Page 44 of An Angel's Share
A. N O’Clery.
The name might as well be in neon lights. Flashing and playing a loud annoying tune.
Evie, always the one with the million dollar question, asks, “Do you still want to be with her, if she is the thief? Will you tell her to put it back? Or ignore it?” Her voice is quiet, and I can see she’s starting to think through the consequences.
“I keep going backwards and forwards on it. I know Marshall and Seamus will say leave it alone. They might not even do anything. Ask me to plug the holes and leave it. Or they might tell her to stop the thieving and let’s all move on. But can you imagine the hurt in either of those scenarios?”
Evie gets tears in her eyes thinking about how upset Marshall is going to be over his niece. He adores her. Even I can’t contemplate that one.
“Are you sure, Jonno? What if she’s been set up? She’s been doing her doctorate. Thissignaturecould be forged.” My sister is even trying to find reasons why it can’t be her. And I know it is all for me, and Marshall. To save us from pain.
“It’s that fucking cask company. She said outright she had gone to see it in California. If she had not told that fucking story, I might agree a bit with you. It’s all a bit basic and obvious, isn’t it. Her name on everything. Even the Cayman accounts. If she was really smart, she would have opened them through trusts and subsidiaries. Bit like you Evie, with your property companies when we were hiding you from Kell. Your name was nowhere near anything. Nonames, no accountability. Just innominate corporations, anonymous companies, and unspecified trusts.”
“Exactly, it’s easy to do. If she’s so smart to embezzle five hundred mil, surely you would hide it a bit. Not print your fucking name at the bottom of the page.” She’s incredulous.
“Maybe that’s the ploy. Be so fucking obvious no one thinks anything about it. Hiding in plain sight. It’s a good idea. Had we not been looking for it, we wouldn’t have noticed a company set up by a family member. I would have assumed it was legit, for the benefit of all. Very inconspicuous. Trades in and out ofO’Clerys.”
“Or maybe someone else has run out of ideas. Used her name, forged her signature. Again, easy to do.” She’s trying to slow my brain down. Keep countering. It isn’t working.
“Why say you’ve been to that fucking company then, when it doesn’t exist? Neither does the other one in New York. Unless you’re trying to throw people off the scent.”
My mind is spinning. I want her, I want our baby, my stomach is in knots thinking around the problems. But I know myself. I won’t be able to leave her alone. Thief schmief.
“I want her regardless. Thief or not, I’m all in, Evie. Too far gone to be rational. I’ll sleep with one eye open. Padlock my fucking wallet. Story of my life.”
She grins at that. “Penance for all your dirty work, like following me around. But seriously, Jonno, do you think you can get past it? I Know you’re a morally grey man, but you try not to be. And you keep us all safe. You do the hard yards, get your hands dirty so we don’t have to. Jackson is the same.”
“Morally grey. Really? That’s how you think of me?” I’m gobsmacked, but she nods, almost laughing.
“One hundred percent, and I love and thank God thatyou are. I did not say I was pure as fresh snow. I’m not, none of us are. And if you look at my press, in some quarters I’m morally bankrupt.” She rolls her eyes at me. “Look at Jackson, what he did in the forces, what he does for a living now. We do what needs to be done. Family above all. We keep each other safe. And if that includes you loving a thief, then so be it. If that is us protecting a thief in the family from jail, then okay. Dr A.N. O’Clery.”
I sit, considering her words. Morally grey. Well my name is Greystone.
“Have I shocked you, brother? If I was bothered I would not have handed my sons over to you to train in the dark arts. All these little ones will come to you and you will do the same for them. All of them. I love who you are, Jonno. And I’m sure Aoife has seen that person. Maybe that’s what drew her in. Maybe that is what enticed you in. Kindred souls. An immoral pairing. A thief and a scoundrel. A match made in heaven. No, sorry, CAshO.” She’s fully laughing now. “I can’t wait to meet her. The red-headed thief. Or was it black-haired?” She’s switching her palms up and down. “Stole the cash and your heart. Typical Jonno Greystone. Never straight forward.”
I’m laughing with her. And it’s not even funny. “I can’t wait for you to meet her. I’ll be very interested in what you think about her.” I sit back, happy to divest myself of all my feelings. “I’m in love, Evie. For the first time in my life, I am in love. And typical, the woman is wild, crazy, and a thief. She’s maybe not as feral as you, but not far off.” I grin at her.
“Feral. I’m not feral. I’m a steady and calm person, sedate and serene.”
We start to cry with laughter. Tears are running down my face. She is as far from serene and calm as any person can get.
The twins come staggering over with Tommy, who is looking very frazzled. Valentina, the nanny, brings baby Rio to be fed. I take the twins for a story, leaving Evie chatting away to Valentina. My mind needs to shut off, and these two little beauties demand your attention so much you can’t focus on anything else.
“Are you sure these two kids are Kell’s? They’re a bit good looking, even for him.”
She peers at me from under her brows. “Don’t start that up again. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten over it. And you might be a lot of things, but blind you’re not.”
I grin at that, tweaking the noses of the mini replicas of Kellen Russell sitting on my knees.
“But at least there’s no one doubting this little girl. You’re beautiful, just like your Papa.” She beams a smile full of love at the baby who is gurgling away. The boys drop to the floor, dragging the books with them.
“She is a gorgeous little girl. You’re a cherub.”
I kiss the baby and feel a pull on my leg as the boys want my attention. Grinning, I take up the story again, and am going again for the third time as we descend into Dublin.
21
Aoife
