Emotional Blackmail

Patrick stared at me. ‘I need to hear it! Swear that if you don’t get Candour back for Niall, your marriage with Kieran will crash and burn!’ I gritted my teeth, turned back, saw the concerned look on Kieran’s face. He was out of earshot. I turned back. Any tender feelings—love, respect—I used to have for Patrick were gone now. He was no longer Grandpa. He and Freya resorted to the same despicable method—using my attachment to the Finnegan name to coerce me into helping them. It was the worst kind of emotional blackmail. Still, it was working because I happened to have a conscience. I inhaled, exhaled, looked fixedly at him. ‘I swear.’ Patrick’s shoulders relaxed. His knuckles had gone white. He turned to the nearest firefighter. ‘I want to go home.’ Both firefighters approached cautiously. Patrick cooperated as he was lifted over the parapet. Freya rushed up to him. I didn’t realise I was shaking until Kieran hugged me from behind. ‘Good job, honey.’ He led me away from the parapet. ‘