Page 66 of Bishop's Flight
“But it’s because of me.” She took a deep breath to inhale his scent. Earth and leather and a hint of something fresh and herbal. “It’s because Zasha is fixated on me.”
His arms didn’t loosen, but she felt him freeze when he tried to respond.
“I know, Carwyn.” She lifted her head. “I just don’t know how to stop it.”
“It’s not your fault.”
She closed her eyes and shook her head. “I know I’m not responsible for Zasha’s actions or all the fallout, but I can’t escape that they have remained in the States because they’re obsessed with me. They called me ‘the Irish one.’ I would have been better off facing all this in Ireland with Murphy.”
“Why are you saying that?”
“Things are more tightly controlled there. We both know it.” She pulled away. “Maybe I should go back to Dublin.”
He growled at her. “Fuck no, you won’t.”
“I mean after this.” She shook her head. “I can’t leave now, but maybe I should go back to Dublin after we find Lucas. You don’t have to come, you can stay with Lee, and I’ll ask Murphy when his next boat…” She blinked. “Fuck me.”
“Brigid.”
“Murphy could send a boat.”
Carwyn frowned. “I know that.”
“I think I’ve seen it.” She put a hand on his chest. “Carwyn, I think I know where I’ve seen—”
“Are you Mr. Estrada’s family?”
She spun in Carwyn’s arms and saw a doctor in blue scrubs standing there with a chart in his hand. “No. We’re his friends.”
“I’m his brother-in-law.” Bernard stepped forward. “My sister is on her way. She had to find someone to watch the kids, but I can tell her—”
“Great. Come with me.” The doctor waved him over to the hallway. “I have an update for you guys.”
Brigid patted Carwyn’s shoulder and pointed to Bernard. “You should go with him. I have something to check out.”
He glanced at the clock on the wall. “We only have two hours before sunrise.”
“I have just enough time. We’re already halfway to Oleg’s at this hospital. This will only take fifteen minutes to check. I have a question for Mika and Oleg. I’ll take a cab to their house, ask the question, then find a Formula One racer to take me home.” She nudged him toward the hallway. “Go check on Miguel. I’ll have my phone.”
Carwyn looked at Bernard, then back at Brigid. “Are you sure?”
“Positive.” She patted his arm and started to walk away. “It’s a quick question. I’ll see you at home.”
She tooka taxicab to the gate of Oleg’s neighborhood and stood at the massive wrought iron gates, punched in the house number with a stick, and waited for it to ring.
“Yes?”
“This is Brigid Connor to see Mika Arakas. Is he in tonight?”
There was a pause and some muttering in Russian. “One moment.”
She stood there in the middle of the road while the gates began to open.
“Brigid Connor, Mika Arakas will meet you at Oleg’s gate.”
“Thank you very much.” She walked through the gates, trying to remember exactly how she’d gotten to Oleg’s last time. She could feel three vampires in the area, but they kept their distance.
“Brigid Connor?”
