Ruinous Love Trilogy, #2
Leather & Lark
by Brynne Weaver
Contents
Chapter Twelve: In Nominee Patri
Overview
Lark and Lachlan reveal their sudden marriage to Lark’s family, weathering shock, suspicion, and pointed questions. Ethel appoints Lark chief security officer and pushes a Leviathan security contract. Lark asserts Lachlan’s retirement and unveils her new legal name to cement the ruse, fracturing family trust while safeguarding Lachlan.
Summary
Lark, Lachlan, and Ethel arrive for family brunch. Ava explodes when Ethel blurts that Lark and Lachlan are married. Lachlan diffuses tension with gifts and a calm demeanor, and the family begins a wary interrogation over food while Lark and Lachlan perform affection to sell their cover.
When Ethel jokes about Lachlan once putting Lark in a trunk, Ava bristles. Lark offers evasions, and Lachlan frames it as a bad choice made under pressure. Lark apologizes to her stepfather for the elopement and claims a whirlwind romance, while Lachlan signals concern for Lark’s state.
Ethel steers talk to security, announcing Lark as chief security officer and intent to award a Leviathan contract. Nina resists on conflict-of-interest grounds. Lark counters by declaring Lachlan will retire, presenting a path to secure family protection without overt ties.
Nina calls Lachlan a killer; Lark implies the family also has blood on its hands. Lark then drops her final proof of commitment—a new driver’s license as Lark Kane—deepening the emotional rift. Damian, pained but supportive, offers to host a future celebration. Lachlan vows to protect Lark, earning Damian’s guarded acceptance.
As they leave, Ethel advises that planting doubt was the goal and warns the family may surveil them, urging public displays to maintain the ruse. She reveals Lark had never taken Damian’s name but took Kane now, underscoring that Lark broke her family’s heart to save Lachlan’s life.
Who Appears
- Lark Montague (Lark Kane)Protagonist; reveals elopement, accepts CSO role, claims Lachlan’s retirement, presents new Kane license to protect him.
- Lachlan KaneHusband; manages family confrontation, admits past trunk incident context, vows to protect Lark, maintains cover under scrutiny.
- EthelAunt and matriarch; instigates reveal, appoints Lark CSO, pushes Leviathan contract, guides strategy to convince the family.
- Nina MontagueLark’s mother; resists Leviathan contract, brands Lachlan a killer, struggles with Lark’s abrupt marriage.
- Damian CovaciLark’s stepfather; disappointed yet compassionate, offers future celebration, cautiously accepts Lachlan’s vow.
- AvaLark’s sister; shocked and confrontational, challenges the trunk incident, skeptical of the marriage.