Page 69 of The Irish Redemption

“Brenden was sweet. He didn’t shy away from my work and recognized how badly I wanted out of it, so he was helping me get out of a life filled with sex work. He was helping me pay off debts, had worked out a deal with my pimp and everything. Then he went and got himself killed.” She shakes her head. “I should have known he was too good to be true.”

“What about Noah?” Evie presses, tapping the picture. “How does he fit into this?”

“Noah was jealous when he learned I'd moved on,” Holly explains. “But then suddenly, it didn’t matter because when he met Brenden, he was pissed for other reasons.”

“What reasons?” I demand sharply.

Holly rolls her eyes. “I don’t know. They were butting heads over some old deal that apparently screwed Noah over. They argued about it a few times. And…” She looks from me to Evie. “The night Brenden died, he… he was supposed to be with me. He was there for a while, but then he left because he said he needed to talk about business with Noah. He said he was sorting things for good this time and then he’d come back and we’d be together.”

Holly’s voice changes suddenly, and the same pain that exists in my chest suddenly pours from her as she starts to cry properly.

“But he never came back,” she weeps brokenly. “I waited at the cafe for hours and he never showed. I called him and got nothing and then the next day, I found out he was dead. My future just vanished.”

Evie rises from her seat and moves around the table, hugging Holly tightly. She flashes me a distressed look, but I’m too distracted to focus on her right now. I sent a quick text to Cian and Saoirse. This Noah just became the last person to see Brenden alive, which makes him public enemy number one. With only a first name, it’ll be hard to track him down, but now we can stop wasting time with the Russians.

Holly provided a lot of info, but frustration still simmers underneath my skin. Every step closer feels too small, like there’s something wrapped around me, constantly pulling me back no matter how close I get to the truth. A change in target doesn’t make much of a difference if I still don’t have that fucker’s throat in my hands. As Evie comforts Holly, I stride away to gain some breathing space.

Brenden was in love. So in love that he gifted Holly his lighter. He was doing everything he could to help her until he butted heads with Noah. But what deal was he talking about? We’ve been at peace with the Italians for years and to my knowledge, there hasn’t been any shift that would require fresh deals to be made. I send a text to Ma just to check there isn’t anything I’m missing, then I head out of the warehouse.

The cool night air is refreshing. I hadn’t realized how much my skin was burning inside until the cold breeze kissed my neck and forehead. Several deep breaths later and the tightness across my chest eases. I take another deep breath and hold it as I gaze up at the stars.

Noah.

Wherever the fuck he is, his days are numbered.

“Cormac?” Evie appears beside me, keeping some distance. “Are you alright?”

“No,” I say shortly, puffing out my cheeks. Then I catch myself. “Sorry. It’s a lot.”

“I can imagine,” she says softly. “Did you know that your brother was…?”

“In love?” I glance at her. “No.”

“He never said anything?”

“No.”

“Okay.” She nods quickly. “That lighter is the same as yours.”

“Yeah.”

“So you think she’s telling the truth?”

“Maybe.”

Evie grunts softly. I can tell she’s trying to reach me, but right now, everything feels far too heavy. I need to process before something inside me snaps. Suddenly, Evie’s hand slides into mine and despite her warmth, a strange cooling sensation washes over my shoulders. The tension in my chest eases like the pull of gum, and my next breath is easier.

“I’m sorry there wasn’t an easy answer,” she says carefully. “I can’t imagine what this feels like.”

“I don’t know how to explain it,” I reply. “The truth changes nothing about Brenden. I know this. But I want to hurt someone. I want to look in the eyes of his killer and make them regret everything.”

“I know,” she whispers. “A name is good, right?”

“It’s a start.”

“What will happen to Holly?”

“Well…” I glance back at the warehouse. “If she’s telling the truth and Noah exists, then I will honor Brenden’s attempts to save her. Whatever deal he made with her pimp, I’ll secure it. He clearly loved her, and I will take care of her.”

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