Page 70 of The Irish Redemption

“That’s a good thing to do.” Evie smiles.

Before I can reply, a screech of tires pulls my attention toward the parking lot where Cian’s car has just returned. He flies out of the driver's seat and sprints up to us, panting harshly.

“Easy, little brother. What’s wrong?”

He holds up his phone, displaying a message. “The Italian Don. He’s pissed. As soon as Saoirse started asking about Noah, he took personal offense and demanded proof of Italian involvement. So of course, she gave him the CCTV and he says it’s too blurry. He wants watertight proof that Italian blood is involved or he’s taking the accusation as a personal insult.”

“What the fuck? He said he would help us,” I snap. “This isn’t fucking helping.”

“Nah,” Cian pants. “But it screams guilty.”

“That it does. Did you tell him we have proof?”

Cian glances at Evie. “I did. And he wants to see it.”

“But he can’t,” Evie says, her grip locking onto my hand. “I can’t prove what I saw.”

“No,” Cian agrees. “But you can prove it’s Noah you saw. Picking him out of a lineup should be easy, right?”

My heart jumps back into my throat. Evelyn’s eyewitness account of that argument is the best we have outside of the police sketch.

“What if I say no? What if I don’t want Evie anywhere near the Italians?”

Cian looks at me and winces. “I don’t think we have a choice,” he replies. “Without her, these accusations are against the Don and he’s made it pretty fucking clear he’s taking it as a personal insult. If Evelyn refuses, that puts us at war with the Italians. And that’s not a war I think we can win.”

28

EVELYN

“Idon’t mind speaking to the Italians.” The words are barely out of my mouth when Cormac reaches across the car and takes my hand, half his attention still on the road as he drives us to my mother’s house.

“I can’t ask you to do that,” he says. “You’ve already done so much for me, especially with Holly. Besides, I’m not going to hand over the only witness to the people who might be behind this whole fucking thing.”

“You’ll protect me, though.”

Cormac’s grip tightens around my fingers. “I will. But I’m not going to walk you into the wolf's den. Not until I know exactly what’s going on.”

I settle back in my seat and stroke my fingers over Cormac’s knuckles, watching familiar streets flash past the window. He insisted on driving me to my mother’s house, taking a simple car so that we could drive without being noticed. His guards sit back in the car behind us so if I squint, I can block out most of my thoughts and pretend that we are simply a real couple out for a drive.

We learned so much from Holly, but it all fades from my mind when we reach my mother’s apartment. She’d been blowing up my phone since we landed and it’s been tough to balance that and Holly. I hadn’t planned on Cormac ever meeting my mother, but I don’t have time to tell him to wait in the car. As soon as I climb out, he follows and the front door opens before I reach the steps.

“Evelyn!” My mother squawks from the doorway. “Where the hell have you been?”

“I’m so sorry,” I say, hurrying up the steps. “I was traveling, and I got caught up… it doesn’t matter. I’m here now. What’s the emergency? What’s wrong? Are you alright?”

“Would you even care if I wasn’t?” she snaps, looking me up and down. “Why do you look so filthy?”

“What?” I glance down at my T-shirt and jeans. “I look… normal?”

“Hardly. I don’t hear from you in weeks, you bail when I need you, and you take hours to come to me when I call you. What if there was a fire?”

I fight not to roll my eyes. “Was there a fire?”

“No,” she snaps. “But my apartment has lost all power! I have no heating, no hot water. I can’t even make a hot meal. I’ve been living with my flashlight and not even my own daughter can come home and help me.”

“Mom, I’m sorry, can we?—”

“Maybe I can help.” Cormac stands at my back, drawing my mother’s attention. Her eyes widen and she glances between the two of us.

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