Page 109 of The Eagle's Vault

“Dating?” Declan suggested, his eyebrows raised in mock challenge. “Spending every possible minute together?”

That sounded about right. I lifted my shoulders, squaring them. This was the new me. The Leigh who said what she wanted. “I’m not sure I want to tell them that my consultant is my boyfriend.”

“Boyfriend?” His smile deepened, a spark of satisfaction in his eyes. “I like that. But I get if you don’t want to break the news yet. I can come back tomorrow, if you’d rather?”

“It’s time. I also have to tell them about Isaac.” My voice faltered at the thought of my brother. “I’m even less sure what to do about that.”

“Tell them the truth.”

“The truth? I don’t even know what that is. Is Isaac coming back? What happened? I still haven’t heard from him since he took off with the talon. Hell, I don’t even know if he’s alive.”

“Brie’s going to find him,” Declan said. “If the Fenix Group really are collecting special items, like Giovanni said, and Isaac returned with one of those items, then odds are good they’re taking care of him.”

I bit my lip, the taste of impending doom bitter on my tongue. No matter how it played out, revealing Isaac’s involvement with those criminals would shatter Dad. His heart would break, just like mine had.

We stepped out of the car, the thick Boston air wrapping around us. My gaze drifted to Declan, taking in his ensemble. Black slacks and a white button-up with the top couple of buttons undone. It accentuated his tall, lean physique in a way that took my breath away.

We’d debated what he should wear this morning. Declan had first opted for a tie, but I’d promptly relieved him of it. My family was more the casual type.

“Are they expecting an actual Roman or just someone you met in Rome?” Declan asked, a playful glint in his eye.

A memory flashed through my mind—throwing our coins into the Trevi Fountain yesterday. The second coin, as the legend goes, was to fall in love with an Italian. ‘Ramsay’ wasn’t Italian, that much was obvious. But there was something about Declan, maybe in the dark hair or the five o’clock shadow that was present by noon, that made me think maybe there was some Italian in his lineage.

Or maybe it was just me, well on my way to falling in love with him.

The thought made my heart pound. Love? Was that even possible? Was it realistic to hope he’d stick around after his consulting stint was over? That he’d want more than just a temporary fling?

“Leigh?” Declan jolted me to the moment.

“Sorry.” I shook my head, chasing away the thoughts. “Let’s go.”

I was getting ahead of myself. It was time to focus. I had to deal with Isaac and Dad first. Whatever was brewing between Declan and me would have to wait. Or at least, that’s what I had to keep telling myself as we walked toward the office, otherwise I would have turned around.

The door swung open at Declan’s touch, revealing the glass display counters. The chime over the door chirped, and I pulled in the familiar scent of home. Metallic, but citrusy from the cleaning fluids. Before Ann, it had been metal and cinnamon from the air freshener Mom used and Dad continued using after her death.

Dad appeared through a door from the back, his face splitting into a beaming smile. He rounded the counter to wrap me up in a tremendous hug. The familiar comfort of his arms, the smell of his cologne—these were things that would always bring me peace.

I introduced Declan as the consultant from Rome.

Declan offered his hand, referring to Dad as “Mr. Barton.”

Dad looked quite pleased with himself. “I just got off the phone with Isaac.”

My stomach sank. How much had Isaac told him? Would there be anything new to help Brie track him down?

Dad continued, “You don’t need to worry. Isaac told me everything.”

I glanced at Declan, surprise surging through me. Surely, Isaac hadn’t actually told him everything.

Dad kept talking, oblivious to my shock. “He sent me an itinerary for his European tour this summer, to visit other companies like Cassaforte and see how they operate. I think it’s a wonderful idea.”

I bit my lip, holding back a million things I wanted to say. There was no way Isaac was touring Europe. He was working with criminals. Smugglers. Kidnappers.

“It leaves us short-staffed, but Ann came up with a perfect solution.” Dad called over his shoulder, “Ann, can you come here?”

And then, like some sort of twisted nightmare, she came into the room. But she wasn’t alone. Following her like a shadow was a face I hadn’t wanted to see ever again.

Finn.

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