Page 58 of Broken Blood Ties

Deuce hisses again as I frantically probe the bag, continuing to search. Just as my hand brushes against the plastic pouch, a sweet, tiny voice startles me, making my heart plummet.

“Miss Summer?”

Chapter19

Kieran

Aoife sprints down the boardwalk, and Finn and I practically have to jog to keep up. The Harbor is insanely busy today. The weather was one reason I wanted to take this weekend off and fulfill my promise to Aoife for a night on the yacht. But it looks like I wasn’t the only one with that idea.

I pivot to Finn, who I picked as a guard this weekend while Cormac oversees the fight. “I’m too old for this shite.”

He laughs, speed walking to catch up to Aoife.

She couldn’t wait to leave this morning. Her bags were packed and sitting by the back door. Even Mr. Cuddles was tucked into her tiny backpack this morning, his head poking out to stare at me while I sipped my tea at the kitchen island.

“Aoife, slow down.” I call to her, and she lightens her pace, throwing a grin over her shoulder.

It’s been over six months since we’ve had a night on the yacht, just the two of us.

“Miss Summer?” Aoife’s curious voice has my head snapping in her direction up ahead as she stands behind none other than Summer Smith.

As we approach, Summer stills from where she’s hunched over the boardwalk bench, rustling through a backpack. She straightens, cinching a portion of the bag before she turns.

I’m struck with how pale she is. Her face is ashen, a single tear streaking down her cheek, and I don’t miss the way she tracks the surrounding movement.

Her shoulders are stiff and the dark circles under her eyes proud, but she grins at Aoife, wiping her hands on the same jumper I saw her wearing yesterday. She flicks her focus toward me, and then past to where Finn is behind me.

“H-Hey, Aoife. How are you, sweet girl?” Her voice is shaky, and the coat she’s wearing has a ball-sized bulge in the front. Did it just move?

Aoife swings her arms back and forth, seemingly unfazed by Summer’s exhausted appearance. “I’m fine. Daddy is taking me on the boat today.”

Summer finally looks at me, really looks at me, and I almost shiver. There’s something wrong. Really wrong.

She swallows, head swiveling to glance over her shoulder once again. I study the people behind her, curious if there’s someone here making her uncomfortable, but no one stands out.

“That sounds like so much fun, Aoife. I’m excited for?—”

“Hey! What’s that?” Aoife points to where Summer has her hands wrapped around the big ball in her coat.

Summer chuckles, unzipping the top part of her coat. “Only my cat.”

A gray cat pokes its head up from underneath her coat and my brows furrow. The backpack on the bench, the same clothes as yesterday, an animal buried in her coat—Summer Smith is running from something. Did she even go home yesterday?

“Oh! She’s so cute!” Aoife squeals, and I lower a hand to her shoulder to temper her shouting.

“He, actually. His name is Deuce.” Summer pulls him out and pets him on the head.

“Can I pet him? Daddy, can I pet him?” Aoife jumps up and down at my side, and I watch Summer’s face light up with Aoife’s enthusiasm. My chest tightens at the way Summer looks at my daughter.

“You can hold him if you’d like.” Summer hands Deuce to Aoife, and Aoife moves to the bench to wiggle herself onto it. She pets at him, and the cat nudges under her arm. She giggles.

Stepping forward, I gently grab Summer by the arm and pull her to the side. She shudders when I release her.

“Is everything okay?”

She blinks several times but avoids looking at me in the eye. “Uh, yeah.” She makes to move back toward Aoife, but I wrap my hand around her wrist. That’s when her gaze locks with mine, her breathing audible. Her pulse thrums against my fingers, and I relish the feel of it.

“Summer. Tell me ye’re all right?”

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