Page 90 of The Irish Redemption

“You can’t bring him back, can you?”

“No,” I say, and warmth burns behind my eyes. “But from this day forward, you are under our protection. Brenden cared for you deeply, and we will continue to do so in his absence. Anything you need, no matter how small or dire, and we will be there. Saoirse, my sister, will visit soon to sort out a few things with you.”

“Why?” Holly looks up at me through her sparkling lashes. “Why do you even care?”

“Because Brenden was my brother and I know he would protect Evie if our roles were switched.”

Evie looks at me with wide eyes. Then she flashes me a soft smile.

“Okay.” Holly nods. “Thank you.”

We stay with her for a few hours, and she shares stories of the times she spent with Brenden. By the time we leave, I feel a little lighter knowing Brenden had someone truly good in his life. It seems she’s from the same vein as Evie—a ball of warmth and light to reach dangerous men and soften their edges.

“Did you mean what you said?” Evie asks me later as we drive toward the day’s last destination.

“Which part?”

“That Brenden truly loved her? Or did you just say that because you knew it would make her feel better?”

“I meant it.” I reach across for her hand. “The life I lead, or led until you, is the same as my brother’s. We shared the same loneliness and for me, I didn’t even realize it was there until you came into my life and showed me that there was a gigantic cold hole in my soul. Brenden was like me. He kept Holly a secret for the same reason I couldn’t let you go even after you walked away. I was in love with you before I even knew it. And I wanted to keep it secret and protect it so I wouldn’t lose it.”

“Wow,” Evie murmurs, and she brings my knuckles to her lips. “You’re so romantic when you want to be.”

“Oh, I can be romantic,” I say, smirking at her. “I just hope that I can be to you what you are to me. Even just a fraction.”

“You’re everything,” she replies immediately. “You opened my eyes to this whole new world and have given me more excitement than I’ve had in my entire life. In a few short weeks, you showed me more affection than I’ve ever felt. In fact, you made me feel like I had worth. That I was worth protecting and saving and caring for.”

“Evie, darling. Of course you have worth.”

“I know. And I knew it. But now I feel it, and that’s so much different.”

I pull the car to a stop and smile. “I’ll make sure you never stop feeling that way.”

Evie looks out the window and grimaces. “Why are we here?”

I’ve stopped us outside the Sunrise Motel. Reaching into the glove compartment, I pull out some paperwork and hand it to her.

“What are these?”

“Construction plans. We’ve bought the place. It’s going to be bulldozed and a new motel will be built in its place. A motel, under ourleadership and yours, that will serve as a safe haven for people like Holly or yourself. Anyone in trouble who needs a place to stay.”

“Oh, wow!” Her eyes widen as she flicks through the plans. “I can’t believe you did this.”

“I wanted to do something for you. How you are with Holly, the way you were kind with her and got her to open up… I realized you have a knack for helping people, and I want to give you space to do that. And I want the place where Brenden died to mean something more than this fucking place.”

“What about the employees?”

It’s impossible to miss the excitement in her eyes. “You can go and fire that shit stain of a boss.”

She looks at me, grinning. “Really?”

“Really.”

“Oh, this is going to be so fucking good.”

“Do you want me to come with you?”

She contemplates for a second, then shakes her head. “Nah, I don’t want him to be intimidated by you. I want to do that all by myself.”

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