Page 152 of Illicit Heir

She blinks hard and looks down. "I promised Lauren I would help her, even though she doesn't want my help."

My brother is right in some ways. She is an O'Leary. So why is she here? So I question, "Now, why would ya do that, lass, when you're an O'Leary?"

It takes a moment for Maeve to look up, and regret and guilt swirl on her face. "I did something bad."

I curl my fist under the table. "What was that?"

Her lip quivers harder. She opens and shuts her mouth, squeezing her eyes so tight wrinkles form at the corners.

"Tell me," I demand.

She finally opens her eyes, locking them on mine. "Caleb was going to kill my father. He gambled more money than he had. And I knew where Lauren was."

"How did you know?" I question.

"I was at the bed-and-breakfast. It was just a coincidence. She made me promise her I wouldn't tell anyone. But I didn't know how else to save my father."

Tynan whistles. "So you ratted her out? Nice friend ya are."

"I didn't have a choice," Maeve declares.

"Ya always have a choice. Ya should learn that," Tynan claims.

"Shut up," I order, giving him a warning look.

He shakes his head in annoyance.

I refocus on Maeve. "So you're how Caleb found her?"

She looks ashamed but nods. "Yea. And I'm sorry. I just want to make it right. I didn't want my dad to die, and I didn't want to hurt Lauren or the baby, but I didn't know what to do."

I ask what I hope is a no. "Has he hurt the baby?"

Maeve shakes her head. "Not that I'm aware of."

"And Lauren? What has he done to her?" I ask, fearful of so many things.

And it hits me how much I want Lauren as mine. How much it's been bugging me that she's not with me and I haven't protected her.

Maeve swallows hard. "She's okay right now, but he's going to force her to marry him. I-I thought maybe ya could stop it."

I take the piece of paper and glance at it. Then I slide it into my pocket. "How do I know you're telling the truth?"

"I am telling the truth. Why else would I come here and risk my life?"

"Because ya want to trap us," Tynan repeats.

I slap the back of my hand on his thigh. He shuts his mouth.

Maeve glares at him again and insists, "I'm not trying to trap ya. I'm just trying to help ya so that Lauren and the baby can escape Caleb's claws."

My stomach flips. "I'll tell ya what. I'll do what I can. However, if this is a trap, I guarantee ya that ya will pay for it with your and your father's lives. Do ya understand me?"

"I'm not lying. I just want Lauren and the baby to be safe. It's the least I can do after what I did."

"Now you have a conscience," Tynan taunts.

Maeve's face turns red.

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