Page 288 of Lodestar

“I think so. I don’t know the man. Maybe he deserves to die? Maybe I’d be better off not knowing him, but…”

“Just in case, hmm?”

“Yes, just in case.”

I studied her as I pondered the situation.

Eventually, I queried, “You’ll tell me if he treats you poorly?”

The hope in her eyes was painful to behold. “Yes.”

“From one sister-in-law to another, I won’t target him. I tried to help him yesterday,” I remarked. “The only reason Conor knew he was under attack was becauseIgot him to call Keegan. So, when I said I was of two minds about the situation, I meant it. His actions don’t correlate with what I know of him, and my mom wasn’t who I thought she was.

“I have to assume that the O’Donnellys have allowed him to live even though he did what he did to their father for a reason.”

“They wanted him to form an alliance with them. Eamonn was the head of the ECD.”

“I’ve heard.” That was another reason I didn’t think Dagda needed to die. Anyone who went to jail for mass-murdering Sparrows should be a friend of mine. “I won’t steal more family from you, Aoife.”

“You don’t owe me anything,” she pointed out.

“You let me into your home. You looked after my daughter.” I hitched a shoulder. “I don’t forget things like that. Plus…” My nose crinkled. “I have to apologize but I need to buy you a new guest bed.”

Aoife rolled her lips inward. “Let Conor pay. He’s rich enough.”

“I’m not exactly poor,” I dismissed.

She wafted a hand. “It’s the Catholic in them.”

“For nonreligious men, they’re religious, aren’t they?”

“It’s ingrained in them. Do you want another coffee?”

“Please.” I studied her as she worked, then I mused, “I heard something myself.”

“What?”

“They want to use your bakery as a front?”

She smiled at me over her shoulder. “Yes. Silent investors and royalties on my recipes. I’ll be cashing in shortly.”

“Do you intend on leaving Finn?”

Her eyes widened in genuine surprise. “Jesus, no.”

The tension that had been gathering in my shoulders since I’d overheard Conor and Finn’s conversation last night started to disperse.

“What made you think that?”

“Because that’s what women do. They squirrel money away and then take off in the middle of the night. What Finn did… I’m not saying he doesn’t deserve to be abandoned, but Conor loves you. Like a sister. Atruesister. I’d hate for him to get hurt.”

Aoife’s gaze softened. “You love him, don’t you?”

“I do.” My smile was tight. “I’m still not sure what to do with it, but it’s there and it seems to be growing. I’d say it was like cancer, but I don’t think you’re supposed to classify love as a deadly disease.”

Her brows arched. “No, you’re not. With your past, though, I suppose it could be forgiven. Conor told me once you were a spy?”

I grunted.

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