Page 65 of The Irish Redemption

Not now.

Being back in the city brings the walls back up. A thousand eyes are back on me, Brenden’s killer still walks free, and I’m one wrong decision away from war. I can’t afford to rest in my feelings. The only thing I know for sure is that I want Evie to stay with me.

That remains a single goal.

“You look pensive.” Evie speaks up softly, removing one of her earbuds. “Are you nervous about going back to the city?”

I roll my eyes and push slightly back into the seat, briefly casting my attention to the passing sky. We’ll be landing soon, and I need to make sure the mask is back in place. “I don’t get nervous.”

“Sure you don’t.” Evie rolls her eyes and nudges my leg with her foot. “You’re something. You’re acting weird.”

“No, I’m not.”

There’s a flash of uncertainty in Evie’s eyes and she straightens up in her seat. “Yes. You are. It’s like you’re…” She trails off and tilts her head.

“Like I’m what?”

“I don’t know.” Evie looks away. “You just seemed softer at the ranch, that’s all. You put that suit back on and you’re a different person.”

I self-consciously adjust my tie. “I’m me. I’m always me.”

“Sure.” Her tone stiffens. “So what, the ranch was just some dream bubble? Now that we’re going back to the city, you’re back to being Mr. Ice?”

“Evie, I’m not Mr. Ice. But things in the city are different. You know that.”

“Yeah, I guess.” She sighs deeply. “I wish we could have stayed.”

“Brenden’s killer would have loved that,” I mutter, not missing the flash of hurt in Evelyn’s eyes. I know that’s not what she meant, not really, but I don’t have time to soothe her as the pilot announces our descent into the city. I’ll have to make it up to her later.

As we land, the air around me grows thin. This woman Anastasia has found is the only lead I have. For too long, I’ve been chasing ghosts in this damn city trying to track a murderer, and she is the first concrete lead I have. I can’t fuck this up.

Unfortunately, Evie will have to wait.

We land smoothly, and I exit the plane first to find several cars waiting with my men. I approach one car, then glance back to see what’s taking Evelyn so long. As she descends the steps, her brow pinches in worry as she stares down at her phone. When she reaches the bottom, she answers a call, and I’m unable to figure out what she’s saying as she lingers near the steps.

My fingertips buzz. I don’t have time for this.

I’m so close to answers, so close, and each second I’m forced to wait makes my pulse quicken until it’s a furious drumbeat in my ears.

Finally, Evie ends the call and hurries up to me.

“I have to go.”

“What?” No.

“I need to visit my mother. Something’s happened. She wasn’t very clear, but she needs my help.”

I think back to the last time Evie spoke to her mom and the conversation about moving furniture. If that’s her mother’s idea of an emergency, then I don’t have much belief that this is serious. But if it will split Evie’s focus then it’s likely useful for us to deal with this first.

“Fine.” I sigh, opening the door for her. “We’ll swing by your mother’s first.”

“You don’t need to come with me,” Evie says, hesitating. “Don’t you need to follow up with your siblings about that woman?”

“I do,” I say. “But I need you there too. You’re the one who’s seen her before, and I don’t want you worrying about your mother while we’re interrogating this woman.”

“But…” Evie squints at me, and I can’t decide whether she’s surprised or relieved to hear that I am concerned for her. “I’m quite capable of seeing my mother by myself, and you have the drawing. You don’t really need me.”

I’d suspect Evie is trying to slip away but I understand she’s trying to remove herself from the situation after I snapped at her on the jet. “Either we go together or not at all. So where are we going first?”

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