Page 38 of Still Burning

“Those came in handy, by the way,” he said. “The only tracker that wasn’t taken to the Landiagos’ restaurant. I didn’t check for ye in its location first because it was one tracker. I assumed ye had left them there since all yer other things were at the new location. One of the Landiagos told me last they’d heard the Judgement MC had ye in exchange for his life. I shot him in the head, but only after he was useful.” He paused and took another drink.

“I thought I’d have to sneak into the building and take ye in yer sleep. Possibly kill a few obstacles in the process. But I found ye outside, talking to that rough-looking character at the pond, and waited for ‘im to leave. Then decided to draw ye over to me by playing a little tune. I picked out one of Eamon’s favorites, nice and low but loud enough that ye could hear it, and there ye came. Right to me.” He winked. “Nosy little chit.”

He seemed so pleased with himself.

“Saved yer biker’s life. If I’d had to sneak inside during the night, he probably would have woken up, and I’d have had to put a bullet in ‘im. So, you see, it all worked out rather well.”

“Bran, give Maeve a ring. Let her know our arrival time,” Brady said to the tallest of the three other men.

I’d heard Brady call the ginger Tiernan. He’d not introduced me to any of them, not that I cared. I didn’t want to know them. I wanted to go home. Back to Rome’s room at the club. That home. But my being there would put him in danger.

“Yer gonna like Maeve. She keeps the house runnin’ smoothly,” he informed me. “She’s been the house manager for almost twenty years now.”

Nothing mattered. I didn’t care. My past had been a lie, and my future was bleak.

“Will I ever get to go home?” I asked.

He shrugged. “I don’t know yet, but ye might not want to go if and when that time comes.”

“I’ll always want to go.” My voice sounded raspy as I fought back tears. I didn’t want to cry in front of these men. I closed my eyes and laid my head back on the seat.

The men spoke some, and I didn’t care to listen. I shut them out and thought of how, a week ago, I’d thought my life was perfect. If only I had known how fleeting it would be.

My eyes flew open from the jolt of the plane’s wheels touching the ground. I’d fallen asleep, thinking about Rome and what he was doing. Had he enjoyed seeing the baby? Did he know what it was now? Was he looking for me? Had they seen the ladder and rubber mattress on the back fence and realize I’d been taken, that I hadn’t run? All of those things were still weighing on me as I straightened in my seat.

Brady unbuckled and stood when we came to a stop, then clapped his hands together and let out a sigh of satisfaction. “It already feels better. The air is sweeter here.” He looked to the other men. “I’ll take Salem to the house and hand her over to Maeve to get settled in. Take the heli to the cave. I’ll be there in two hours.”

The heli, as in helicopter? Was the cave where they kept their secret drug stash?

What have you gotten me into, Eamon?

I’m sorry.

Me too.

Brady walked over to a closet and opened it, then took out a long, cream-colored wool coat. Bringing it toward me, he held it out. “We aren’t in Florida anymore. Yer gonna need this. It’s a bit chilly out today, but the sun is shining. That’s good for this time of year. Rain is most common at the moment.”

Great. Gloom to match my mood.

During the drive, Brady stayed busy on his phone while a man dressed in a black suit drove the Bentley that had been waiting on us when we got off the plane. The tall man was older than me, but not by much, with broad shoulders and a bald head.

He’d greeted Brady, “Mr. Murphy, sir, I hope yer flight was pleasant.”

Brady had replied, “It was, Alexander. But then it was coming home, wasn’t it? How could it not be?”

The man had smiled, then turned to me and greeted me as, “Mrs. Murphy.”

He knew who I was.

Did they all know already? Had they known who I was all along while I had no idea they existed?

Once we had settled in the vehicle, Brady offered me a cold bottle of sparkling water. I took it, but didn’t say anything. Not even athank you.

He had flipped my world upside down and seemed happy about it.

I didn’t like him. He was nothing like Eamon. But then…Eamon had lied to me. Our entire relationship. Brady had been honest since the moment he’d grabbed me and forced me up a ladder. Perhaps I preferred Brady after all. Everything I had thought I had with Eamon was a facade. Completely fake.

Had he even loved me? Could you love someone and lie to them like he had me?

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