Page 106 of Illicit Heir

"Wait," her mum calls out.

I spin, arching my eyebrows. "Aye?"

"Promise me when ya find her, you'll bring her back to me."

I nod. "I won't keep her from ya, I promise."

"Ya swear on your mother's and father's lives, and anyone else who means anything to ya?" her mum questions.

I hold my hand over my heart. "I do. I will find her, and ya will see her again," I insist, then walk out the door.

I exit the house, trot down the stairs, and slide into the car.

Tynan sits up. "Thank fuck that was fast."

"Shut up," I say.

He groans. "Uh-oh, Alaina on the warpath?"

"No." I start the car and pull toward the gate. I admit, "Lauren's missing."

Tynan grunts. "Missing?"

"Aye. She's been missing since I went to Coolock. Her mum hasn't seen her in two weeks."

"Two weeks? Where would she have gone? Coolock's not that big."

"I don't know. But there's something else. Something her mum won't tell me."

Tynan waits.

"She said something about Lauren that she wouldn't elaborate on. She's holding something important back. We need to go to Coolock."

He scoffs. "We? I'm not going to Coolock."

I glance over at him. "Lauren's missing. You're going to help me find her."

"Are ya being serious right now? I have a million things to do. Coolock is not on my agenda, and I don't care about your missing lass. It was just one night anyway. What do ya care? Why are ya holding on to this bird?"

"Shut up. Go back to sleep," I order. I pull out past the gate and speed up down the street.

My mind races the entire way to Coolock. Something is going on with Lauren, and I need to find out the specifics. The way Kathleen went tightlipped doesn't sit well with me. My gut tells me that I'll only find Lauren if I know the details.

The Coolock sign appears, and I veer away from the main drag toward Emily's house. It takes several minutes, and I pull onto the curb.

"Where are we?" Tynan asks, opening his eyes and looking out the window.

"Emily's"

He groans. "Why are we at that lass's house? Unlike ya, I don't need a trip down memory lane."

I remind him, "Ya didn't seem to have any complaints the night of."

He huffs. "Aye, the night of. I prefer not to see my one-night stands again. Unlike you, apparently."

"Get out of the car," I order, not into his antics. I step out and shut the door.

He begrudgingly follows me, and we hoof it up to the house.

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