Page 142 of Illicit Heir

I drive as far as I can until it's time for me to choose my path. I can continue on to Belfast or go to Dublin. My phone rings. I pick it up.

Alaina commands, "Devin, come back home. Do not go to Dublin. You'll get her killed. I know how my brother works."

"Your brother is a dead man walking," I declare.

"No one wants him dead more than me."

I huff. "That's a big statement to make, Alaina."

She asserts, "We both have our reasons. Now, get home so we can come up with a plan. Otherwise, you're going to get her killed and your baby. Ya don't want that, do ya?"

"Of course I don't."

"Then get home. Don't be stupid, Devin." She hangs up.

I debate some more and almost turn toward Dublin but decide she's right. I can't go in there by myself. I need more than my own manpower, and I don't want to get Lauren or our son killed.

My son. I'm going to have a son.

Caleb's going to be the father over my dead body.

I grip the wheel tighter.

"Why didn't Lauren come to me?" I mutter, asking myself for the millionth time. I would've protected her, would've made sure she and our child were safe.

I slam my hand on the steering wheel, tired and beyond frustrated, wanting nothing more than this situation to end. I want Lauren in my arms and my son to be safe.

I drive as fast as I can, getting back to Belfast, ready to do whatever we need to do to ensure that Caleb never sets eyes on anyone again, much less Lauren and our son.

I go directly to Alaina and Brody's. I pull up, and there's a car I don't recognize. It's nothing fancy, and I wonder who it belongs to.

I step into the house and go directly to Brody's office. I don't knock, just throw open the door. My brother, Alaina, and Kathleen are there.

"What have ya done, ya stupid woman?" I accuse.

Kathleen turns her grim expression on me. "I did what every O'Leary would do."

"And what's that gotten ya? What's that gotten any of us? Your daughter is now in Caleb's hands. Do ya know what you've done?" I shout.

Her face hardens. She turns back to Alaina. "What can I do to make your brother change his mind? Tell me."

Alaina shakes her head, her eyes in slits. "Kathleen, ya know Caleb as well as ya knew Tommy. Ya know how they act. Did ya really think he wouldn't discard ya the moment he could?"

"Discard? What are ya talking about?" I question.

The room goes silent.

Alaina gives me an uncomfortable look.

"What are ya talking about?" I demand again.

She glares at Lauren's mum. "Kathleen went to Caleb's today. Lauren said she didn't want to see her again, and Caleb banned Kathleen."

"Serves ya right," I snarl, ready to show her my wrath. This is all her fault. Caleb would never have known Lauren was pregnant if it weren't for her.

Kathleen huffs. "I don't expect ya to understand."

I seethe, "Ya also told him that it's not his baby, didn't ya?"

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