Page 39 of Desired

James gives her a pleading look, mixed with impatience, as the guard behind him starts to pace, likely indicating that his time is almost up. Moira breathes in deeply and lets it out. “Da, I...I can’t do this. I came here to say goodbye, not to do anything more. I’ve got too much at stake.”

There’s my girl. I can’t help the small smile and the gentle rub on her back.

James’s face turns pale. “But, Moira, I’ll never see you again, child. Is that...is that how you want to end this? Behind these bars.”

Moira swallows. “Da, you made that choice years ago, when you made the mistakes that you did. I’m not sorry for leaving Scotland nor do I blame my brothers for abandoning you. You would rather have seen an innocent man fry behind bars than live out your sentence, whether or not you’re convicted. Karma has served you well, da, and that’s why your lawyer is useless, and why you’re serving your time without a conviction. There is a laundry list of crimes that you’ve done in the past that have caught up to you, and death will be the only freedom you get.”

“How can you say this, Moira? I’m your da.” He says incredulously.

“Da, I can write a book about all the crimes that you’ve committed. And that’s probably not even the end of it. Being behind bars is the only thing that’s kept you out of trouble.”

“But I’m dying, lass.” He pleads. “What possible trouble could I get into in this state?”

My jaw muscles grind my teeth together harder.

“Look at me, Moira!” He begs, slapping his hand on the table for emphasis. “I’m lank, I haven’t eaten properly in days, I sleep eighty percent of the time, and when I’m not sleeping, I’m puking my guts out! And I get to do this for the next six weeks, until I die, Moira!”

She lets out an exhale quickly, winces, and sets the phone down, while practically leaping out of the room, me in her wake. I can hear James shouting at her from behind the glass, pounding it, in fact, as she leaves the room, slamming the door, smacking the exit door with the palm of her hand so hard I fear she’s injured herself. Once we’re outside, she stops, doubles over as if in pain, and whimpers. I grab her, lifting her up into my arms, as she sobs into my ear.

I hold her tight to me, letting her vent, letting her do what she needs to do. I say nothing while she releases all the hurt. It rips my heart out, but I know that this is what she needs to do. Finally, she pulls back, face all wet with tears, eyes reddened. I wipe the tears away with my hands and press my forehead into hers. “We can get through this together, Moira. You did the right thing, my love. I swear to it. It may not feel right at the moment, but I promise you, it will.”

With a swallow, she levels with me. “Steph was right. He’s lying. He...tried to cover it up with all his clever tactics that he’s learned through the years, but I know that he’s lying.”

I search her eyes. My voice is low. “How do you know, lass?”

“A man with advanced pancreatic cancer wouldn’t have the strength to even stand up, let alone shout and pound things, no matter how much adrenaline is running through his veins. He’d be in a wheelchair, so fatigued and weak, not out for blood like that.”

Any response I have won’t help her, so I simply wait, and let her say what she needs to say. Then she searches my eyes after a beat. “You knew, didn’t you.”

Without hesitation, I nod. “Aye.”

“I knew that you did. I could tell by the seething glare in your eyes when he spoke to you.”

I swallow. “I’m sorry, Moira. I...I figured I had a fifty percent chance either way. I could tell you myself and risk you hating me for doing so, or I could let you figure it out for yourself, and say nothing, and hate me later for not saying so.”

“I’d never hate you, Declan. I know that it’s your job to investigate anyone that comes into contact with anyone who comes into contact with you or any member of the family or business contact. It’s how it goes. You’ve said so yourself countless times. I get it. And this is my da’s M.O., so I should be used to it. But after all these years, it’s still like a goddamn sucker punch right in the stomach.”

I kiss her forehead. “Well, if it makes you feel any better, I’m proud of you. You didn’t cave. You held your own, Moira, and that’s without me saying a word.”

“You didn’t have to, Declan. I could feel it in my bones, and the second that I saw your face, I knew.”

“You’re stronger and smarter than you think, Moira.” I kiss her on the mouth. “You did well. And the less that your da knows that you know, the better. Unless he wants to fake his own death.” I say with a soft scoff.

“I wouldn’t put it past him, Declan. He’s tried everything, and this comes close.”

I hug her tight to me again. “So, lass, what’s the next step?”

“I go home and live my life exactly how I’ve been living it since leaving Scotland. It’s that simple. My da can rot in here for all I care. This lie made him sink to a new level. I can’t believe that he’d go this far and after so long.”

“I think that’s specifically why he waited, Moira. Timing is everything, as they say. He wanted to wait long enough, plant the seed, but little did he know that you’d outsmart him.”

I take her hand in mine as we leave the property, heading to my place, where we’ll stay the night, and leave to head back to the states after rest. I keep the partition door separating us from the driver closed for privacy. After a beat, before we get to my place, she asks. “So, when were you going to tell me, Declan?”

I rub her back as her head leans on my shoulder. “Deep down I knew I wouldn’t have to. I knew you would catch on.”

“I bet it took everything in you not to say something to him.” She says with a scoff.

“It did. But thanks to years of practicing good self-control, I handled it. God, if I had a dime for how many times I’ve had to keep my mouth shut on so many scores, Moira. It would make your head spin.”

---