Page 84 of Redemption

He rubs the back of his head. “Eventually, maybe. She’s not sure about kids. We’ve got a lot to sort out once this version of our life is done. I reckon we can’t live like this forever, but she’s not ready to quit.”

“Christ, you picked a complicated one, didn’t you?” I chuckle. The women who came before Kim were brief flings, glossy, with little substance. Pretty women who serviced his dick but didn’t touch his heart. Suppose we weren’t so different in that regard.

He sighs. “And like you, I wouldn’t change it for all the power and money in the world. ’Tis a tough thing to reconcile sometimes, though. How much a heart can love. How one person can so completely consume you.”

He passes a car, and I gaze out the window, thinking about our history together. “We should have talked more.”

Lorcan lets out a mirthless laugh. “Talked more?” He raises his fist. “We were men of action. What would be the point of talking?”

I smirk and shake my head. “Might have done both of us some good, maybe. When I’m out, and you and Kim have done your time with the CIA, you should come to Cape Verde for a beer… or two.”

The GPS speaks through our phones, a reminder for Lorcan to take the next exit. He doesn’t comment on my suggestion, but a comfortable silence lapses between us.

Lorcan turns down the long farm laneway, and wariness coils in me. The other vehicle full of Thomas’s men follows behind us. Ahead, the charred remains of the farmhouse looms.

“Doesn’t look good.” Lorcan mutters. The SUV crawls along as the gravel cracks and pops under the tires.

“As long as the barn is still standing…” The sentence doesn’t need to be finished because the barn behind the farmhouse becomes visible. A cement foundation and a pile of charred wood. We park well back from the destruction and remove our guns. We signal for everyone to stick close together as we approach the buildings, keeping an eye on any of the secondary structures for people or animals. Gone are Francois’s gruff brother, the barking dogs, and the smattering of farm animals.

We designate people to search every structure, and then we stand at the edge of the burned barn. Lorcan steps in and wades through the debris while I try to make sense of the carnage.

“Do you think they’re dead? Francois and his brother?”

“Aye.” Lorcan points at a boot in the rubble. There’s still a foot attached.

“The McCaffrey family seeking retribution?” The other option isn’t comforting. “Or the PLA making an adjustment to their crew?”

“Could be either,” he admits. “Francois is no use to us now. We could try to contact some lads at the pub. I doubt they’re all dead. Could be an ambush or a waste of precious time.” Frustration colors his voice.

“Let’s see if anything useful survived, since we drove here.” I take up the search with Lorcan, picking through debris, overturning beams, looking for discarded papers or anything the PLA might have forgotten.

When my phone buzzes in my pocket, I take it out to check the display.

Thomas.

I’m inclined to ignore him, but this trip looks like a bust. Maybe he’s got better news, or he needs his men back. Best I don’t send his call to voicemail.

“This has been a waste of time,” I say by way to greeting. “I hope you’ve got better news.”

There’s the briefest hesitation, as though Thomas is holding his breath. “Carys’s father called her asking for help. She insisted on going to him in Kilkenny. I sent her with seven guards and armored cars. They were supposed to check in once they’d made contact. I haven’t heard from any of my men.”

I stare out into the fields, his words dropping like boulders. My heart does a funny thing, as though it can’t decide if it should stop in its tracks or start racing. “When was this?”

“Too long ago. I’ve got another group of men headed there, but you’re as close to Kilkenny in Cork. My man will send you the GPS coordinates.”

I hang up on him before a slew of curse words escapes. “Get in the cars,” I yell out across everyone searching. Everyone stops in their tracks to stare at me. “Now!”

“What’s happened?” Lorcan jogs beside me toward the car.

My phone beeps with the GPS coordinates, and my stomach clenches. “Carys has been ambushed in Kilkenny. Thomas called.”

“Why was she in Kilkenny?”

“Excellent question.” I clench my jaw so hard I can barely get the words out. “Charles called her.”

“Fecking hell.” Lorcan starts the car and whips it around to race down the driveway.

“If the PLA does anything to her,” my voice cracks, “I’ll hunt every single member to the ends of the earth.” There’ll be no redemption for me if anything has happened to her.

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