Page 122 of Beyond Protection
I looked at his scarred knuckles and callused palms.
"She was in my room," I said quietly. "Touched my things. Left her smell."
"I know."
"Ma's house was supposed to be safe."
"I'm sorry. We didn't watch closely enough. I should have—"
"Don't. She's been making plans for eighteen months. She knew the market was a trap. So she came here instead."
Footsteps marched up the stairs. Michael appeared with Marcus behind him.
"What happened?"
Eamon handed over the card.
Michael's free hand clenched into a fist. "When?"
"Today. While we were at the market."
Marcus took the card and looked at me. "You okay?"
I nodded.
"Claire and Ma need to know. And Clairmont. We need to increase the frequency of surveillance sweeps."
"Already on it," Michael said, texting rapidly. "Sweep team, thirty minutes."
More footsteps. Ma appeared, Claire behind her.
"What's going on?" Ma saw my face. "Cormac?"
Michael handed her the card.
Ma spoke softly. "She was in my house."
"I'm sorry," I said.
"Sorry?" Ma's eyes flashed. "You think I'm angry with you? That woman violated my home. Threatened my family." She looked at Marcus. "Tomorrow night. You're still going?"
"Eighteen hundred assembly. Twenty-one hundred breach."
"Good, because I want to see her in handcuffs."
Claire stood in the doorway, hands shaking.
"Mom," I said.
She looked at me. Her eyes were damp with barely withheld tears. "You're not going alone."
"I know."
"Promise me."
"I promise."
She nodded once. Sharp. Then turned and walked back downstairs.
