Page 140 of Illicit Heir

She stays quiet.

I add in a firm voice, "My baby."

Her eyes narrow.

More determined than ever to find her, I add, "If Caleb has her, it's not good. Ya need to tell me everything so I can help her."

The woman's expression shows her helplessness. "We tried to protect her. We did. But he knocked my husband out, and, well..." She turns away, wiping tears off her face.

I wait.

She sniffs hard and lifts her chin, announcing, "He's still not awake." She turns, squeezing her eyes shut as if trying to control her emotions, then her shoulders tremble.

I put my hand on her arm.

She takes a minute, then gives me a hardened look. "What do ya want with her, Devin O'Connor?"

"I want to protect her and my baby."

"How do I know ya don't want to hurt her?"

"I've never tried or wanted to hurt Lauren," I insist.

She doesn't move. I wait for her to speak, trying to gain her trust, not breaking my gaze from hers.

She finally says, "We've always stayed out of trouble. We never wanted anything from the O'Learys or the O'Connors. We just wanted to live our lives in peace. I think that's what Lauren wants too."

My stomach curls. "Ma'am, I assure you I will not hurt Lauren. But if Caleb has her—"

"He does," she interjects, solidifying what I already know. And then she adds, "If ya know he has her, why are ya here?"

It's a good question. I should've gone straight to Dublin. But I admit, "I need to know details in order to rescue her. Is the baby okay? Has Lauren been okay?"

Something passes in the woman's eyes. I don't know what it is. Is it compassion? Pity, maybe? Whatever it is, it quickly disappears. She lifts her chin, straightens her shoulders, and says, "She was fine. But now, that thug has her. And..." She stares at me.

"And what?"

She cautiously declares, "He knows it's not his baby. He knows it's yours."

I jerk my head back, and everything inside me drops. My chest tightens so fast I can barely breathe. "What do ya mean?"

"He knows. He told her he knows," the woman repeats.

I let it sink in, but it's worse than I thought. If Caleb knows it's my child, he'll use the baby to get to me. I question, "You're sure he knows?"

She nods. "Yes. Please don't hurt her."

"I promise ya I will not hurt her," I state again.

She swallows hard. "Then why are ya here? Go find her. She doesn't deserve to be treated the way he'll treat her. He already slapped her once."

Rage fills me. I curl my fists at my side, asking, "When?"

"At our place."

I tighten my fist, wishing Caleb's face was in front of me. I vow, "I will find her. And thank ya, ma'am. Ya will be rewarded for your loyalty to her and my child."

"I don't need to be rewarded. I just want Lauren and your son to be okay," she claims.

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