—for ye tae fail.”