Page 90 of Illicit Heir

My stomach twists. I have mixed feelings about Alaina, as do my cousins. I always wanted her to rule the O'Learys instead of Caleb. She's tough, but I assume she would've at least tried to care for us women better than Caleb. Maybe things would've changed, but she went over to the O'Connor side, and that was a shocker. The idea of aligning with the O'Connors after being so loyal to the O'Learys all these years feels wrong.

"Well, do ya think it's from her?" Emily asks again.

"I don't know."

"What if it is?"

"Does it matter?" I question, suddenly wondering what does matter anymore.

"Well, if it's not from her, do ya think it's from the guys?"

I rise and go to the window, staring out at the road. "Why would the guys give us money?"

"Well, Devin warned ya. He must care something about ya," she asserts.

My heart hurts. I don't know what to think about Devin. I curse the day he came to my pub that's no longer mine. Yet, I'd probably be dead if it wasn't for him.

Emily blurts out, "Maybe they're going to take care of us. Maybe... I don't know. Maybe this is a good thing?"

I jerk my head back. Never in a million years did I think we would be having this conversation. I turn and stare at the boxes and shake my head. "No. They've taken everything away from us. There's no way this is a good thing."

"Then what are we going to do?" she asks.

"Well, you have your €10,000. You've got some time to figure it out," I say.

"I'll give ya some. Don't worry. I won't let your mum and ya suffer," she assures me.

I can't help but smile. I soften my tone. "Thanks, Emily, but Mum and I'll figure it out."

"How? They took the pub," she says, as if I don't know it.

I take a deep breath. "I'm not sure, but we'll figure something out. Go take care of your da."

She hesitates.

I add, "It's okay. Do what ya got to do, girl."

The door opens, and Mum walks back in.

I say, "I have to go now. We'll talk later."

"Okay, bye," Emily says and hangs up.

I put my phone in my pocket.

Mum looks at me suspiciously. "Who was that?"

"It was Emily."

"What did she want?" Mum asks.

I shrug, not ready to reveal what Emily told me. "She just wanted to know if we were okay."

"Okay? I don't think we'll ever be okay again," Mum declares, and my heart sinks further.

She sets a bag on the table, takes a box out, and holds it in front of me.

I glance at it and a cold sweat breaks out over my skin. "Why did ya buy that?"

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