And Fianna had been the least of Ryleigh’s worries. Catriona made it clear to anyone who’d want to listen that she had no intentions to meet her half-sisters.
“What?” Catriona said. She looked past Ryleigh and met Fianna’s glare head on.
“Who’s that?”
Ronan and Ryleigh regarded each other, willing the other to step in.
The problem with her cousin Catriona was she would appear so sweet at first glance, almost as sweet as her twin Nora. But, oh, the moment she’d opened her mouth…
“You sure you’re not a natural redhead?” Ronan said and Ryleigh elbowed him in his abs.
“Who’s this fucker?”
Yes. Catriona swore like a sailor. Could drink like one, too. Even though she was still nineteen years old. Devlin and Catriona weren’t raised in the same loving circumstances as Ryleigh, with uncle Rob floating in and out of their lives.
Ryleigh stepped up to Catriona. “Cat, I know this might come as a shock… but this is your half-sister Fianna.”
“Damn. If I’d known you’d be here, I wouldn’t have come.”
“Cat…” Ryleigh said with a sigh.
“No, it’s okay. I understand. I don’t like this either,” Fianna said. She’d softened her glare by just a touch. Ryleigh estimated Fianna to be Ronan’s age, having almost a decade between her and Catriona.
Let’s hope the ‘the older; the wiser’ phrase would save this encounter, because Ryleigh already knew to expect nothing from Catriona.
“Look. Our joint sperm donor went around town busting a nut everywhere he could lay his hat, but that doesn’t make us family.”
Ryleigh rolled her eyes but Ronan laughed and said under his breath, “Priceless.”
The deep blue eyes of Fianna went wide at her half-sister’s way with words. What Fianna and Ronan didn’t know, was that all this cursing and anger was just a front.
Catriona was the sweetest person one could ever meet, besides her twin Nora. But growing up in their messed-up household had triggered something in Catriona, making sure she always chose for offence instead of defense.
“Hey, Ryleigh. Didn’t know you were teaching tonight?”
Shit. She came to get away from Keenan and his stupid demands and ultimatums. She should have known she would run in with half of the Mills family here.
“Hi, Aide,” she said, her attempt at a smile came out more like a grimace.
“What’s wrong?” Aiden looked over at Fianna and said, “Shit.”
“Yes. That’s the right word; shit. Now, can we get into that ring?” Catriona said and didn’t wait on Ryleigh’s answer but lifted the rope so she could slide into the ring.
With a curt nod, Ryleigh left Fianna and the Mills cousins standing and followed Catriona into the ring. She surely would feel the brunt of her cousin’s wrath in the ring. Nothing she’d be scared about as it only excited Ryleigh.
She’d needed to fight and forget all about Keenan and whatever feelings he had about his ex falling apart or about Ryleigh fighting. If she didn’t keep her attention at this sparring match, Catriona would surely kick her ass.
“Come on, Ry. We haven’t got all night.”
“I know, Catriona.”
The irritated glare of Catriona made Ryleigh giddy. Oh, she would have to step up to her A-game now she’d used her full name.
Behind Ryleigh, Ronan said, “Damn. She looks exactly like Bree.”
Aiden chuckled and said, “Yeah. Bree with a potty mouth.”
Now that she’d seen Bree a few times, she agreed that they indeed looked that much alike.