Page 12 of A Temptation Too Great

He shakes his head and lets out a huff. “You think I’m doing this for a cost? Like, say, a favor? So when you’re an officer, you’ll give me something?”

I notice he said when, not if.

“Well… are you?”

“Lass, I’d do it out of the goodness of my heart, because like you, my boys lost their mam when they were young. I searched until I found her killer.” He points toward the kitchen. “That man in there took my revenge for me.”

I glance toward the kitchen where Seamus is with Fiona.

“He didn’t do it because I ordered it. He did it because what happened to her was wrong. He was avenging her, for her and for himself. She loved him too. But now you have information that, if you shared with your family, could take that man away from us. Will you?”

I look at Niall, then back toward the kitchen. If the person who killed my mam was close by, I’d kill them too. I’d avenge the pain in my heart from losing her. The Bible says an eye for an eye.

I shake my head slowly. “No, I won’t. Can I ask you a question?”

He nods. “I might not be able to answer you, but I’ll try.”

“I like your honesty,” I tell him. “People say you’ve got the police in your pocket. So tell me, is my brother one of them? Is he dirty?”

He leans forward, takes a sip of his coffee, then inhales a deep breath as he considers my question. I’m about to say never mind when he finally speaks.

“I’m not in that game anymore. Aidan would know, and from the conversation we had the other night, I can tell you he’s not in our pockets. I suspect he’s not exactly on the up and up, but that’s for you to figure out. Same with your father. Now, I have a meeting to attend, and you have to get some rest. You are safe. We’ll keep you safe. Keep your eyes open, and don’t trust everyone, even if they have a badge.”

He stands, drops a hundred-pound note on the table, nods at me, and walks out.

I ponder his words all the way home, and even as I lie in bed, they swirl through my mind while I drift off to sleep. I don’t have to become a police officer to solve my mam’s murder. But is it worth it to prove my father and brother wrong? To show them I can do it? I know I can.

Chapter Five

Moira

As I step inside the house, a chill runs down my spine. I had to run out for a couple of hours, and now I’m back. The hair on the back of my neck rises. It’s the same gut feeling I got when Patrick was in our home. I’m listening to that inner voice now.

I go outside and dial my father’s number. Part of me wants to call Brody, but it’s been almost two weeks since he left me alone. I know Niall said he’s not following me anymore for my protection, but it kind of hurts that he took his advice and walked away so quickly.

“Da, something doesn’t feel right. Can you come help me?” I ask when he answers.

“What do you mean, Moira?” He huffs.

“I just got home, and it feels off. Can you come help me search the place? Please.” I can’t believe I have to beg my father for help. I can’t tell him the last time I felt this way was when I was kidnapped. I pace out front, not wanting to go inside alone in case someone is in there.

“I don’t have time for you to act like this. You want to be a police officer, figure it out on your own.”

I hang up just as Deandra and Ronan pull up in Deandra’s da’s car. They all get out, including Carson.

“There’s something wrong,” I tell them. “I left to run to the market, and when I came back, I had this weird feeling. Only the bottom lock was done, and I’m sure I locked the deadbolt too. I also armed the house, but it’s not armed now.”

“Okay. Wait here,” Carson says. He’s a tall, extremely large man, bald and tan complected like Deandra. His voice is gruff and rough sounding.

I shake my head, thinking about how my father just blew me off, yet Carson, who doesn’t really know me, believes me and walks up to the house.

He pulls a gun from his back and steps inside.

“Should we call someone?” Ronan asks.

I shake my head. “I called my father, who’s an officer, but he said I was being ridiculous.”

We wait for another ten minutes, and just as I’m about to go in and help, Carson steps out. He’s on his phone and hangs up as he walks over to us.

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