Ruinous Love Trilogy, #2
Leather & Lark
by Brynne Weaver
Contents
Chapter Nine: Banjaxed
Overview
Lachlan, worried about Lark’s sleeplessness and triggers, enlists Sloane and Rowan for a lunch that implodes when Claire Peller appears. Lark bolts to enact revenge, but Lachlan intercepts her and clears a key misunderstanding: Claire was Fionn’s ex, not a lost opportunity for him. Shaken, Lachlan decides to finally dig into Lark’s past.
Summary
Lachlan, disturbed by Lark’s insomnia, hyperactivity, and elevator-triggered panic, tries to pry for context from Sloane and Rowan, then invites them and Lark to lunch at Butcher & Blackbird to create a safer setting. Lark arrives upbeat but visibly exhausted beneath the mask.
The meal derails when Claire Peller approaches. After Lachlan introduces Lark as his wife, Claire makes a barbed reference to a past Halloween party. Lark and Sloane silently confer, and Lark abruptly leaves, clearly intent on payback.
Rowan and Sloane warn Lachlan that Lark is fiercely vindictive, citing past pranks and scorched-earth responses to betrayal, including a glitter bomb and a sequined, glued insult. Alarmed that Lark might target Claire, Lachlan rushes after her.
He finds Lark in an alley, physically halts her, and presses for her plan. Lark admits she intended to sabotage Claire, fueled by the belief that Lark once ruined Lachlan’s chance with Claire on Halloween. Lachlan corrects her: he had stayed at that party for Fionn, whose heart Claire had broken; Claire was never his goal.
The clarification undercuts Lark’s motive, but she refuses deeper conversation and walks away. Resolute, Lachlan decides to finally research Lark directly—what he should have done months ago.
Who Appears
- Lachlan KaneNarrator; worries about Lark’s decline, organizes lunch, intercepts her revenge, clarifies Claire’s link to Fionn, resolves to investigate Lark.
- Lark MontagueExhausted and triggered; maintains a cheerful mask; storms off to punish Claire; learns Claire was Fionn’s ex; rebuffs deeper talk.
- Sloane KaneLark’s best friend; rebukes Lachlan, attends lunch, exposes Lark’s vindictive streak with past anecdotes.
- Rowan KaneLachlan’s brother; attends lunch, corroborates Lark’s revenge history, pushes Lachlan to stop her.
- Claire PellerAntagonistic ex of Fionn; intrudes at lunch, provoking Lark’s retaliatory impulse and the chapter’s confrontation.
- Fionn KaneOff-page; his past heartbreak by Claire explains Lachlan’s priorities at the Halloween party.