Page 148 of Illicit Heir

"No, but she's not heartless."

"Sure she is. She's Alaina O'Connor. Jesus, ya really are naïve, Maeve."

Her face flushes. She lowers her voice, and hurt fills it. "I only wanted to save my father. I really do want to help ya. I didn't mean to put ya in any bad position."

I stare at her, feeling so many emotions that should only be directed at Caleb, but I can't forgive her for what she's done. I understand her father was in a bad position, but he made his own bed. She should have let him sleep in it and left me and my son out of it.

She adds, "I'll go tell Devin. I promise ya, he'll help ya. He has to. It's his son."

My eyes fill with tears. "Don't ya get it, Maeve?"

She stays quiet.

I continue, "Nobody can help me. Devin can't help me. I'm Caleb's prisoner. For the rest of my life, I will be his prisoner. And every waking moment, all I will do is try to protect my baby. The one he knows isn't his child but his enemy's. And he'll do everything in his power to use my son as a weapon for some sick, twisted game of revenge he has against Devin and the O'Connors. And ya helped do this."

A tear falls down her cheek. She swipes at it. "I'm sorry. I really am."

I seethe, "Tell it to my son."

She glances at the baby, opens her mouth, then snaps it shut.

"What, there's nothing else ya want to say?" I goad in anger.

She waits a moment. Intense silence fills the air. She finally just states, "I really am sorry, Lauren. Your baby is beautiful." She turns, walks out, and shuts the door.

My insides quiver harder.

My son looks up and whimpers.

"Hey, there. What's wrong, sweetie?" I ask, stroking his head and giving him another kiss. It takes a moment for me to get him settled in my arms, but he finally does.

As much as I wish I could forgive Maeve or forget what she did, I can't. And part of me thinks maybe I should have let her go to the O'Connors, but it's just asking for more trouble.

They can't do anything.

I'm Caleb's now.

Anything Devin tries will only make things worse. This is my fate.

Now, my only goal in life is to protect my son.

26

Devin

One Month Later

Brody scrubs his face, asking, "What do ya mean, we lost the last one?"

Alaina relays, "They killed him. We have no more men inside right now."

I bark, "How could ya have let this happen?"

She shakes her head. "Come on, Devin. I know you're upset, but—"

The anger I've been holding inside me for too long explodes. "He has my son! He's telling the world my blood is his! And the mother of my child is his hostage. What part about this do ya two not get?"

Brody crosses his arms. "Let's not get into this again. Ya know we understand what's happening."

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