Page 118 of Illicit Heir

"You've got to stop this," Brody demands.

I cross my arms and clench my jaw, giving him the same expression I'd given him the last time he lectured me.

He points at me. "I mean it. You've been shirking your duties. Ya have to stop this obsession ya have with this girl."

I stay silent.

He steps closer. "Ya have responsibilities. Do I need to remind ya of them?"

"No, ya don't," I state, walking away. I slam his office door and leave the house.

Alaina calls out, "Devin."

I ignore her. I'm tired of Brody and Alaina telling me what to do. And while my brother may be right that I've slacked a bit, nothing's falling apart. There's no way I'll ever stop looking for Lauren, so he can kiss my ass.

I get into my car and peel down their driveway, beeping the horn so the gate opens and I don't have to stop. I drive through town, and my phone rings. I glance at the screen and my heart races faster. I answer, "Samuel."

He says in an emotionless voice, "Caleb and I are heading out to the mountains."

"She's up there?" I say, my pulse beating faster.

"She's been spotted. A tall woman matching her description, with strawberry-blonde hair and blue eyes."

"Where?" I demand.

"She's working at a pub, and she's pregnant, so it's got to be her," Samuel relays.

"Send me the coordinates," I order, then hang up and debate about who I want to take with me. If Caleb and Samuel are going to be up there, I might run into trouble. It's best if I don't go alone.

I could take Brogan or Cathal, but they're both on the other side of town. So I call Tynan.

He asserts, "Don't give me anything to do today. It's my day off."

"I'm picking ya up in two minutes. I'm right down the street."

He groans. "Not today, Devin. I've been working the last two weeks without any time off."

"I don't care. I need ya to come with me. Now, I'll meet ya outside." I hang up before he can say anything else, and I speed the rest of the way there. When I get there, I text him.

Me: Here.

Tynan: You're a bastard.

Me: Tell me something I don't know. Now get your ass down here.

It takes another few minutes until he appears, stepping out of the building. He begrudgingly walks over to the car and gets in, snapping, "What the fuck is the urgency? I left a lass up there who's dying for it."

"I don't give a shit about your lass," I answer and take off before his door's shut.

"Devin, where are we going?" he questions.

"Lauren's been spotted," I announce.

He groans. "Not again. How many of these little scenic tours are we going to do?"

I angrily spout, "As many as we have to until we find her, but we're going to find her today. She's been spotted in a pub."

"Just like the last few pubs," he mutters.

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