Page 68 of Dust to Dust

“I’m off to Southborough.”

When I reached the door of the terrace, I remembered not receiving my apology. Turning back, I said, “Over breakfast, maybe Callum can acquaint you with his little aversion to vomit.”

As Callum’s face turned the shade of an eggplant, I burst out laughing, and I didn’t stop until I got into the car.

When I reached Isla’s house, I parked behind the security van. Even though I’d neutralized the threat to Isla’s immediate safety, there were still measures I wanted to undertake. I’d kept a bodyguard at her house after she returned from the hospital. I’d also called out our clan security company to come put a system in her house.

After I exited my car, Fergus, the bodyguard, strolled up to meet me. “Morning, boss.”

“Morning. Everything went okay last night?” I’d received the news when Isla had arrived home from the ER around midnight. Fergus had also texted me when Isla had Mabry sneak out around six am.

“All quiet. The sister left about twenty minutes ago. I put a tracker on her car last night. It appears she’s at the gym.”

“Good call. And thank you.”

“No problem.”

“You can head on since I have Shane with me.”

Fergus nodded and then headed back to his car. I turned to surmise the modest, but well-kept two-story house that Isla called home. As I made my way up the front walk, I imagined she had a good childhood growing up here. It was a nice neighborhood that appeared safe.

At the sight of the ancient doorbell, I rolled my eyes. “Jaysus,” I muttered under my breath. Not even a doorbell camera to make sure Jack the fucking Ripper wasn’t at her door. In this day and age, could Isla really be so naïve? As intelligent as she was, it couldn’t be an aversion to technology.

“Who is it?” she called from behind the mahogany door.

“It’s Quinn.”

Silence echoed after my statement. I shifted on my feet. Maybe I should’ve called first. After everything that transpired last night, maybe her feelings had changed in the light of day. To see me would be a reminder of what had happened.

Finally, I heard the snapping of locks. At least she had the presence of mind to keep things locked up tight.

When the door swung open, my heart dropped into my stomach. While I’d feared extensive bruises on her face and neck, nothing could’ve prepared me for what I saw.

In Isla’s arms she held a dark-haired, dark-eyed baby boy. At the sight of me, his mouth stretched into a gummy grin.

Fuck me.

Isla was a mother?

None of my intel had unearthed a baby. Was his father around? Had she been hiding another man from me? The fragile strands of my sanity snapped at the thought of losing her before she was even truly mine.

After shifting the baby to her hip, Isla smiled warmly at me. “Hi, Quinn.”

Without even a hello, I demanded, “Is he yours?”

Isla’s cheeks flushed. “No, no. He’s my sister’s, remember?”

“You never told me about him.”

“Yes, I did. At my audition.” A sheepish look came over her face. “One of the many times my mouth got away from me.”

Relief flooded me. Not that I cared if she had a kid. While they weren’t on my top list of priorities, I didn’t rule out becoming a father one day.

No, my relief came from the fact there wasn’t another man.

Now that she mentioned it, I vaguely remembered something about her sister being a teen mother. I wasn’t surprised I had forgotten since that night was such a mind fuck. “Your sister is at the gym,” I said.

Isla’s brows furrowed. “Wait, how did you know that?”

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