Page 29 of Hidden Heir

“Yeah.” I halt at the end of the street. “Are you running right now?”

“Treadmill,” Selina chuckles. “I don’t look this good without hard work.”

“Ha. I’m becoming out of breath just listening to you.”

“You’re stalling,” Selina remarks. “You’re near the restaurant, aren’t you?”

“I am. But I’m hoping you have some kind of bombshell news about the Irish that can turn this meeting into an email.”

“Not quite.” Selina sighs. “As I mentioned before, I’ve been following rumblings about distrust amongst the smaller Irish families.”

“Right. Do we know yet what that internal strife is about?”

“Money. And a lot of it. Someone misplaced enough money that they’re panicking about getting it back. It’s a large enough amount that I’m guessing they don’t want the Murphys to findout. But if we were able to find out about it, I can’t imagine the Murphys will be in the dark much longer.”

I toy with the info. Is there an angle I can use here? The Irish aren’t much more than the occasional thorn in my side. They weren’t too happy when my father stepped down from power but I suspect that’s because they wanted to be the only family benefiting from the vision of youth with their Captain Ronan being just a little younger than me. Unfortunately, there’s nothing the Irish have that I want, and there are no pressing deals that I need to manipulate.

“Restlessness in smaller families is hardly a good sign, but as long as their strife doesn’t spill into our territory, I guess I don’t give a shit.”

Selina laughs dryly. “You always say that, but don’t forget about that Italian arranged marriage that went awry a few years ago. You were watching that like it was some kind of soap opera.”

I roll my eyes. “Whatever. Just find out what kind of money we’re talking about. If nothing else, it would be good to know what kind of cash they’re moving.”

“Will do.” Selina sighs deeply. “How is Brooke doing?”

I hesitate before answering. I was able to not think about her for a few minutes but now that Selina brought her up she’s back in my thoughts raging like a fire. Damn Selina for mentioning her. Distance is doing nothing but making my desire for her stronger.

“She’s fine,” I say. “Still recovering, I suppose.”

“Poor thing,” Selina replies. “Having your business robbed, being attacked, and then having that same business burned to the ground all within a few days. That’s some really shitty luck.”

“Hold on a minute.” My chest tightens like a sudden weight is pressing down on me. “What do you mean her business burned to the ground?”

“The floral shop.” Selina replies. “You didn’t see her bawling her eyes out earlier?”

I hang up on Selina.

“Sir?” One of my guards stumbles back as I turn abruptly.

“Take me home.”

“But—” He glances down the street at the restaurant.

“I said take me home.”

——

I find Brooke in Tiffany’s bedroom, sitting cross-legged on the floor singing softly to her daughter, who is fast asleep in her brand-new toddler bed. Brooke leans down and kisses Tiff’s forehead, smoothing some curls away from her face before standing and turning around. She jumps slightly in surprise, raising one hand over her chest.

“Leon! I didn’t hear you come in.”

Lingering in the doorway, I tighten my grip on the door handle. Her eyes are rimmed red, her cheeks flushed with noticeable tear tracks streaking through her make up. She’s obviously been crying.

She’s been in pain under my roof and I didn’t notice because my father told me to keep my distance. I listened to him when I should have been with her.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I ask quietly.

Brooke moves away from the bed, knitting her brows together in confusion. “Tell you what?”

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