Page 149 of Illicit Heir

I point to Alaina's now empty gut. "If it were your child—"

"Leave Caireann out of this," Brody snarls, curling his fists at his sides.

Alaina shoots daggers at me with her eyes.

Tense silence fills the room.

I love my niece, but whenever I look at my brother or Alaina holding her, it's another reminder my son isn't with me.

Alaina's expression softens. She asserts, "Let's all stay focused."

I grumble, "We shouldn't have no men inside their clan. We've had no issues infiltrating them in the past. Caleb isn't smart, so how is he finding out who our men are? Somebody's a snitch."

"I agree. Ya two have dropped the ball," Tynan declares, walking into the room.

"Nobody asked your opinion," Brody barks.

Aidan steps into the room behind my brother, his voice booming, "There's something you need to know, Devin."

The hairs on my neck rise. "What?"

He fidgets with his lighter, letting the flame ignite, informing me, "Scarlet just told me she saw one of the O'Leary lasses."

"So?" I question.

He glances at the flame, letting it burn longer than anyone else would, declaring, "Scarlet claims the lass knows information about Lauren and your son."

I step closer. "Who is she?"

"Someone named Maeve."

"Maeve? Why did she come into Belfast?" Alaina asks in surprise.

"What do ya know about her?" I ask, wanting more details about this woman.

"Her father works for the O'Learys. He's a big-time gambler, always running from his debts and then figuring out how to make more," Alaina says.

"What did she tell Scarlet?" I ask.

Aidan flicks his lighter again, and a new flame erupts. "She didn't say much. She insisted she needs to meet with ya and has information about what Caleb's planning."

My stomach churns. I try to push all the bad thoughts about what he might do to Lauren and my son out of my mind. I demand, "Where is she?"

Aidan hands me a piece of paper. "She gave that to Scarlet. She told her ya need to meet her there alone at eight tonight."

I open the paper and look at it. It's a pub in a bad area of town. It's an O'Connor pub, but no one I know ever drinks there. I ask, "Why'd she pick this place?"

Aidan shrugs.

"It's probably a trap," Tynan states.

"Good. You're coming with me, then."

He groans. "Seriously? I have a date tonight."

"I don't give a shit about your date. My son and my woman are in Caleb's hands. What part of this don't ya understand?"

He shakes his head. "Of course ya don't care. Another night lost for me."

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