Page 130 of Three Irish Kings
I’ll say this for Dare, he doesn’t back down from a fight, even if he knows he won’t win.
“You know just as well as I do there is no operation. Never was. She isn’t Maggie Sullivan.”
“She still knows too much.” I’m speaking around a rock in my throat and trying to ignore the devastation washing over me.
She’s gone. She never cared. She was lying to me when she said all those things, about how we were more alike than I thought.
“Oh, fuck you. What can she possibly know? That we’re gangsters? Everyone knows that, Liam, even your precious employees.”
I take a single step toward him. “Don’t.”
“What are you going to do about it?” Dare bounces on his heels, clearly ready for a fight, and I’m winding up to punch him when Cillian pushes us apart with his hands.
“Stop it.” His voice, usually soft, is now harsh and dangerous. “Stop pointing the finger at Dare, Liam. You fell asleep with her just the other night. We all let down our guard one time or another, just admit it.”
I take a deep breath that rattles in my chest. “You’re right.”
Cillian blinks at me but doesn’t speak. His eyes are bloodshot.
“I’ve already tracked the car.” Dare shows me the ping on his phone. “It's at the bus station. God knows where she is now.”
“We’ll find her. Do the research. Find out who Isla Quinn really is. We’re stupid for not doing it before.”
Cillian heads to the door. “I’ll head to the bus station, see if anyone will tell me anything.”
I nod. “Good. Dare, go with him. I’ll stay here, in case she gets spooked and comes back.”
Dare’s eyes light up with hope. “Do you think she will?”
God, he’s an idiot. He’s still hopeful, still thinks she wants us. But I can’t even bring myself to ridicule him.
I shrug instead, and Cillian walks out to the car.
Dare reluctantly follows, and suddenly, I’m alone in the house.
There are memories here, so many memories of me and Cill, me and my Da before he went off the rails.
But now everything’s replaced. Everything’s different.
The couch, where Isla and I cuddled. The kitchen, where she cooked for me after telling me she couldn’t. The bedroom, where we all took her as ours.
It’s not like I had dreams of marrying her or anything, but I thought...
I guess I thought maybe she really did start to trust me. I thought maybe she’d grown to even like me, because God knows I can’t lie to myself anymore.
Getting to know her was growing to love her, and that’s all there is to it. There was nothing I could do about it.
She’s bright and beautiful and funny, and it was inevitable. I thoughtwewere inevitable. Some part of me wanted her to choose me, choose us.
I was foolish to think she wouldn’t betray us.
Why wouldn't she? I would have done the same thing in her shoes.
And I also would have given away all our secrets to her. And I know Dare and Cill would too. Maybe even did, some.
Which is why we have to find her.
No other reason.
