Page 38 of An Angel's Share
But now there’s her. The fire that burns so intensely, it calls me to throw myself into it, again and again. So fucking colourful, full of emotion, vibrant and full of fascination.
And then there is still the potential she is the thief. The Fraudster. My fucking heart won’t withstand that. Unless I choose to ignore it. Disregard the fact that a lot of evidence is pointing to her.
I go back to James’s call. The one where he told me he’s also been to the site in California. Definitely no casks, no storage. So her story that she went there doesn’t hold up.
We haven’t been able to tell via the security measures I installed in the company last year how the thief was stealing. Nothing has been triggered. So the person must be old school, hiding in plain sight. Setting up businesses and faking invoices.
James has found a second business in America set up the same as the original fake storage and cask company. Jackson sent an investigator. Again, nothing there, an empty lot. The invoicing for both companies is ginormous—millions sitting in the companies, nothing moved out for three years, just more pouring in on a monthly basis.
James easily hacked the accounts. Their security is not up to our standards—bad for them, great for us. Whoever it is, they’re good at moving the money, just not hiding it or keeping it safe.
But maybe that’s the ploy. Hide it in plain sight. Dodgy moves may instigate people looking closer. Leave it alone, nothing happening. Nothing to see.
And now the next blow. Yet another company, set up in our stomping ground of the Isle of Man. One of the best places in the world to have trust companies and hide ownership. There’s even a subsidiary company set up andoperating out of the Cayman’s. Tax havens. I need to go see our security guy in Douglas—the capital of the Isle of Man—run down the nitty gritty, as well as chase the threads I can on the internet.
As first light hits, the light creeping through the curtains, I gently shake her, trying to wake her. “Aoife.” I hate to do it, she looks so peaceful. The baby starts moving and I stroke her stomach as she stirs to life.
“Is he hungry?” I smile into her sleepy eyes. She nods, her brain not firing as yet. “Shall I go get us some breakfast?” She shakes her head, as she tries to shut her eyes again.
“Baby, I need to leave today. I’ve got to go get Evie.”
Her eyes snap open, a worried look appearing on her face. “No, Jonno. Can’t Marshall go? I need you to stay.” She can hardly get the words out.
“I don’t want him to leave your dad. I’ll be two days maximum. I’ll be back for the meeting. Back for you. I’d say come with me, but I’m going to fly there and back with her and all the kids and nannies.” I roll my eyes at her.
“Can’t her husbands fetch her? Especially If she needs so much assistance.” She’s pouting at me now.
“No, they’ve headed to LA. Emergency with Bucky. Evie will come and look at the things here that we want her to. Make some plans for you. Then she’ll go to LA, too. To be honest, I think she’ll end up staying there for a while. But I haven’t said that to Marshall. Jackson is there, so are the boys.”
“Will you go?” Tears have sprung to her eyes.
“No, I’m here with you and the baby. So, no.” I put my hands on her tummy. I need to reassure her. “Hey, little one. Can you look after your mammy for me? I’ve got to go getyour Aunty Kitten and your cousins. Can’t wait for you to meet them all. They’ll love you as much as I do.” I continue caressing her, stroking her skin. “I’m not leaving you, Aoife. Just hang in there ‘til I get back, okay. And don’t you get moving out,” I tell the baby. “Stay snug in your mammy’s tummy.”
I turn her head towards me. “We’ve done the hard part in telling your dad. He’s fine. Stick with Marshall and your dad. They’ll stop Liam harassing you. But I did hear him say he was going to Dublin. So he may not be here for a couple of days anyway.”
She nods her head, and I wipe the tears that have started. Fuck it. I won’t go. Nothing is as important as her, as them.
“Look, I won’t go if you’re so upset. Let me ring Evie and see?—”
“No, it’s fine, Jonno. Go collect her. I’m just being silly. I’ve managed for nearly six months without you, and I’ve only had you with me for a really short time. It’s crazy behaviour. Go, I'll be fine.”
I kiss her, and she deepens the kiss. I’ll never be able to go. I’m already late to the helicopter. And I’m not even a little upset about it.
The helicopterfrom Killclery to Douglas is a short hop. But being away from her feels like forever already. Thank god the Isle of Man is in the middle of the Irish Sea, and so near. A pitstop to London. It takes me no time at all to track down the information I need. Our security guy who lives there has done a lot of my dirty work for me.
We work through the night, and by the time I land backin London the next day, my head is spinning. My sister is at our old house, with my brother Jude being manhandled—or should I say kid handled—by Evie’s rogue twins. All their luggage is ready to go. Tommy, her security, is reloading the car I pulled up in.
My mind is in a tailspin processing the information I found in Douglas. Thinking about all the paperwork with the company that was set up around the distillery. I need to ponder about what this means. ForO’Clerys, for the family, for Aoife, and eventually for us.
“What’s the matter, Jonno? You’ve got a weird look in your eye, brother.” My sister is the eagle eyes of the family. That is partially why I want her in Ireland. She can read people so fucking good. We never get anything past her, and I need that skill set nearby. I don’t trust my judgement. Especially now Aoife is playing with it, twisting it until I’m not sure which way is the right way to go.
“I’ll tell you on the way. I’ve got lots to fill you in on.”
She raises her eyebrows at me. “Is it to do with Aoife? Seamus’s girl?”
I stare open-mouthed at her. She’s part witch, I’m sure. “Why would you assume that?” She flabbergasts me at times.
She shrugs, her witch senses working just fine. “Kell told me you introduced her to them. So did James. Marshall keeps bringing her into the conversation, and not just about whiskey, about personal stuff. Honestly, you lot are so transparent.” She rolls her eyes. “You mentioned her when I phoned. Jackson told me about the mystery cask companies. So all roads are leading to Aoife.” She pauses. “And you look terrible in one way, and amazing in another. I’ve seen the look before. Kell had it when I was pregnant with the twins.And Xander when I was carrying Rio. They are both carrying it at the minute.”
