Love and Shamrocks: Ballybeg, Book 5

by Zara Keane

  “I’ve punched Trevor O’Leary so often in my dreams. I won’t deny that,” she said, “but I have enough humanity not to act on that impulse. All I asked Ray to do was have his guys talk to O’Leary. I figured a show of muscle would be sufficient to send that coward scuttling.”

  “It’s okay, Clio. Your story checked out, and I’ve kept my word. No one knows about this apart from you, your mother, and me.”

  “And Ray.”

  He sighed. “And Ray. I’m hoping he’ll have enough to worry about after tonight not to harass you.” His phone beeped. “I’d better go. I’m due for a last-minute strategy meeting with the super and the specialist team who’ll be helping us tomorrow night.”

  At the door, they lingered, neither one wishing to say good-bye.

  Finally, he dropped a kiss on her cheek. “Are you working tonight?”

  “No,” she whispered, inhaling his scent greedily.

  “Want me to call round? I’m off duty tonight. With Colm MacCarthy Junior and Ben Driscoll in custody, I’m unlikely to be called out on an emergency. Might as well make the best of our hanging-around time before the clock starts ticking.”

  “That would be lovely. I finish work at eight. Is nine too late?”

  He smiled. “Nine is perfect. See you then.”

  ***

  Despite her brave words from earlier, Clio was feeling the first stirrings of panic by the time Seán rang the doorbell later that evening. She cradled Travis in her arms and opened the door.

  “Hey,” he said, searching her face. “You look stressed.”

  “Just a little.” She pushed a stray strand of hair back from her cheek and stood aside to let him in. “Thanks for coming round this evening. The house seems enormous all of a sudden.”

  That made him laugh. “This house is enormous.”

  “Well, you know what I mean. It never felt scary big before.” Wrapping her shawl around her shoulders, she led the way toward the TV room. “I didn’t hear your car. Did you have it on stealth mode?”

  “No,” he said with a grin. “I cycled. Not having a gym nearby makes it harder to keep in shape. I try to run and cycle whenever I have the time.”

  “Can’t you use a police gym?”

  “I can and I do, but the nearest one is in Cork City. I don’t make it there more than twice a week. If I want to get transferred back to the NBCI, I have to be in top physical shape.”

  With a wide smile, she allowed herself the pleasure of raking him with her eyes. “You look very good to me. I’m happy to give you a workout later.”

  He moved closer, slipping the palm of his hand onto the small of her back. “And I’d be happy to let you. How’s the puppy?”

  “Eating us out of house and home. His appetite can be politely described as prodigious.”

  Seán leaned close and stroked the puppy’s soft fur. “It looks like he’s thriving.”

  Her breath caught and her pulse raced. Their eyes clashed and he bent to kiss her. The instant his lips met hers, Clio forgot all the stresses and strains of the past few months. “You sure you want to watch a film right now?” she murmured.

  He nipped her earlobe playfully, making her moan. “What did you have in mind?”

  She grabbed his hand and dragged him toward the staircase. “Why don’t I show you?”

  Up in her bedroom, Seán peered at the floral wallpaper while she settled the already sleeping Travis into his basket. “Not your choice, I take it?” he asked.

  “Hell no. I’m in the process of helping Tammy redecorate her room. Once that’s done, I’ll concentrate on my own. My mother can let her interior designer loose on the rest of the house.”

  He yanked her curtains shut and took a step toward her. She trailed a finger down his chest, feeling the hard muscles beneath his shirt. She remembered running her hands over those muscles, relishing their hardness, circling taut nipples, the silky-smooth feel of his hard penis in her palms.

  A flutter of anticipation rippled through her body. She felt slick wetness between her legs, an ache of longing in her pelvis.

  This man had the power to turn her on like no man ever had. He was exactly the sort of guy she should avoid because she’d inevitably fuck up the relationship. But she wanted him. God, she wanted him. With all her soul, with every atom of her being. This couldn’t be healthy. And it wouldn’t end well. But they were together here and now, and she intended to relish every second.

  “Come here,” he whispered into her ear. “Lie down on the bed.”

  She complied, laughing when he began to unzip her skinny jeans and roll them down her legs. It tickled her feet in the most glorious fashion when he took her shoes off. He trailed kisses up her legs, pausing to lick behind her knees. By the time his hot, soft lips reached her thighs, she was a quivering mass of longing. He massaged her inner thighs and buttocks, stroking between her legs, exploring.

  When he finally reached her clit, she almost shot off the bed as if electrocuted. “Oh, God,” she moaned. “This feels so damn good.”

  Seán circled her with his tongue, tugging gently with his teeth. Fire coursed through her, an exquisite, painful pleasure that almost tipped her over the edge. “Do. Not. Stop.”

  He teased her for what seemed like an exquisite eternity. As if sensing how close she was to orgasm, Seán drew back, eliciting a whimper of protest. “Hurry up with the condom.”

  He laughed. “Impatient puss.”

  She heard the foil wrapper tear open, and he slid a condom over his erect shaft.

  “Are you wet enough?” he asked. “Or do you need extra lube?”

  “Definitely wet enough,” she gasped. “Now come here.”

  He complied, pushing gently into her and pausing halfway to allow her to adjust to his size.

  “More,” she moaned.

  He began to move, each thrust propelling the tension that had been mounting inside her.

  She grabbed his hair as he moved, pulled him closer and deeper. Her hips matched his rhythm until finally she reached the crest of the wave and exquisite pleasure coursed through her. She heard him cry out as he matched her orgasm with his.

  “God, Clio. Sex with you is amazing.”

  “Same with you. I wish we could do this every night.”

  “Why can’t we?” He propped himself up on his pillow. “We’re both single. There’s nothing to stop us sleeping together, especially now that I’m no longer officially acting as bodyguard to your mother. Once this business tomorrow night is over, it doesn’t matter who knows we’re together.”

  “Part of me wants to say yes.”

  Hurt was reflected in his blue eyes. “Why does part of you want to say no?”

  “Because you’ll be heading back to Dublin soon. Once you catch Ray, you’re bound to get the transfer you’ve been angling for.”

  A flush stained his cheekbones. “You could come with me.”

  Her heart lodged in her throat. If her situation were different, she’d agree in a millisecond. “I’ve dragged Tammy around too much. I want her to finish her secondary education at Glencoe College. That means I’ll be in Ballybeg for at least three years.”

  He fell back on his pillow, deep in thought. “One of the guys from the homicide division in Cork mentioned—”

  “Wait.” She held up a finger for silence. “Do you hear that?”

  Sure enough, the sound of tires on gravel rumbled outside.

  Her eyes flew to Seán’s.

  “I take it you weren’t expecting anyone tonight?” he asked.

  She shook her head, numb with fear. “Ray said the fourteenth. It’s only the thirteenth.”

  In what looked like one fluid movement, he was off the bed and over at the window. Peeking through the edge of her curtains, he abruptly withdrew. “Fuck.”

  She jumped out of bed and joined him at the edge of the window. Through the gap in the curtains, she saw lights in the distance. Two sets of bouncing headlights bobbed and weaved their way around the wi
nding, hilly road that led to Clonmore House and rolled to a crunching stop in the gravel courtyard. “Fuck is right.”

  Seán already had his phone to his ear. “Sir, we have a problem. Two SUVs just pulled up outside Clonmore House. Judging by their builds, four men and one woman. Put it this way—they’re all wearing balaclavas and the men move like pros. I’m going say they’re not here for a social call. Yeah. Tell the team to hurry.” He tossed the phone on the bed and hurriedly threw on his discarded clothes.

  With shaking hands, Clio followed suit. “Seán.” Her vocal chords croaked like a hinge in need of oil. “I can’t remember if I set the alarm when you came in. We’re not in the habit of putting it on during the day if we’re at home.”

  He shook his head. “Too late to worry about that now. The ease with which they move implies to me that these guys will have no problem disabling an alarm.”

  “You don’t have a gun?”

  “No.” He scowled. “Only specialized units can carry guns in Ireland. I’m going to have to improvise.”

  “Wait.” A surge of bile reached her throat. “You can’t confront them. It would be suicide. If a member of Ray’s gang discovers a policeman on the premises, they’ll kill you.”

  “I’m going to wait as long as I dare, Clio, but I can’t let the chance to catch Ray Greer’s gang in the act pass me by.” He took her arm. “I need something I can use to defend myself. Do you have anything on this floor that would do?”

  She exhaled sharply. “In my handbag.” She pulled out a can of pepper spray and threw it to him. “And in my bathroom.” Another two cans. “And in Tammy’s.” A fourth can landed on the bad.

  Seán’s mouth gaped. “What. The. Hell. You know it’s illegal for civilians to possess pepper spray, let alone use it?”

  She put her hands on her hips. “Well, you’re not a civilian.”

  He let out a low whistle. “Okay. Time to improvise. If we go in there and spray that stuff around in an enclosed space, we’ll be as screwed as they are. We need protection for our eyes and mouths.”

  “Hey, I have those eye mask thingies for on planes.” She whipped a red polka dot eye mask out of the bathroom cupboard.

  “Uh, no.” A hint of a smile. “We need to be able to see. Ski or swim goggles would work.”

  “Those I have too.” She rummaged through a drawer and found her prescription swim goggles. “I’m pretty sure Tammy has a pair without prescription lenses in her bathroom.”

  Seán disappeared and came back a minute later, armed with Tammy’s goggles and a pack of surgical masks. “I found these in your mother’s bathroom.”

  Once they’d donned mask and goggles, they snuck downstairs. The door leading down to the rooms in the cellars was ajar, light spilling out. Despite Seán’s warning on the night of the housewarming party, Helen hadn’t gotten around to changing the locks.

  Seán placed a hand on Clio’s arm and thrust a large can of pepper spray at her. “Stay here and wait for backup,” he whispered. “On no account are you to follow me.”

  “Screw that, Mackey. If we both go down, we can ambush them with four cans of pepper spray at once. We might be two against five, but we have the element of surprise on our side.”

  He glared at her through the darkness. “It’s too dangerous. I won’t take the risk of something happening to you.”

  “Life is a risk, Seán. I’m coming with you whether you like it or not, so we might as well coordinate our attack.”

  He nodded grimly. “All right. I’ll go first, but try to get down to stand beside me. We’ll spray the cans with full force, then run back up the stairs. The masks and goggles will provide some protection, but not enough. Okay, on the count of three…”

  They heard voices as they descended the stairs. Male voices and a woman. The woman seemed to be the one giving the orders. “Break them open, you eejit,” she snapped. “We’re not hauling a bunch of garden gnomes out to the cars. Extract the cash and put it in the sports bag.”

  Garden gnomes? What the feck? Clio exchanged a glance with Seán. He was shaking his head ruefully. He indicated they should inch forward. She obeyed. All went well until she bashed her foot on something hard. Letting out an involuntary yelp, she sprang back.

  Oh, fuck.

  “What was that?” The woman’s voice again, alarmed now. “Did you hear something?”

  “Now,” Seán hissed. Cans at the ready, he sprang forward. Her heart in her throat, Clio followed suit.

  The next minute or so passed in chaos. Seán and Clio emptied the cans before the intruders had time to pull their guns. Screaming in pain, four of the five fell like dominoes. One of the men, the largest of the bunch, managed to punch Seán in the chest. Thankfully, the attacker was suffering the effects of the pepper spray, and Seán was able to subdue him without much effort.

  Using the rope they’d found upstairs, Seán tied up their prey. They were in the process of hauling two of the men upstairs when the backup team arrived.

  The superintendent strode through the hall, Brian Glenn at his heels. “Looks like you two have the situation well under control.”

  Seán pulled off his mask and goggles. Clio did the same, and hacked up a cough.

  Seán raised an eyebrow. “Shall we unmask them?”

  “Go for it,” she wheezed, searching her pocket for her inhaler.

  Members of the backup team yanked off the balaclavas. Clio didn’t recognize the first two men, but Seán did. “Two of Ray Greer’s usual suspects.”

  The third man was Tank, the no-necked arsehole who’d harassed her in the pub.

  The sight of the fourth man and the woman elicited a gasp from her and a strangled “No” from Seán.

  “Phoebe?” Clio said, stunned at the sight of her mother’s mousy PA dressed as a cat burglar.

  Phoebe spat and struggled to get free. “Fuck you and your mother. I’ve spent four years working for that officious bitch for a pittance. Can you blame me for wanting to earn a bit of extra cash?”

  “A crap job doesn’t entitle you to rob your employer,” Clio said, stunned. “Right, Seán?”

  Seán was deathly pale, his gaze riveted on the fourth man. “Frank?”

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  THE PULSE IN Seán’s forehead throbbed. “It was you all along. You were the unit mole, not Detective Inspector Connelly.”

  “Steady on, mate,” Frank wheezed, still suffering the effects of the pepper spray. “I can explain.”

  “You’d fucking well better,” Seán snarled, “and you’d better talk fast. Young Alan Brennan died because of you, and my reputation was left in tatters.”

  Clio touched his arm. “You know this guy?”

  “Meet Frank Duffy, my former partner.” Seán glared down at the man who, up until a minute ago, he’d considered to be one of his best friends.

  Frank, still prostrate on the floor, was hauled into sitting position by two of the special unit team. “Seán, please. Let me explain.”

  If the man was dumb enough to talk before his lawyer got there, all the better. “I’m waiting. And it better be good.”

  “I got behind on my mortgage repayments,” the man said, desperation oozing from his bloodshot eyes. “The job for Ray Greer was supposed to be a one-off. But one job is never enough for Greer. One thing led to another, and I ended up doing several jobs for him, always for cash payments. He gave me some useful tip-offs for our team, and in return, I kept him informed about what we knew about him and his activities. When I told him about the raid we were planning, he swore no one would get hurt.”

  “And you believed that?” Seán growled. “How stupid can you be?”

  “I know, I know.” Frank squeezed his eyes shut. “At that stage, I was in so deep I couldn’t see the bottom. I was in a no-win situation. If I betrayed Ray, he’d kill me. If I continued to do as he demanded, I’d incriminate myself more and more.”

  “I assume the garden gnomes belonged to Aidan Gant,” Seán said, na
ming Olivia’s former husband and the victim of the murder he’d helped to solve last summer.

  “Yeah.” Frank gave another hacking cough. “As you know, Gant helped Greer smuggle cash out of the country. He hid the cash in various places, but mostly in the base of his garden gnome collection. Because he often traveled to competitions, it was a simple thing for him to transport them on the ferry. Controls are less strict on boats than on planes, and Gant was a respected lawyer.”

  “And when Gant died, Ray Greer realized he had no idea where some of his not-yet-smuggled cash was concealed,” Seán finished.

  Frank nodded. “You found the money he’d hidden on his own property last summer, but Ray knew there had to be more. He suspected it was in or near Clonmore House fairly early on, but couldn’t find it.”

  “What changed? You had to remove the flooring to access the gnomes in the basement. Did someone tip you off?”

  “Yeah,” Frank took a drink of water offered by one of the backup team and continued talking. “Gant’s former business partner, Bernard Byrne, now lives in Marbella. Ray tracked him down and…persuaded…him to reveal a few potential hiding places Gant might have used around Clonmore House. Unfortunately for us, your mother moved in just as Ray received the information. Recruiting Phoebe was an easy task. With her help, we eliminated several hiding places. Phoebe figured that Helen kept the keys to the basement in the safe, but we could have opened the door without them. The stupid cow was only supposed to take that damn antique that turned out to be a replica, but she broke into the safe too.”

  “Did Ray suspect Clio told us about his interest in the house?”

  Frank nodded. “Yeah. That’s why he brought the break-in forward by a day.”

  “It was a hell of a risk,” Seán said, frowning. “It’s not like Ray to throw caution to the wind like that. I don’t understand why he pressed ahead when he must have realized we were on to him.”

  “Desperation,” Frank said bluntly. “He’s been jumpy of late. Rumor has it that he’s planning on doing a runner. I was rather hoping that the rumor was true.”