Page 25 of Sins and Salvation

"Why didn't you come see me?"

Declan's eyes meet mine. This is the hardest question.

"He didn't know about you," I repeat. "We lost touch before I found out I was having a baby."

"But why did you go away?" Conor asks Declan directly.

"I had to leave to keep your mom safe," Declan says. "Bad people wanted to hurt me, and they would have hurt her too."

"The Russians?"

"Yes." Declan tells a white lie. "But I'm back now, and I'm not going anywhere."

Conor sits with this, his face scrunched in concentration. "Do we have to live here with you?"

"No."

"Are you going to live with us? At our house?"

I step in. "We're moving to a new house today. Declan will stay there too, for now, to keep us safe."

"Like a bodyguard?"

Declan smiles. "Something like that."

Conor slides off the couch and stands in front of Declan. "Do I have to call you Dad?"

"You can call me whatever you want."

"Okay." Conor nods, decision made. "I'll call you Declan for now."

"Can I watch another show?" Conor asks, already moving back to his spot on the floor.

"Sure," I say.

Declan and I retreat to the kitchen.

"That went well," he says.

"He's in shock. The questions will come later."

"At least he knows now."

I nod, wrapping my arms around myself. "When can we move to the other house?"

"I'll call Finn to set up security, then we can go this afternoon."

"Thank you."

He touches my cheek. "I meant what I said to him. I'm not going anywhere, Maeve."

I wish I could believe him.

* * *

The townhousein Blackrock is a far cry from the bare-bones safe house. Three stories of red brick and large windows, at the end of a quiet street near the sea. It’s a mansion compared to my council flat.

"Your mother lived here?" I ask as Declan unlocks the front door.

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