“It’s also Lily’s connection to her mother. A secret between them.” Sandy couldn’t let them do this without asking Lily.
“Sandy, for fuck’s sake,” Keith grumbled and threw his hands up in the air.
“Sandy, I’ll explain to Lily why we had to do it and….” Ian started to step around her, but she moved in front of him again.
“No.” Sandy wasn’t letting them do this. “I’ll ask Lily in the morning, but you two aren’t invading the only thing she has that makes her feel close to her mother.”
“If it’s that stupid box Lily has with all the stickers and things on it, I doubt it’s in there. Lily would have found it by now. She can tell you everything that’s in that box. Colleen made it with her, and they treated it like it was the holy grail.” Gerry sat back on the chair. “But Sandy is right, Lily would be real upset if you guys opened it.”
“She’s a kid, she’ll get over it.” Keith snapped.
“No, she won’t, Keith. You’ve got no idea what it’s like to lose a parent. It’s bad enough when you’re older but losing one as a child must be ten times harder. You’re not touching it, and that’s it.” Sandy put her fists on her hips and faced off against the mountain of a man.
“We can look through it and put it back before she knows,” Ian suggested.
“Good luck finding the key.” Gerry scoffed. “Last time, Colleen used to have to ask Lily to unlock it because Lily wouldn’t tell her where the key was.”
“For fuck sake.” Keith stomped out through the back door.
“Seriously, Ian. We can wait until morning. I’m sure Lily will let me look. We have a connection.” Sandy turned to Ian.
“I know you do but if we can find out tonight…,” Ian said.
“What difference will it make? Nothing. Let me talk to Lily in the morning.” She studied his face.
“Okay, but I don’t know if Keith will agree,” Ian nodded toward where Keith had come back into the house.
“Keith, we’re waiting until tomorrow,” Sandy told him before he had a chance to open his mouth.
“Fine, but we need to do it first thing.” Keith wasn’t happy about it, that was evident. “So Gerry you come back to my place. Smash stay here.”
“I’ll move the girls into the bedroom, and you can crash in the living room,” Ian said.
Keith and Smash laughed, and Ian’s expression had Sandy giggling.
“I won’t be crashing, and I won’t be inside,” Smash told Ian.
“Ian, don’t you know by now the guys don’t stay in the house when they’re working.” Keith rolled his eyes.
Sandy stood in the doorway of the living room watching the girls sleeping. She had a connection with Evie and had since the first day she saw her, but she felt connected to Lily as well. It seemed like the two little girls had formed a bond too. One that they probably didn’t understand themselves. They both lost their mothers at the hands of the same man. He was the same monster that took her baby from her too. That was the connection.
“Keith said to call as soon as Lily gets up in the morning.” Ian wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder.
“How could I let myself get involved with such a monster?” Sandy whispered. The only person she ever showed her vulnerability to was Ian. Even with her sister and Stephanie, she always kept up the front that she was tough as nails.
“Don’t blame yourself for this. He fooled a lot of people.” Ian turned her to face him.
“He’s hurt so many people. Killed so many people.” The anger she had for Scott started to surface. “He took those little girls’ mothers from them. He took my baby from me. He even killed the father of my child, and from what we know they were friends. I don’t care how he and Dennis and that other guy are linked or what scheme they had going. Scott is a savage animal who deserves nothing but to suffer like he made everyone else suffer.”
“Churchie, let's go to bed and try and get some sleep. Tomorrow’s going to be a very long day. Keith wants the girls and me either with you or him, and he has to talk to the family to let them know why he’s got security on all of them. He also wants to get in touch with your father and Brad.” Ian took her hand and led her toward the bedroom. “Let me hold you tonight. Hopefully, that will help us both sleep.”
“You always make me feel safe in your arms.” Sandy slipped out of her clothes and slid between the sheets. Ian stood over the bed and stared down at her.
“As much as I want to have you naked in my arms all night, I think you need to at least put this on.” Ian held up a T-shirt, and at first, she was confused but when he nodded his head in the direction of the living room. Lily wasn’t used to her sleeping over.
“Good idea.” She slid on the shirt and watched Ian strip down to his boxers. He lay down on the bed and pulled her into his arms.
She closed her eyes but didn’t think she was going to sleep. Ian started to hum something, and at first, she didn’t know what it was, but as she listened, she realized it was a country song. She’d heard him sing it before when he didn’t know she could hear him.
He’d been sitting on his back deck playing the guitar. ‘God Bless the Broken Road.’ She remembered the name when he quietly sang the chorus. He had a beautiful voice and before she knew what was happening she was drifting off to sleep. So glad her roads led her to Ian but was it going to break and take everything she loved away because of a murderous psychopath?
Chapter 21
Ian had no issue with Sandy talking to Lily, but his little girl seemed overly protective of her little treasure chest. Sandy was probably right about it meaning more to Lily since Colleen died. Ian didn’t even realize Lily had it.
Sandy walked out of the kitchen and smiled at him. He’d packed a couple of bags for himself and the girls because they were staying at Sandy’s house for a while. Ian was happy that Sandy had put his things in her room without even asking. Lily and Grace were in a room right next to Evie. Ruby was in a room down the hall from them, and the room next to Ruby had been set up for her sister Kim. It looked like Sandy was going to have a houseful of people.
“I want you in the room when I ask Lily if I can look in her treasure box.” Sandy rested her hands against his chest. “I know Keith wanted us to do it first thing this morning, but I wanted to make sure you guys were settled in here first. Your brother really has a colorful vocabulary when I piss him off, though.”
He smiled because Keith did have a less than child-friendly way of expressing himself when he was angry. It was funny because when they were young, he was the one that cursed the least. Guess he was making up for lost time.
Sandy stood on her toes and kissed his lips softly. A throat clearing behind him had him wanting to use some unfriendly words himself. Sandy looked over his shoulder and smiled.
“Hey, John,” Sandy said.
“Sorry to interrupt but Keith just filled us all in, and whatever you need we’re here.”
“Thanks, bro.” Ian reached out and shook his brother’s hand.
“You know I’m starting to think that none of us are every going to have a dull existence.” Nick chuckled from behind John.
“No shit. This is why I’m staying single.” Aaron stood next to them.
“Yeah, that’s the reason you’re single.” James walked into the group of men and laughed.
“You can’t keep your dick in your pants long enough to find someone to settle down with.” Mike chuckled.
“If that’s not the pot calling the kettle black.” John laughed. The entire family knew the three youngest O’Connor brothers liked to play the field.
“Can you hear this?” Mike held up his fist with his middle finger pointing down to the floor. “No? Let me turn it up for you.” He turned his fist, so his finger was now pointing up at the ceiling.
“Mikey, doncha let me see dat again.” Nanny Betty slapped Mike across the arm.
“Sorry, Nan.” Yep even as adults, they didn’t cross the
ir grandmother.
“Now, I know we got some confusion goin’ on again, but like always we’ll get it straightened out.” Nanny Betty wrapped her arms around Sandy and Ian.
“That’s right, my darling,” Tom said always backing up the O’Connor matriarch.
“Now, I’m gonna go back home and get a big scoff together.” Nanny Betty’s answer to everything was cooking enough food to feed a small army.
“Mrs. O’Connor, you don’t have to do that,” Sandy said.
“First, Mrs. O’Connor was my mother-in-law, and I'm sure I told ya 'bout dis. Call me Nan. Second, nobody can do anyting if dey don’t have lots of good food in dere bellies.” Nanny Betty held Sandy’s face between her soft hands. “Dat’s wat families do fer each udder.”
“Thanks, Nan.” Ian kissed her cheek, and she gave him a gentle pat on the chest.
“Come on Tom, we got some shoppin ta do.” Nan turned and linked into the older man.
“Who’s the lucky one to cover Nan and Tom?” Aaron chuckled.
“You and Nick.” Kurt walked into the living room with Sean behind him. “It won’t look suspicious if you two are with them. I’ve got all your shifts covered for the next few days.”
“Seriously? Nan is shopping. Do you have any idea how long that takes and how much shit she gets for her big scoffs?” Aaron whined as he put air quotes around ‘big scoffs’.
“Do have any idea what I’ll do to you if anything happens to your grandmother and Tom?” Sean growled at Aaron.
The youngest of the O’Connor brothers didn’t say another word. He followed his grandmother with Nick behind him. Nobody crossed Sean O’Connor either. He may be a doctor, but he also would still kick their asses if they were disrespectful.
Ian sat next to Sandy on the floor with Lily across from them. Her special box perched in her lap, and she looked like someone had taken her best friend but Sandy said to trust her, and that’s what he was going to do.
“Lily, remember when I told you I’d make sure you got your special picture back?” Sandy asked.
“Yes.” Lily nodded, but Ian could see the death grip she had on the box.
“Here you go.” Sandy held the picture out to her, and Lily’s face lit up.
“Thank you, Sandy.” Lily took the picture and held it to her chest.
“So you know I would never do anything to make you not trust me, right?” Sandy said, and Lily nodded. “Lily, you said your mom also put things in the box that she wanted to keep as treasures, too right?”
Lily nodded again.
“Well, there’s something your mom might have put in there that we need to see. Would you mind if I looked in it to see if it’s there?” Lily glanced back and forth between Ian and Sandy as if she was about to burst into tears.
“Lily, Sandy wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t really important.” Ian needed to reassure her because it was killing him to see the look in her eyes.
“I don’t have to touch anything. I’ll just sit next to you while you take everything out and put it all back.” Sandy said.
“What do you think mommy put in here?” Lily tilted her head and stared at her.
“Do you know what a USB stick is?” Sandy asked, and Lily nodded. “Well your uncle Gerry gave her one to hold for him, and it had a lot of important information on it that we need to see.”
“Did Uncle Gerry hurt mommy and Carter?” Lily’s eyes filled with tears and Ian’s heart broke.
“No, Lily. He didn’t hurt mommy or Carter.” Ian wrapped his arm around Lily and looked down at her sad eyes.
“I heard the man tell Mrs. Anderson if she heard from Uncle Gerry to call him because he hurt mommy.” Lily sniffed.
“The man was wrong, Lily.” Sandy touched Lily’s knee. “Your Uncle Gerry is a good person. He’s the one that told us about the USB we need. It could have something on that help us find out who did hurt your mommy.”
“And Carter?” Lily asked. It made Ian tremble with anger that the guy had his little girl believing he was a nice person but at least he didn’t hurt Lily or Grace.
“Yes, and Carter,” Sandy murmured.
For a moment, they sat in silence as Lily gazed down. Ian glanced at Sandy. What would they do if Lily refused? Yes, she was a little girl, but he didn’t want her traumatized any more than she’d already been, but if it came down to it, they would have to see inside. He had about given up that Lily was going to allow anyone to see her treasures when the little girl spoke.
“If it helps find the bad man that hurt mommy and Carter, you can look inside.” Lily handed the box to Sandy.
“I promise nobody else will look inside and I won’t tell anyone what you have in there.” Sandy smiled and gently placed the box on the floor. “Can you unlock it for me, Lily?”
“You have to close your eyes, Daddy.” Ian chuckled but did as his daughter asked. He heard her running across the room and then back again. “Okay, Daddy you can open them now.” Sandy was smiling when he opened his eyes and shaking her head.
“Don’t tell him where the key is, Sandy,” Lily opened the lock and pushed the box toward Sandy.
“I promise.” Sandy crossed her finger over her chest. Ian shook his head.
Lily observed Sandy carefully take things out one by one and place them gently on the floor. Lily seemed to relax when she saw how gently Sandy was handling her treasures. From what he could see, most of it was pictures and smaller boxes which Sandy opened and closed again. Sandy took everything out and looked at Ian. She shook her head, and his heart sank. It wasn’t there.
“That’s it. There’s nothing else in there.” Sandy sounded defeated as she started to put everything back in.
“You didn’t check the secret bottom,” Lily picked up the box.
“The secret bottom?” Ian raised his eyebrow and glanced at Sandy.
“Yeah, that’s why it’s a treasure box. Really special things are in the secret bottom.” Lily turned over the box and used the edge of the key to slide out a small door to reveal a compartment about two inches deep. Lily turned the box back over and shook it a little. Two USB sticks hit the floor along with a gold ring. Sandy picked up the sticks, and Lily grabbed the ring.
“Do you remember this ring, Daddy?” Lily held it up, and he took it from her fingers. He did remember it. It was a ring he’d given Colleen when they were about ten years old. He’d bought it out of the money he made delivering papers and gave it to her for her birthday. It was a friendship ring, and he remembered telling her that she was the best friend any guy could have.
“I remember it, Lily.” Ian looked down into his daughter’s eyes. It was then he realized that even though Lily had a lot of his features, she had her mother’s smile.
“Mommy said when I get bigger I can have it.” Lily took the ring and put it back in it’s hiding place. “She said it was the most special present she ever got.”
“I’m sure it was, Lily,” Sandy said.
“Can I put my things back in the box now?” Lily asked.
“Thank you, Lily, for trusting me with your special things.” Sandy held the box while Lily meticulously placed everything inside.
“I hope I helped.” Lily closed and locked it again. “Can I go play with Evie now?” Ian nodded, and Lily put her box under her bed. She took her ratty old bunny and ran out of the room.
“What did she do with the key?” Ian stood up and held his hand out to Sandy.
“I’m not allowed to tell you.” Sandy grasped his hand and stood up. “Let go see what’s on these.”
Keith, his Uncle Kurt, and Isaac Hunt stood behind Sandy and Smash as they searched for any information on the USB sticks. He could see Grace sitting on the floor in the living room playing with some musical toy. Lily and Evie were on the couch watching yet another princess movie.
“Gerry, these files are all password protected. What’s the password?” Ian turned when he heard Keith’s voice. He felt useless because there was nothing he could do except
keep an eye on the girls. Standing around with nothing to do was making him anxious.
“I don’t think this one has a password,” Smash said.
“Gerry said the password on the stick he gave Colleen was, bring down evil. All one word and lower case.” Keith said.
“Kind of appropriate if you ask me.” Smash was clicking on the keys in front of him.
“I’m in,” Sandy said excitedly.
Ian asked one of the guys to keep an eye on the girls while he joined the group at the kitchen table. He was sure Sandy called the guy Hunter, but Keith said his name was Crunch.
“This one has nothing. I think it’s just personal stuff belong to Gerry’s sister. Folders are all labeled. Pictures, Income Tax, Kids Info, Letters. I think this might be just stuff she wanted to keep safe.” Smash glanced up at Keith.
“Let's just deal with the one that Gerry’s password opened.” Kurt leaned over Sandy’s shoulder. “Does that say what I think it does?”
“Dear God.” Sandy gasped.
“What the fuck is that?” Isaac asked.
“That’s a folder with a file on every one of our family and Sandy’s,” Kurt growled.
“Keith, he’s not just going after Sandy,” Isaac said.
“These are dated six months ago.” Sandy’s voice was shaky. “He was collecting information on everyone. My God he even has the birthdates of Colin and Olivia.” The sound of the names of his baby niece and nephew sent shivers down his spine.
“He must have someone here to be getting all that information.” Smash closed his laptop and sat with his arm around Sandy’s chair. Ian liked the kid, but at that moment he wanted to rip off his arm and beat him to death with it.
“What else is on it?” Isaac asked.
“There’s tons of stuff here it’s gonna take a while to go through it,” Sandy said, but by the sound of her voice, she was seeing something that scared her.
“If we divide it up between both of us, we’ll get through it faster.” Smash opened his laptop again.
Ian’s attention was distracted by Ruby waving from the kitchen door. He met her in the foyer as she was pulling on her jacket.
Dangerous Secrets (O'Connor Brothers Book 3) Page 18
