Page 21 of A Temptation Too Great

“She’s staying with me,” I say, my voice rough.

“Don’t worry. I have a feeling something is going on. I’ll have Lex do a deep dive into her communications.”

“I just looked at her phone. Her brother and father texted, but it was nothing more than ‘come home’ and shite like that.”

“There is more. I don’t trust that brother of hers.”

“You and me both. I’m going to need a solicitor here soon. Mick’s piece was murdered, and they actually think it’s him.”

“Mick wouldn’t hurt a fly. Feck. I’ll let the firm know tomorrow. Night.” He hangs up.

I head home. The house is quiet, and Lorcan is curled up on his pillow, tucked beneath the blanket Moira insisted he needed. When I pick him up to take him outside, he smells like her. I’m glad she spent some time with him before she ran off.

Chapter Eight

Moira

I’m still in shock they hired me on the spot, and even more surprised when they told me there’s a flat on the premises I can stay in. The entire building where the practice is located is owned by a silent company, and they keep several condos open above the office. They also gave me a signing bonus to purchase a more professional attire.

I don’t know whether to be offended or excited that I get to spend the money. I hate shopping, but they took care of that too. They passed my sizes along to a woman, who then called a personal shopper for me.

I think back to the interview I had a few weeks ago with the local police station for a dispatcher position. They told me I wasn’t qualified or hirable. I suspect my brother said something to the interviewer, since they mentioned being friends with Eoin. This interview was completely different. They reviewed my CV and asked questions about my school schedule. Both the human resources representative and the investigator seemed surprised that I’ve stayed with the hotel as long as I have while keeping a high GPA at the university.

A small part of me wonders if I’m dreaming, and I pinch myself to prove I’m not.

“Ow,” I whisper, and Saoirse glances over at me.

She’s the personal assistant to the building’s owner, who seems to have taken me under his wing.

“Are you okay?”

“I am.”

Riding the private elevator up to the secure floor, I’m excited to see where I’ll be staying. When they told me it was a three-bedroom, I asked if a couple of friends could stay with me. Saoirse said she’d speak to the owner and get back to me. After lunch, I found out she doesn’t work for the law firm but for the owner of the building.

I feel like I have a fairy godfather or something. He’s instructed her to make my life as easy as possible. I have a car service to take me wherever I need to go, and now all the clothes too. Saoirse gave me a new phone as part of my job and told me to give the number only to those I trust. That means my father and brother won’t have it. I text all the girls to let them know this is my new number.

Saoirse shows me around the condo, and I’m floored by the furnishings and opulence of it all. It’s two stories. I’m shocked they’re giving me this much space. When she leads me upstairs to the master bedroom, I step inside and look at the closet in shock. It’s lined with clothes. My things from the house were already moved in. I look around, feeling a bit off balance and scared. I’ve never been alone like this. I’ve always had Fiona or the other girls.

Both my mobiles ring, the new one in my hand and the old one in my purse. Dread curls in my stomach as I retrieve the old phone. I glance down and relax when I see Fiona’s name on the screen.

“Get to the hospital, now! Giselle’s been attacked,” she cries into the phone.

I then answer the other in shock. “Ari, I just heard. I’m on my way.”

“Hurry. It’s bad. When you get here, tell admissions to page me, and I’ll come give you an update. I started to help, but they made me stop because I know her. Please hurry. I don’t know if she’s going to make it this time.”

“Okay.” Tears are already rolling down my face as I take the elevator down and climb into the waiting car. I didn’t even say a word to Saoirse, but she got everything lined up.

When the car stops outside the ER, Niall is waiting for me. I haven’t even had a chance to call him and thank him properly. I only sent him a quick text earlier. The law firm’s investigator I’ll be working for had a file he wanted me to review. It’s on my mam’s murder. He said it should be my first order of business. When I asked why the practice was investigating it, he explained that sometimes they take on cold cases to see if the police missed anything.

“Have you heard anything?” I ask him as he pulls me into his arms.

“No. Brody is already inside,” he says, and I nod.

When we step through the doors, my eyes find him right away. I expected anger, but instead, relief washes over his face as he strides toward me on those long legs of his. He pulls me close and holds me as I cry. With our hands linked, we move to the counter, and the girls join us.

“Arianna O’Brien told me to come to the counter. We’re here for Giselle Bell.” I shake my head. “I mean O’Connor. She just got married yesterday.” Brody squeezes my hand.

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