Page 92 of Illicit Heir

Devin

I groan. "What do ya mean they wouldn't accept the pub back?"

Alaina crosses her arms. "Lauren's mum refuses to pledge her allegiance to the O'Connors."

My gut flips. Of course her mum wouldn't. She's as stubborn as a mule, from what I hear. Still, I ask, "Did ya talk to Lauren?"

Alaina nods. "She won't go against her mum."

"So they don't want the pub back?"

"No, I didn't say that," Alaina states.

I wait.

She leans against her desk and relays, "They want the pub, but they don't want to make an allegiance to the O'Connors. And I can't give it to them if they don't. Ya know this."

I know the laws and the rules. My dad made most of them. Still, Alaina can break whatever rule she wants if she really wants to. I try to stay calm. It was a lot for me to convince her to go to Coolock and offer the pub back to Lauren and her mum. So I suggest, "Maybe there's a way around it."

She arches her eyebrows. "And what would that be? Ya know that we can't take over territory and let people stay in their positions without making an allegiance to the O'Connors. It doesn't work like that, Devin, and you're not naive."

I don't argue with her. I head toward the door.

She calls out, "Devin, don't go to Coolock. You're still to stay away from Lauren."

I spin. "I'm going to convince them to take it. That's all."

"Don't," she warns.

I scowl, arguing, "Why? What's the big deal, Alaina? It's been over a month. We have the territory. There's no risk, and we have nothing to worry about being there. So let me go talk to Lauren and her mum."

Alaina tilts her head. "And what are ya going to admit to her mum?"

My heart beats faster. "I'm not admitting anything to her mum. I'm just going to go talk to them."

Alaina scoffs. "Ya think she's going to listen to you over me? I used to be one of them. I have a previous relationship with them."

I shrug. "I don't know. All I do know is I have to try. And you're not going to stop me." I open the door and walk out, slamming it. I get in my car, not checking it for bombs, and turn it on. I leave Alaina in Brody's mansion and drive for hours toward Coolock.

The closer I get, the more my nerves take over.

I haven't seen Lauren since the night before the pub massacre happened. She's ignored my calls and texts, driving me crazy. As much as I've tried to forget about her and stay away, I can't.

When I'm not thinking about her, all I'm doing is trying to find Caleb. I'm on a mission to take him down, and I will. It's become an obsession for me, even interfering with my work and daily life, but I can't stop it.

I cross the border into the city, and everything about the town feels different. It looks the same though. If you didn't know what happened, you wouldn't be any wiser. But I do, and I see our men everywhere where O'Learys used to stand guard.

It doesn't take long to get to the pub. I pull up and go inside, then I freeze.

I shouldn't be surprised. Alaina told me there were new barmaids—women who have sworn allegiance to the O'Connors. Yet, it just feels wrong.

One looks at me, beams, and chirps, "Guinness? Whiskey? Something else?" She gives me a suggestive look.

I ignore her. I go over to the staircase and open the door.

"Where are ya going? That's private, and ya can't go up there!" she calls out.

I spin. "I'm Devin O'Connor. Learn your manners."

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