Page 63 of The Cleaner

"Mav, don't," Lisa says, placing a hand on my chest again. "I don't want to cause any problems between you and your family."

I shake my head, cupping her face in my hands. "You're not causing problems. My mam is. You're important to me, Lisa. I won’t tolerate that shit again.”

“Think you won’t have to worry about it, Mav,” Stephen says thickly. “Your da, Denis, and Callie are losing their shit at her. About fucking damned time too.”

“Where’s Freddie?” I ask, changing the subject.

“He’s not coming. Ava’s still not back and he doesn’t know if she’s ever coming back,” Stephen tells me.

Ava went to America about six months ago looking at property for Callie. She works as a manager for Callie in her bars. They’re best friends, have been since they were kids. Ava hasn’t returned since, and she’s also not spoken to anyone except the odd messages to Callie. It’s all fucking weird, but not my monkey, not my circus.

"Lisa,” I hear a low British accent call out, and turn to see Danny—Denis’ eldest son—and his wife Melissa making their way over to us. Lisa pulls away from me, and I watch, shocked and confused, as the two women embrace.

“How the fuck does she know Melissa Gallagher?” Stephen questions.

“No fucking idea,” I grunt, unable to pull my gaze away from the woman I love.

There are a fucking lot of questions that I have about Lisa, things that need answers, and this is just another one to add to the list. There’s so much more to her than meets the eye.

I’m not going to hold back any longer. I need answers.

Chapter

Twenty-Six

LISA

“Lisa,”I hear the familiar voice call out to me. Turning, I’m unable to keep the smile off my face when I see Melissa Gallagher—Travis’ daughter—walking toward me. I pull away from Maverick and move toward her, so damn happy to see her.

“Hey you, I didn’t know you’d be here,” I say as we embrace. It’s been a few years since I’ve actually seen her but we speak often.

“Danny’s dad is married to Jerry’s niece,” she explains.

“Oh, which one? I met two,” I say, smiling, glad that I have some knowledge of who’s here.

“Callie, Maverick’s sister,” she tells me. “How are things going between the two of you? It’s been a while now, hasn’t it?”

I nod, glancing back at Maverick, who's now talking with Stephen, Jessica, and Melissa’s husband Danny. "Yeah, about eight months now. It's... good. Really good, actually."

Melissa's eyes light up. "I'm so happy for you, Lisa. After everything you've been through, you deserve some happiness."

A twinge of guilt flickers through me at her words. I still have that fear that when Maverick finds out the truth about me, he’ll up and leave. I won’t survive it. I know that. I haven’t lovedsomeone so fiercely in my life. I’m so afraid to tell him how I feel. The only people I’ve loved have left me. What happens if I tell him and open myself fully to him and then he does the same? Then he walks away and never looks back.

"Thanks, Mel," I say, pushing those thoughts aside. "How about you? How's Danny and the girls?"

Her smile falters slightly. "All good. We’re all good. Dad was talking about you this morning.”

I raise a brow. “Oh? And what was Travis saying?” I ask, not knowing what that man could be talking about.

“Your dad,” she says softly. “He was meaning to call you but he’s watching the kids for me.”

I feel my chest tighten at the mention of my father. "My dad? What about him?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.

Melissa glances around then leans in closer. "He's disappeared. There’s been no sight of him over the past week. He was in Dublin with his wife and then poof, he vanished."

My heart races, and I’m not sure what I’m feeling right now. Relieved, scared, concerned, indifferent? “Oh, okay,” I murmur.

She nods sympathetically. "Dad wanted you to know as you had asked him about Ben. He was planning on coming over to visit, but wasn’t sure how that would go down with Maverick. We know that he doesn’t know about what you do."

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