Page 122 of Illicit Heir

"You do?" the barmaid questions with a doubtful expression.

I nod. "Aye, we do. We know all about it, and we understand. We just want to let her know."

"And the other men who came in? You're aware of who they are?" she questions.

I lower my voice. "Aye, we are, and they're not good men. So we should warn her about them too."

The barmaid puts a hand on her hip. "How do I know that ya two aren't the bad men and the other ones are good?"

Her questions make me realize that it has to be Lauren. Why else would someone with her description be hiding in this pub with a co-worker who seems to be keen on protecting her? This barmaid must know Lauren's secrets.

I state, "Lass, do ya really think we're dangerous compared to those men who visited earlier?"

She continues assessing us.

I push, "What did ya tell them? What did they say before they left?"

She admits, "I told them that she'd be in, in..." She glances back at a clock. "Well, twenty minutes."

A chill skates down my spine. "She's coming in, in twenty minutes?"

"Yea," she states, nodding.

"And the men are coming back?"

"Yea. Was that bad of me?" she frets.

I try to reassure her. "No, it's fine. We'll take care of it. But ya can't tell them that we're here. Okay?"

More fear fills her face. "So I did the wrong thing, and I shouldn't have told them to come back?"

I try to stay calm. "It's okay. I told ya we'll take care of it. Just make sure they don't know we're here."

"What are ya going to do? Maybe I should call her and tell her not to come in if it's dangerous?"

"No, it's not. Don't worry, lass. We'll take care of it," Tynan restates, standing up. He downs his shot and then points at the kitchen door. "I assume it's okay if we go in there so that when they come in, they don't see us? After all"—he glances at the clock—"we're getting close, aren't we?"

Anxiety fills her expression.

Tynan adds, "Look, we just want to tell her about her mum, and we don't want the other men to do anything drastic."

"Who are they?" she questions.

I answer, "The men she's been running from. And I don't want to disclose her business. I don't know what she's told ya."

The barmaid sighs. "Okay, ya can go in the kitchen. Let me tell Franco that it's okay you're in there."

"Good lass," Tynan says.

We follow her into the kitchen. The cook looks up. "Why are ya blokes in my kitchen?"

The barmaid explains, "They need to stay back here for a minute. Some men are coming in. We need to ensure they don't hurt Meghann."

Franco puts his spatula down and his hand on his hip. "And why would they hurt Meghann?"

I put my hands in the air. "Look, it's no secret Meghann's not from these parts. Let us do our job and make sure she's safe. We just need to get a message to her about her mum."

"She's on her deathbed!" the barmaid states.

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