Page 71 of Illicit Heir

I think about what to say, but I'm suddenly tongue-tied.

She huffs. "Devin, what do ya want?"

I burst out, "Something's going to happen tonight."

Silence fills the line.

She finally asks, "What's going to happen?"

"I can't tell ya. But I need ya to listen to me and do what I say," I order.

She scoffs. "I'm not doing what ya say. Ya have no authority over me. This needs to end, Devin. Stop with the—"

"There's going to be a blood bath in the pub tonight," I blurt.

Deafening silence fills the air. The sound of her breath picks up.

I soften my voice. "Listen to me, angel. Get your cousins and your mum away from the pub. Go with them and stay with your mum."

Her voice is laced with worry. "What are ya talking about, Devin?"

"I can't tell ya what's happening except that ya need to listen to me."

"I can't just leave the pub unattended. You're going to need to tell me a little bit more than that," she declares.

I squeeze my eyes shut. "I can't," I admit.

"Devin, this isn't funny. You're scaring me."

"I'm sorry, angel. I'm not trying to scare ya."

"Stop calling me angel."

I blow out a breath of frustrated air. "Lauren, I need ya to listen to me and do what I say."

"Stop saying that. I already told ya, ya don't have authority over me."

"This isn't about that. This is about ya staying safe and not dying tonight."

Her voice shakes when she replies, "I will not let someone destroy my pub again. If your people are out there to hurt me and destroy my pub, then I should call Caleb right now."

I angrily warn, "Listen to me! It's not about ruining your pub. And this isn't in my hands. I'm telling ya, it won't be safe for ya, your mum, or your cousins. Do not stay in the pub tonight. Ya need to go somewhere else."

"I will not leave my pub to be destroyed," she claims.

I bang my head against the window. "Stop being stubborn."

"I need to tell Caleb. He'll protect the pub."

"He can't. Trust me."

There is silence on the other end of the line.

"I'm trying to protect ya," I admit.

"Who's coming after us if it's not you?"

"I can't tell ya that," I state.

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