Page 130 of Illicit Heir

"Ya better tell me where he's at," I threaten, taking the knife and holding it next to Odhran O'Leary's balls.

He cries out, "I don't know! I keep telling ya I know nothing."

"Ya do," I declare just as my phone rings with the unique tone I gave to Samuel.

Normally, I hate to leave in the middle of a torture session. But I immediately hand the knife to Tynan.

"Keep going," I order.

His eyes narrow, and he steps closer to Odhran.

Aidan pushes Tynan out of the way and flicks his lighter, threatening, "I think we could have more fun than with that knife alone."

"Do whatever ya want. Just make the bastard talk," I assert and leave the room. I pull my phone out and answer, "Samuel, tell me ya have good news for me."

His voice is low as he states, "I know where she's at."

Goose bumps break out along my limbs. I demand, "Where is she?"

"At a bed-and-breakfast in Clifden. I'll send ya the coordinates."

"How do ya know it's her?" I question, tired of feeling hopeful yet knowing I'll follow up on any lead he gives me.

This game of cat and mouse that I seem to be in is driving me insane. There have been a dozen sightings in the last month. Lauren's about eight months pregnant. Every day that goes by scares me more. I must find her before she has the baby so I can ensure they're both safe. If Caleb gets to her before I do, who knows what he'll do.

Samuel's voice turns darker. He adds, "One of the men who work for the O'Learys got behind in his debt."

"And?" I anxiously ask, tapping my hand against my thigh.

Samuel announces, "Caleb was about to kill him, and his daughter, Maeve, showed up. She offered information in exchange for her to clear her father's debt."

I ask, "Who's Maeve?"

"She's a young lass, barely twenty, maybe only nineteen, I don't know. But she claims she was on a seaside trip. She stayed at a bed-and-breakfast, and Lauren's working there."

I run my hand through my hair. "How do ya know it's true?"

"Caleb's holding her captive with her da until he gets back. My gut says she's telling the truth."

I grumble, "I'm tired of these trips that lead nowhere." Over the last month, all these trips have ended with most of the lasses being similar in appearance to Lauren but not actually her. A few barely resembled her. And the longer it takes for me to find her, the more insane I feel.

Samuel relays, "Caleb was clear that if Maeve's lying, he's going to make both their deaths ten times worse. But Maeve insisted that Lauren was there. She said the bed-and-breakfast owners are an older couple. They seem to have taken Lauren in. She also confirmed she's pregnant."

I walk toward the door and grab my keys out of my pocket, stepping out into the daylight. I grimace from the sunlight. I've been in the warehouse for at least a few days, torturing one man after another for information. Yet all it's done is created a pile of dead O'Learys for my brothers and me to clean up.

I point out, "The other lasses were pregnant too."

"It's her. She was insistent no matter how much Caleb threatened her," Samuel insists.

"Send me the coordinates," I order and hang up, getting into my car. I start the engine and drive to the motorway. I veer toward Clifden, determined to retrieve Lauren, letting the hope fill me, even though I know I shouldn't allow it.

Eight months. She's at least eight months pregnant.

I need to get to her before Caleb does.

All I've obsessed over since she went missing is finding her and ensuring she and my baby are safe. Every day, the clock in my head continues ticking louder.

I'm an hour into the trip and glance at my phone, but there aren't any messages. I want to text Samuel, but that would put him in danger. And I can't lose my inside guy.

---