Page 89 of Bartered Innocence

“I thought you left to go back home already. That’s the intel I was given,” I say under my breath.

Sebastian’s lips quirk. “Good, that’s what I was hoping for. My jet is fueled and ready for whenever I leave here.”

I nod, unsure why he decided to make an appearance at all.

He looks around, his hands shoved in the pockets of his coat then steps closer. “I heard back from an old friend, the fish fell for the bait, hook and whatever.”

Rolling my eyes, a smile plays on my mouth. “Thanks.”

Sebastian sighs. “Yup. And I’m sorry about your dad. I know we see a lot of death, but it never gets easier when it’s someone we care about.”

I swallow down the ache building in my throat.

His icy stare locks with mine, an understanding passing between us before he clears his throat. “I won’t be back in the states for several months. Can I reach out when everything is in place?”

My eyebrows knit in momentary confusion before I remember exactly what we promised. “Yes.”

With another nod, he leaves us there and Isabelle doesn’t comment on the strange conversation. If she has questions, I will answer them, but I think today has already taken its toll on her.

I look down when I feel her fingers slide into mine. My eyes catch hers when I look up. She’s watching me with a stoic expression. “Am I allowed to hold your hand in public like this?”

Squeezing her hand, I nod. “Yeah, baby. You’re allowed to do whatever you want.” I don’t care if anyone frowns upon it. I need her more than I need the opinions of some old twats with their pride stuck in the past.

* * *

My arm is wrapped around Isabelle, keeping her at my side. The men in the house are getting rambunctious, which is to be expected at a wake, but my heart isn’t in it. I want nothing more than to disappear upstairs with my wife and just lie in bed.

She leans her head into my chest and looks up at me. A soft smile graces her lips. “The day is almost done.”

I nod, knowing she’s trying to comfort me. We break apart as another person comes up to offer their condolences and clinks their beer against mine. The beer I’ve been holding for hours now, warm and barely drunk. I have no desire to drink.

It’s been a constant stream of families, and I know Aodhan has tried to shoulder most of it. They mostly want to see me and Isabelle because the rumor she is pregnant has spread like wildfire, which makes me feel incredibly murderous. All of us are furious to the point Cormac is determined to hunt down the rat that didn’t keep their mouth shut.

Cillian makes his way to me, anger set in his face, and I watch him with furrowed eyebrows. He gives Isabelle a stiff smile before leaning down to my ear.

“A is in the garage.”

I blink, stunned by his words and turn to him. “Why?”

“Said it couldn’t be missed.”

Handing him my beer, I grab Isabelle’s hand and drag her to the back of the house. And just like Cillian said, Aisling is in the garage, her fingers running over some tools before turning to look up at us as we enter. Her hair is a dark brown and her usual blue eyes are hidden under brown contacts.

“Aisling.” Emotion claws at my throat and she rushes to hug me. My arms wrap around her, squeezing her to my chest. If my father had to pick a favorite, it would have always been her and we all know that.

She sniffles and pulls away before pulling Isabelle into an equally crushing hug. Isabelle gasps in surprise and hugs her back.

Aisling pulls away, wiping tears from her face. “I was there this morning at the cemetery. Only for a few minutes but I just had to be there.”

“We would have understood if you couldn’t,” I tell her.

Grief flashes in her eyes and she shakes her head. “Nothing was going to make me miss it, even if I had to blow my cover.”

“You’re undercover here? At home?” Isabelle asks, glancing at me.

My jaw works back and forth, debating what I should tell her. Aisling watches me curiously before I sigh. “She’s with Luca.”

Isabelle nods, her eyebrows crinkling and her lips twisting slightly in the corner. “You should talk to my brother before you leave. He was close to Luca for years and might be able to give you information.”

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