Page 68 of Bartered Innocence

“Is my father here?”

António startles and looks back at me, an awed expression on his face, almost like he doesn’t believe I’m here. His eyes glance behind me and he smiles when he concludes I’m alone.

“No, just Gloria and a couple of the busboys. We moved everyone to later tonight. Come, help me prepare.”

Gloria is one of the evening managers, so it’s not odd to hear she’s working a little later in the afternoon.

“My phone died. Perhaps we can call my father? I’d like to see him,” I say, moving to the sink to wash my hands. The nervousness inside me has me feeling conflicted. I can’t tell if I’m waiting for Rian to bust through the door or if something doesn’t sit right with being here.

“Sure. Want to cut up the onions and I’ll give him a ring.”

“I can do that.”

António grimaces. “We had to change the codes to the office. You understand?”

My heart sinks and my tongue feels heavy. “Right, of course.”

Though, I don’t fully understand. I may be Rian’s wife, but I’ll always be my father’s daughter.

He gives me a reassuring smile and slips out of the kitchen. I glance around. Nothing looks out of place and everything is the same as it always was, however, it doesn’t hold the same feeling in my heart. A part of me doesn’t want to acknowledge that Rian may have been right about me simply holding on to this place for my father’s approval. That my love of cooking and the expansion of that knowledge could have been done in front of any stove.

My father changing the codes also stings my pride because this is my home as much as it is his. Ricky and I have worked various jobs inside this building since we were children, and suddenly I’m locked out because my last name differs from theirs.

When António returns, he seems more on edge and gives me a forced smile. I wish I had my phone on me more than ever.

“Ready to get started?”

I nod, grabbing an apron and trying to ignore the ball of dread forming in my stomach.

Chapter27

Rian

The flashof Aodhan’s number on the console screen has Cormac and I exchanging a glance. There’s no reason he would be calling to give an update instead of texting.

“What?” I answer.

“Isabelle is gone. She took one of your father’s cars, left her phone. She put a lock on it.” The roar of an engine through the line has me grinding my teeth, knowing he took to the streets immediately to follow her.

“Call Declan and?—”

“Your father removed the trackers when he was trying to hide his diagnosis. We never reinstalled them,” Cormac interrupts, his knuckles tightening on the steering wheel.

“Track her brother instead,” Cillian says from the back seat.

“Have Declan check her texts too. Call me if you have an update.” I hang up on Aodhan, pull over on the side of the road, and light up a cigarette. I don’t smoke as often, seeing what it’s done to my father, but I need that hit. It’s only a few minutes before Declan is calling.

“I need a few more minutes to get into her phone, but I found her brother. He’s at the bar with Johnny,” Declan says as soon as I answer.

The car is silent, and I’m not sure I heard him right. Glancing at the GPS, I see we’re five minutes from the address.

“What?” I ask. Fury gathers in my chest. If we find Ricky in that bar, a bar we’ve already determined is being run by traitors, it only adds insult to injury. Irrefutable proof that they’re working with Luca, and Johnny is helping him.

“Unless he planted the tracker we had on him, he’s at the bar.”

Cormac shakes his head. “What the fuck.”

“Thanks, D. Now find my wife,” I say through gritted teeth. I don’t want to deal with this right now. I’d prefer to find Isabelle and spank her ass raw, but we need to make an example of the men who dared to betray us. Tossing the cigarette out the window, I speed away, ready to take out my anger.

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