Page 139 of Illicit Heir

"I want you to let me go," I declare.

He takes his hand and slaps me.

The sting crawls up my face like it did in the car. I squeeze my eyes shut. My chest tightens and my heart pounds faster.

He grabs my chin and forces me to look at him, warning, "Ya better learn how to respect me. Ya will be my wife, and my wife will never speak to me in that tone. Now get your ass back upstairs and get your clothes off."

Tears fall fast down my cheeks.

He turns toward Mum, stating, "And you..." His smile turns more sinister. He orders, "Don't ever step foot in my house again."

24

Devin

Patrol cars are everywhere. Someone called the garda. Every bed-and-breakfast I go to, they're crawling around, so I have to wait for them to leave.

I'm almost to the last place when an ambulance flies past me. Goose bumps break out on my skin, and I follow it.

I park down the street and see caution tape is blocking off the front yard of the bed-and-breakfast. I watch, hoping to spot Lauren, but she never appears.

Instead, an old man on a stretcher and a sobbing woman, who I guess is his wife, get into the ambulance. When it takes off, my gut tells me to follow it, so I do.

I don't know what happened, but surely Caleb's been there. Why else would there be a crime scene?

The ambulance drives fast to a hospital and pulls up to the emergency doors. A staff of medical people rush out and help get the man inside. The woman follows, still distraught.

I park my car and go inside, keeping a low profile, hoping to catch the woman when she leaves the room.

The night turns into morning. I grow antsier, but she finally steps out and walks down the hall to the beverage machine. She slides some coins into the slot for a cup of coffee.

I cautiously approach her, saying, "Ma'am, I don't want to scare ya."

She freezes, and tension mounts in the air between us.

"Ma'am," I restate.

Her shaking hand reaches for the cup of coffee. She takes a sip, then spins toward me. The lines on her face are deep and she looks tired, but something about her also screams that she's kind.

She must know Lauren.

I wait for her to speak, but I'm also suddenly tongue-tied and afraid I'll spook her.

She stares at me and finally asks, "You're him, aren't ya?"

I nod, not knowing what she knows, but state, "If ya mean Devin O'Connor, then yes, I am."

She doesn't look scared but doesn't look comfortable either. Her eyes well with tears, and she blinks so they don't fall. Then her expression turns angry. She seethes, "Did ya come to hurt her too?"

My heart pounds harder. "What did he do to her?"

She swallows harder, informing me, "He took her."

"I need to know what happened."

She studies me further, as if unsure whether she should trust me or not.

I glance behind us, then lower my voice even more. "I know I'm a bad man, but he's worse. And I can assure ya I will not hurt Lauren or her baby."

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