Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 126485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 632(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 632(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
“Dad expects you to attend Christmas eve dinner tomorrow. If you disappear, he’ll want an explanation and the only one he’ll accept as an apology is you going to Dublin to talk things through with your wife.”
“Then that’s the lie you can give him,” I muttered. “I’m leaving for Dublin now. I want to know who’s watching my wife. This could be related to my new business with Sergej. I won’t let any other players ruin the game for me.”
“Sure,” Balor drawled. “It’s all about business.”
I entered my room and closed the door in his face before I began packing a couple of things for a few days. I’d catch whoever was on Aislinn’s trail. Maybe Balor’s men hadn’t succeeded, but they didn’t have the same motivation as I did.
I reached the Merchant’s Arch around two in the morning. The pub was still open and crowded. The chances of Aislinn’s mother working a shift were high so I didn’t go in. Instead, I went to a quieter part of the alley where I ran across a guy I remembered from Kenmare. He gave me a nod, not the least bit surprised. Balor must have told him about my arrival.
“Anything happen tonight?”
He shook his head and pulled his coat tighter around himself. It was freezing, but my anger and worry kept me warm. “Nothing. Aislinn entered the apartment with the boy around four in the afternoon and hasn’t left since then. Her mother went to work around five.”
“Anyone enter the house apart from Aislinn and Finn?”
“Just an old woman who also lives in the place.”
“You can go now. I’ll give Balor a call when I need someone to relieve me.”
He nodded and walked away. I leaned against the wall, which gave me a good view of the front door. Due to the Merchant’s Arch, there was quite a bit of come and go, but no one came close to the front door, except for a drunk guy who pissed against it. I had a feeling that happened quite often, and I hated that Aislinn and Finn lived in a place where they had to step over people’s piss.
None of my fucking business.
Nothing happened that night, and when Aislinn and Finn left the apartment in the morning for a walk to a playground, I followed them at a distance to make sure they didn’t notice me. I also glanced around for anyone else who might be watching. Thanks to Balor, I now rented a tiny one-room apartment across from Aislinn’s home, so I could watch her door from the window there that evening. Christmas Eve.
Through the kitchen window, I could see Aislinn have dinner with her mother and Finn. She had cooked it herself. I’d watched her work in the kitchen for the last three hours, and I could almost smell the roast she’d prepared. I ate rather bland Tikka Masala from a diner down the street and ignored the calls from my brothers and father. This was one of the sadder Christmas Eves of the last few years. Seamus always invited me over so I never celebrated alone. I knew Father would have driven me up the wall, but even that was preferable to being alone. But even if I’d never admit it, most of all I wished Finn, Aislinn and I could have celebrated Christmas together.
When the lights went out in Aislinn’s apartment, I risked a quick nap. One of Balor’s men would take over for a few hours in the morning. I needed some sleep.
After a four-hour nap in the morning, I resumed my watch. I didn’t have to wait long before Aislinn left her apartment. Finn was with her. I missed the little guy too. My lips pulled into a smile when I saw what he held in his hand. A remote control. Aislinn carried the Batmobile that I’d given him for Christmas. There was a note in the package so she definitely knew it was from me. It hadn’t felt right not to send the boy something for Christmas. He’d suffered enough abandonment at his age, and I didn’t want him to think I dropped him like a hot potato too. I followed Aislinn and Finn at a great distance. It was still risky. Aislinn looked over her shoulder a few times. Maybe her instincts told her she was in danger.
They went to a parking lot across Ha’Penny Bridge so Finn could test his Batmobile. I watched them for a while. Aislinn beamed as she watched Finn enjoy his gift, but on occasion her expression would sober, become almost forlorn. It was weak to think she missed me. She’d been averse to our bond from the very beginning and never hid it.
In the late afternoon, Aislinn left the apartment again, but this time alone. It was already turning dark. Her stride was purposeful, with a definite destination in mind. I followed her toward an Italian restaurant. Maybe she was applying for a job. I leaned against a wall in a side alley that still allowed me a partial view of the restaurant’s entrance.