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)
I had to admit I was disappointed that Lorcan didn’t keep his promise to tell me about his questioning of my attacker. Instead, he sent one of his brother Balor’s men. When the alarm had woken me the morning after the attack, I jerked up in fear, disoriented and out of breath. It took me a while to realize where I was: in Lorcan’s temporary apartment so he could watch me.
I’d been on autopilot that day, because I had to function for Finn’s sake.
I’d longed for Lorcan’s presence. With him by my side, I would have felt safe. The other guards were only a small consolation. Our night together had reminded me of the longing I’d tried to suppress. I missed Lorcan, and his actions made me hope that he missed me too. But he’d returned to New York without another word. Maybe that really meant it was over. Maybe he’d wanted a last fuck.
Life had to go on. I’d have to figure out a way to return to Dublin in body and mind.
My arms buried in hot water when my phone vibrated in my back pocket, interrupting my wandering thoughts. I ignored it, but when the person tried three more times, I knew it was important. I wiped my hands on the apron.
The moment I picked up, someone said, “Your sister is in a hospital in New York.”
“What?” I barely understood what the person was saying. The voice was muffled, so I couldn’t say who it was. I thought it might be a man but it could have been a woman imitating a male voice too. After a moment, the words sank in. “My sister? Where? Why? I don’t understand.”
The person gave me an address then hung up. I blinked, completely stunned. My sister was in a hospital in New York? Since when? And why hadn’t Lorcan called me? I knew why. What if this was a trick?
Too much had happened in the past for me to believe a strange voice. It could be the people who attacked me, or the police trying to lure me to their side again. Since I married Lorcan seeing police on the streets didn’t evoke the same sense of protection I’d felt in the past. I’d been dragged into his shady world.
After I’d tossed my apron aside and grabbed my purse, I left the restaurant without a word and ran home. Even if I mistrusted the voice, I needed to find out more as soon as possible. I would have lost the job in a couple of weeks, when they’d realized who I was.
Mum wasn’t home and Finn was with our neighbor.
What was I supposed to do now? I needed to find out if it was true. But whom could I call? The police were out of the question. The hospital probably wouldn’t give me information over the phone either. And word might spread to Lorcan if I called the hospital.
Maeve. Or Gulliver. Those were my only options.
I chose Maeve. Gulliver was loyal to Five-Leaf-Clover, and he’d tell Lorcan.
Maeve picked up after the fifth ring.
“Maeve, it’s me, Aislinn.” I hadn’t called her since Lorcan sent me away. She was married to Seamus, so I assumed she wasn’t allowed to stay in contact to me. Now, I wondered if I should have given it a try sooner. I’d loved spending time with her and I knew if given time, we’d have become best friends.
I quickly told her about the call I just received.
She was quiet, then she murmured. “It wasn’t me, if that’s what you think.”
I had thought it might be her. “Do you know if it’s true? Seamus talks to you about business.”
She released a small breath. I knew I was asking for a lot. Seamus trusted her and Maeve loved him. “She is.”
I released a shuddering breath. “Thank you. Thank you so much. I’m sorry I didn’t call.” I hung up.
I needed money to fly to New York. I needed money really quickly. I rushed downstairs into the Merchant’s Arch, where Mum was doing the afternoon shift.
After some back and forth, Sean refused to give me the money. I wasn’t sure what had happened between Mum and him but it seemed he finally realized he didn’t have a chance with her.
I was desperate and so I called Gulliver. I didn’t have much hope, but I couldn’t call Lorcan. Not after everything that had happened.
Gulliver answered almost right away and again the words just bubbled out of me. “I need money for a flight.”
“If you agree to talk to me about your marriage again,” he said.
I swallowed. “Lorcan sent me away. You said it yourself, I’m lucky he didn’t kill me.”
“I’ve had time to reconsider.”
Had Lorcan said something to him confessional? Maybe about our reunion in Dublin? How he’d saved me and still made sure I was safe? My thoughts whirred in my head like a tornado. I tried not to think about Lorcan’s motives too much because it just rekindled my own longing.