Page 57 of Bargain with the Irish Devil

Fuck. “You’re coming with me. I need you, and Miranda isn’t going anywhere.”

Colm sighs. “She’s why I have to marry Brenna?”

I give him a glare as we get into the Navigator with him driving me. “You’re marrying Brenna because it’s past time. Jean isn’t coming back. It’s been three years.”

Hurt, he drops his eyes. “I know she’s not coming back. And I don’t want her back. But my mam says divorce is a sin. She’ll lose it.”

“I think the murdering you’ve done is going to get you to hell before divorcing a lying, cheating bitch. I told you. I’m going to talk to your mother. Take the time to get to know Brenna. She’s a good girl. I think she’s a better match for you than Jean was.”

Ronald is in my office, the only one there.

“You took fucking forever. Where the hell have you been?” He’s on me the moment I close the door.

“What does it matter where I’ve been? I was up until the middle of the fucking night dealing with the problem you created. You and James never checked him the way you should have. My da raised me to have no weaknesses, to put this before myself. I’ve done that for the last fourteen years. All by myself, dragging you all kicking and screaming behind me. We run into a little trouble with these fucking Serbians, and suddenly, the last fourteen years meanjackshit? Tommy is on you and James and the old men. Don’t think I’m going to say sorry for cutting out the rot you let infest this with.”

He opens his mouth but closes it and sits down heavily on the chair in front of my desk.

Shaking his head, he sighs. “Blood and death aren’t supposed to be in this. It’s why we kept it small—less money and havoc meant less death. I know his coke use was getting out of control. He swore he could get it together.”

Wiping his face with his hand. “I raised that boy after his da died. He was my own.” It’s a plea for understanding. “Everyone knew it would be you. Since you were a wee wain. We never thought it would be Tommy, but we forgot to tell him.”

“None of that excuses what he did. The mess he left behind is no small matter. His wife and those girls, Liam, and Rhonda. Rhonda, the working girl, had a child. Her mother can’t take care of him on her own. Providing for him won’t be cheap, but they deserve it.”

The text Patrick sent this morning about the baby and grandmother has me wincing. “Some poor kid is childless because we promised his mother we’d keep her safe, and we’re the reason she’s dead. Because you couldn’t control the monster you made. And I had to bring in Clare to keep Liam alive. The last thing we needed is a civilian in this, with a dead father because of me.”

He closes his eyes as he nods. “I’m sorry, Declan.”

“Don’t say you’re sorry. Clean up the mess with his family while I go see Rhonda’s mother.”

Nodding, he leaves.

I ignore the phone ringing on my desk and pull my cell phone.Whoever the hell is calling me can wait. The text from Patrick warned me Rhonda's mom was talking about calling the cops.

“I can’t do it.”The woman says again.

“Ten thousand a month is as high as I can go,” I mutter. I can’t believe the woman is serious.

“Mr. Kelly, if you offered me twenty thousand, I still wouldn’t do it. I’m not raising any more kids. I told Rhonda before she was murdered. It’s why she started working for you. All I was supposed to do was watch him through the night for another week. Five kids, I’ve had five of them—all of them scattered and left me. I’m done with it all. My ticket has been bought, and I have rented the apartment in Spain already. My arthritis doesn’t let me lift him half the time. I’m leaving Chicago in eleven days, and it won’t be with him.”

The woman thrusts the baby into Colm’s arms. Christ, how can a woman be so heartless? He’s a tiny thing for a babe that’s supposed to be six months old. His eyes are a bright blue, and with dimples in both cheeks and even one in his chin, he’s a cute thing. I couldn’t imagine anyone not wanting the babe.

She holds out the diaper bag to me. “Take him and be gone. All of you.”

Fucking hell. Pulling the wad of cash from my pocket, I hand it to her. It’s ten thousand in hundred-dollar bills. “It’s the least we can do.”

Shaking her head. “I’m not allowing you to buy your loss of shame. If you had done what you told her you would, she’d be here now. Fuck you and your money.”

Before I give in to the anger running through me, I leave. I take the baby from Colm so he can drive.

His phone rings before he can pull into gear. He checks the display. “It’s Brenna.”

I hold out my hand for his phone. He’s surprised but hands it to me. “Brenna, it’s Declan. Congratulations. It’s a boy. Where are you?”

“I, um…”

“Where are you? Colm and I are bringing you your first child.”

Colm’s eyes are big as he looks from the baby to me.

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