Page 66 of The Thief
I take a long swallow of whiskey, letting it burn away some of the self-recrimination. "I pushed too hard. Scared her off."
"By doing what?"
"By wanting something she's not ready to give."
Stephen nods, understanding. "And now you're beating yourself up about it."
"Shouldn't I be? She trusted me enough to let me close, and I fucked it up by being too eager."
"Did you force her into anything?"
"No."
"Did you ignore her when she said no?"
"No."
"Then you didn't fuck anything up. You just moved faster than she was comfortable with. Happens in relationships."
"We don't have a relationship."
"Don't you?" Stephen leans back in his chair and studies my face. "Because from where I'm sitting, you look like a man who's falling hard for someone who matters to him."
"Doesn't matter how I feel if she doesn't trust me."
"Trust takes time. Especially for someone who's been hurt before."
"And if we don't have time? If Trace makes his move before she's ready to let me in?"
"Then you protect her anyway. Because that's what good men do for the people they care about."
Simple logic, but it helps. Reminds me that this isn't about what I want; it's about keeping her safe until she can decide what she wants.
"Tell me why you called me," I say as I slide my glass onto the table.
"Just trying to process what Sullivan told us. Tell me, do you think he's legitimate?"
"Far as I can tell. His details about Trace's operation match what we already know. Plus, Lorenzo vouches for him."
"And his wife's assault?"
"Hospital records check out. Sarah Sullivan, beaten badly enough to require reconstructive surgery. Filed a police report that mysteriously disappeared two days later."
Stephen nods grimly. "Bastard covered his tracks."
We sit in silence for a moment, both thinking about what Sullivan revealed during our three-hour meeting. Trace Harrington isn't just planning random attacks; he has specific targets and specific timelines. And Alastríona's name is at the top of his list.
"Run through it again," Stephen says. "Everything he told us about the schedule."
I pull out my phone, check the notes I took. "Trace has been in Dublin for three weeks. Three safe houses: one in Ballsbridge, one in Rathmines, one near the docks. He's got twelve men with him, all ex-military."
"Weapons?"
"Enough to start a small war. Automatic rifles, explosives, armor-piercing rounds. Sullivan says Trace has been planning this for months."
"And the target?"
"Henry's house. Tomorrow night, during a family dinner. Not only are Danny and Malcolm in town, but Makenna and Holly are already on their way. He'll be targeting the lot of them."
