Ruinous Love Trilogy, #2
Leather & Lark
by Brynne Weaver
Contents
Chapter Nine: Banjaxed
Overview
Lachlan, worried about Lark’s spiraling after the elevator incident, engineers a lunch with Rowan and Sloane. Claire Peller’s appearance triggers Lark, who bolts to enact revenge. Rowan and Sloane expose Lark’s vengeful streak and rumors about her past. Lachlan intercepts Lark in an alley, clarifies Claire’s history with Fionn, and decides to finally dig into Lark’s past.
Summary
Lachlan, alarmed by Lark’s sleeplessness and panic since the elevator incident, texts Sloane for help, gets roasted, and arranges a lunch at Butcher & Blackbird to create a safer space to talk. He invites Lark, who agrees to meet there despite clear exhaustion and overcommitment.
At lunch, Lark is upbeat with Rowan and Sloane, but Lachlan notices her fatigue and headaches. When Claire Peller approaches and pointedly references a past Halloween party, Lark abruptly leaves, masking anger with a bright smile. Rowan and Sloane urge Lachlan to follow, revealing Lark’s calculating, vengeful side with examples of glitter-bomb reprisals and a rumor tied to her ex Andrew’s death.
Lachlan chases Lark into an alley and physically stops her from targeting Claire. He presses for her motive; Lark admits she thought she’d ruined Lachlan’s chance with Claire that Halloween. Lachlan corrects her: Claire was Fionn’s ex-fiancée, and he left the party because of a work call, not to pursue Claire.
The clarification shifts Lark’s assumptions but not her deflection; she tries to leave. Lachlan insists they need to talk, but Lark refuses and disappears. Confronted with his failures to understand her, Lachlan resolves to do what he avoided—properly investigate Lark Montague.
Who Appears
- Lachlan KaneNarrator; arranges lunch to check on Lark, stops her revenge chase, reveals Claire was Fionn’s ex, resolves to investigate Lark.
- Lark MontagueExhausted yet performative at lunch; triggered by Claire; admits misconception about Halloween; reveals vindictive impulses; refuses to talk.
- Sloane KaneRoasts Lachlan by text; attends lunch; details Lark’s history of creative revenge and hints at darker rumors.
- Rowan KaneAt lunch; prompts Lachlan to chase Lark; corroborates Lark’s glitter-bomb reprisals; provides comic prods.
- Claire PellerProvocative ex of Fionn; her appearance triggers Lark; references the past Halloween party, heightening tension.