Page 38 of Bargain with the Irish Devil

Clare is as timid as her knock. “Mr. Kelly, I’m sorry to bother you. It’s just…my father said if I ever neededanything,I should come to you first.”

“Of course, Clare. Have a seat. How can I help you?”

“My father is missing. I heard tell that he came to see you for something. I was hoping you knew where he is.”

I nod. “I’m sorry, Clare. I did speak with Seamus. It’s been more than a week ago now. Your sister got into some trouble. He asked me to look into it for him. I said I would, no problem at all. I haven’t spoken to him since as I have no news on your sister. When he left, he seemed worried about your sister. But fine.”

Her face falls, and she blinks at the tears welling in her eyes.

“Any other day, I would encourage you to give him time, and I’m sure he’ll come home on his own. But your sister was into something very bad, Clare. I’m sorry, but it sounds like your father wasn’t willing to wait for me to look into it, so he took things into his own hands. I’ll have my men look for him, but… I don’t have high hopes.” I sigh.

She gives into tears. I get up to sit beside her, offering the handkerchief in my pocket. Taking it, she attempts to stem her tears. “I don’t know what to do. Should I go to the police?”

“Normally, I would say no. But if it’s as bad as I fear, yes. With the police report, it will allow you to handle the property he left behind.”

The tears become deep sobs. I pat her back. “There now, darlin’. Your da was a good man. Time comes for us all.”

Throwing her arms around me, she sobs until she soaks my shirt. James thought I made the call to kill Seamuseasily. I didn’t. I never have. I knew Clare would come to me. I would have to see tears in her eyes. Perhaps she would be brave enough to accuse me of knowing what happened to her father—maybe even figuring out I ordered his death.

Clare won’t care that her father broke one of the few rules we have. None of that would matter to her. For her, the loss of her father would be unforgivable. So my penance is holding her while she cries. To feel hersmallbody tremble with sobs.

I take Clare to the local precinct myself. Sitting with her as she gives the information. I’m relieved when she doesn’t mention him coming to see me. She’s a good girl that way. Since she’s already there, she files another for Coleen.

As I knew they would, the cops aren’t interested. They shrug and give their card for when either one shows up. Clare looks at me with tears in her eyes all over again.

Taking her home, she cries silent tears. I managed to get her up to the apartment with a promise if she should need anything, to call me with my card. Unlike the card the detective gave her, she puts it on her fridge.

I’m almost out the door when her phone rings, causing her to jump. Her hand goes to my arm to stay me. I wait as she answers with her eyes up at me—the hope in her eyes bright. Only for her to sigh.

Dropping her hand from my arm, she shakes her head. “No,Margaret, I’m sorry. I can’t come in tonight. I’m supposed to be off tonight, and I need the time off.”

Sighing, she turns away from me. “Because I need the time off. That’s why. I told you I’m not interested in overtime. Margaret, I have to go. Goodnight.”

“Sorry about that.” She shrugs. “I’m a nurse over at the ER down the block. They are constantly trying to cut hours and then begging for us to come when they realize they actually need us. Every other month, I swear I’m going to apply to another hospital for something nice and quiet like pediatrics, and I never do. Thank you for your help tonight. My father told me you were a good man. He wasn’t wrong.”

CHAPTER 12

Miranda

The thud yanks me from sleep. I lay in bed wondering what it was. Heavy steps are on the stairs. Declan? I check the clock on the bedside table. One-thirty in the morning? Is he all right?

I pull back the covers, the need to reassure myself strong. But the moment I put my hand on the doorknob, I stop.If you go in there, it’s over. You’re his. He’s going to break your heart into tiny little pieces. You will never be able to put it together the same again.

Closing my eyes, my head falls to the door. I expect it to happen any second—the wish that I could walk away and never come back. But it doesn’t. I understand now. No matter how far away I get from him, I’ll never be the same. He did something, broke something open, and let it out.

Something is wrong. I feel it down to my toes. I’m not sure how I know he needs me. I just do. The longing is so strong—it isn’t just me.

I open the door of his bedroom to find the door to his bathroom partially open. Once again, clothes are on the floor where he took them off. Oh my god, there’s a gun on the bedside table.

It’s a reminder. One last chance. Leave. Turn around and go back to bed and pretend I was never here.

I can’t. I put one foot in front of another until I’m at the doorway of his bathroom. It’s also open. Breathing deep, I step inside. My chest twists at the sight of him leaning against the wall in the large open shower letting the water fall over him.

His head comes up. Our eyes meet. He blinks as if he were afraid I’m a dream. One hand goes out to turn off the water. He grabs a towel and wraps it around himself.

“Are you all right?” Both hands find my hips in a strong grip.

“I’m fine. But you aren’t.”

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