Ruinous Love Trilogy, #2
Leather & Lark
by Brynne Weaver
Contents
Chapter Five: Threads
Overview
Lark visits Aunt Ethel and overhears Nina, Damian, and Stan debating whether Lachlan or Leviathan are behind a series of 40-day murders, even considering hits on the Kanes despite Rowan’s connection to Sloane. Ethel orchestrated the reveal, suspects Bob Foster instead, and urges leveraging family vows—hinting Lark could shield Sloane and Rowan by binding herself to Lachlan.
Summary
Lark arrives at Aunt Ethel’s coastal home, greeting her sister Ava and preparing to collect Sloane’s wedding dress for Rowan’s surprise elopement. A text from Ethel directs Lark to the rear steps and to bring lotion, a detail Lark finds odd but obeys.
On the way, Lark overhears Nina, Damian, and Stan Tremblay discussing a pattern of murders occurring every forty days. Stan proposes Lachlan Kane—formerly of Leviathan—as a likely culprit or agent, and warns that Rowan would back his brother. Despite Rowan’s tie to Sloane, the group debates preemptive action, while Damian urges proof before provoking Leviathan.
Shaken, Lark resolves to protect Sloane and Rowan. She meets Ethel, who reveals she engineered the eavesdropping. Ethel doubts Lachlan’s involvement, suspects rival Bob Foster, and notes Damian’s reluctance to blame the Kanes. Lark and Ethel consider alibis but accept that professionals can fabricate them.
Ethel reframes the problem around loyalty and vows. Citing Nina and Damian’s unwillingness to break family promises, she suggests Lark can safeguard Sloane and Rowan by making a binding promise herself. As Lark holds Sloane’s dress, Ethel pointedly asks about Lachlan, implying that Lark marrying him could halt any move against the Kanes.
Who Appears
- LarkProtagonist; overhears plans to target the Kanes, panics for Sloane, and is nudged toward marrying Lachlan to protect them.
- Ethel MontagueAunt; orchestrates Lark’s eavesdropping, suspects Bob Foster, and proposes vows as leverage against family action.
- NinaLark’s mother; debates Lachlan/Leviathan as suspects and considers decisive action amid the 40-day murders.
- DamianLark’s stepfather; urges proof before striking the Kanes, wary of provoking Leviathan.
- Stan TremblayFamily fixer; presents intel on Lachlan and Rowan, pushes for eliminating likely threats.
- AvaLark’s sister; handling Ethel’s paperwork, offers logistical support but can’t stay for the wedding.
- SloaneFriend; subject of a surprise elopement with Rowan, whose safety motivates Lark’s decisions.
- Rowan KaneSloane’s fiancé; portrayed as volatile, likely to defend Lachlan, potential target if family acts.
- Lachlan KaneSuspected by Stan; Ethel doubts his guilt. Potential protection for all if bound to Lark.
- RoseTexts Lark about wedding logistics, anchoring Lark’s obligation to Sloane amid crisis.
- Bob FosterRival businessman; Ethel’s prime suspect behind the 40-day murders.