by Lisa Cardiff
Avery let out a loud sigh. She had been trying to ignore her growing suspicion that the man in the room with Dierdre was Thomas Flannigan—that he killed her. The idea was beyond crazy. He was an upstanding citizen, pillar of the community and all that. What would he be doing with Dierdre who was a total flake?
“Avery.” The sound of Kalen’s voice made her flinch. “You know the men who were following us, don’t you?”
“I’m not sure.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means that they seemed familiar, but I can’t place them. I’m not totally sure I got a good look at them. And even if I did, I was so scared that I don’t think I can trust what I saw anyway.”
“You’re lying.”
“How would you know? You can’t read my mind?”
“I know you’re lying,” Kalen said, his jaw clenched.
“I don’t know whom to trust.”
“You can’t stay on the sidelines forever. Pick a side. If you don’t, you’ll just end up being collateral damage.”
Avery looked toward the opening of the arch, purposely breaking eye contact with him. She couldn’t think when he pinned her with his stare. She couldn’t trust the Foundation, but maybe she could call Peter in New York. After all, he was her boss, her mentor, and her friend. When she needed him in the past, he had been there for her. She thought she could confide in him, but she hesitated because Peter was the person who suggested that she contact Thomas Flannigan when she arrived in Galway. Even if she could trust him, as one of her friend’s, she didn’t want him to get hurt. Besides, her story was just too crazy to explain to anyone. Especially when she didn’t understand what was happening anyway.
Avery paused for a few measured breaths, remaining silent while she stared at her hands trying to decide her course. Perhaps it was the intimacy of sitting in the dark under the Arch or her exhaustion or his mesmerizing eyes, but as she stared into the darkness, she found herself wanting to trust him. She decided to trust her instincts. In almost a whisper, she said, “I think one of the men at the hotel was Thomas Flannigan from the Foundation. He’s on the Board—you know, the Board of Directors for the Foundation.”
Kalen turned toward Avery and searched her face. When she tried to look away, he grabbed her chin and turned her face back to him. “Yeah, I think you’re right.”
Gaining confidence, she said, “I think he was at Dierdre’s house too. I mean, I think he was the man who… who killed her. I know that sounds crazy, but I think it’s true.”
Kalen just nodded in response.
Resigned, Avery sat on the floor next to Kalen, leaning her back against the wall. The tension of the previous day and the chase through city stiffened in her bones. Her head throbbed from lack of sleep, and, to top it off, she was cold and probably in shock. All she could think was that somewhere along the way, she had become a different person. As she stared at the dismal gray stones waiting for dawn to break across the sky, she realized she was never going to be the same. She couldn’t close her eyes to reality any longer. Avery sighed in acceptance of her new journey.
Feeling her eyes becoming heavy with lack of sleep, she fought to keep them open. Then, she felt Kalen’s arm wrap around her shoulder, pulling her toward him, electricity once again crashing through her nerve endings, jolting her out of her near slumber.
“No! I’m fine. I’ll just lean against the wall,” she said, trying to push him away in protest, but his grip on her was firm and she remained pressed to his side.
“Shh. It’s okay. You’re cold. You need body heat, so you don’t freeze to death. I’m here, and I can’t go to sleep anyway because I need to keep watch. Now, close your eyes and go to sleep.”
“I can’t sleep here.” She tried to push him away again, but he wouldn’t relent.
“Yes, you can. Stop arguing with me. Take a deep breath and close your eyes. You’ll be asleep within minutes.”
Forcing her mind to think of something peaceful and happy, she relaxed into his side, and took a deep breath. The connection between them mellowed, comforting her rather than crackling through her. After all, the sooner she fell asleep, the sooner it would be morning. Gradually, she felt her muscles release and his arm pulled her closer to him. Warm and firm, his arm sheltered her entire body. Feeling her tension float away, her eyes shuttered. Moments before she fell into an unconscious slumber, she felt his lips brush her left temple. It was an odd sensation—an intense heat that caused no pain. She buried her head in his chest and smelled his clean, masculine scent then drifted to sleep.
Kalen knew the exact moment she fell asleep. He watched as her body relaxed into his chest and her breath slowed. Her lips were no longer compressed into a thin, tense line. Her hands that previously, clenched tightly around the leather handle of her purse, finally relaxed. Gently, he pulled her purse from her lap and opened it, while keeping his other arm around her shoulders. He sifted through its contents looking for clues.
He thought he could read her pretty well, but sometimes she subconsciously blocked her thoughts from him, or at least he thought it was subconscious. What could she be hiding? Maybe, he’d never find out because if all went as planned, he could have her back to her father by the end of the day tomorrow. The thought made him feel strangely bereft. Before he placed her purse beside her sleeping form, he pulled a fabric hair tie from her purse and bought it to his face, inhaling the scent of her hair, her skin, and soap. She had no idea how powerfully she affected him, not just now, but from the first minute he laid eyes on her when she was a child, and he wasn’t ever going to let her know. If time and immortality had not worn him down and made him so cynical, he would have taken the hair tie as a souvenir to remember her like this—in his arms so trusting and vulnerable. He bent to the side to place the hair tie back in her purse and just as he was about to drop it on top of the disheveled contents, he pulled his arm back and stuffed it into the pocket of his pants.
He needed to check in with Aerin. He hated that she was still his main contact on this mission, but that wasn’t his decision to make. For some unfathomable reason, the Queen felt Aerin was of some value in the mission to recover Avery. Aerin was gorgeous, smart, and he had fond memories of their short relationship—if you could call it that. It was more like an attempt to make Cian jealous. Still, something about her never sat right with him. She was too grasping and needy and unnaturally fixated on Cian. He reached for his phone inside the pocket of his jacket and sent a short text to Aerin letting her know his current location.
He looked at Avery sleeping against his chest. The angle of the light from the street lamp illuminated her face, and he took the opportunity to study her, to touch her. His palm brushed the length of her arm starting at her wrist and moving up to the crook of her neck. He lightly ran his hands over her hair, twisting a piece around his finger testing its texture and weight. When she stirred, he leaned in, just a fraction, to brush her hair with a kiss.
Chapter 8
When Avery heard Kalen calling her name, the sky was already brightly lit with orange featherlike streaks dancing through delicate white clouds. His voice had a dreamlike quality, and Avery turned to make sure he was really there. Even after Avery was fully awake and aware of her surroundings, the memories of Kalen’s gentle kiss and the intense, comforting warmth she found in his arms remained. She pressed the palm of her hand to her temple and lightly stroked the side of her face and hair. She wanted to see if it were actually warm to her touch or if the lingering sensation of his kiss were a figment of her imagination. As she ran her hand down the side her face, Kalen watched her with an open intensity as though he knew what she was thinking.
The sound of her phone ringing in his pocket interrupted the moment. Kalen’s eyes shuttered, becoming hard and expressionless.
“Give me my phone. It could be my aunt looking for me.”
“It could be the Foundation. In fact, we should turn off the phone altogether or throw it in the
trash.”
“If you think I’m going to throw away my only means of communication, you’re crazy. I just want to see who it is.” Avery held out her hand, signaling Kalen to give her the phone.
“Answering your phone is not worth your life,” Kalen grumbled as he pulled the phone from the pocket of his sleek black pants. Before he changed his mind, Avery placed her hand on the top of the phone.
“Don’t get any ideas,” Avery said under her breath. Kalen responded with a chuckle and released the phone into her chilled fingers. When she looked at the phone, a picture of her friend, Grace, lit up the screen. “It’s my friend, Grace. I need to talk to her.”
Kalen scowled at her. “You don’t know that you can trust her. Don’t talk to her until we sort out everything.”
Avery turned her back to Kalen and answered the phone. “Hi, Grace,” she said with forced cheer.
“Jesus, Avery, where are you? You haven’t called for days. I called your aunt, and she said she didn’t have any idea where you were. Then I called the hotel, and they said they didn’t have anyone registered under your name. What is going on?” Grace said, her voice panicked.
Placing his hand over the mouthpiece of the phone, Kalen said, “She could be working for the Foundation. Be vague.”
“You don’t know Grace. She wouldn’t be involved in this.”
Kalen shook his head running his hands through his thick, black hair leaving it rumpled and oddly endearing.
“Avery, give me the benefit of the doubt. Give us a little time. I don’t want a repeat of last night.”
Grace’s voice interrupted Kalen and Avery’s conversation, turning their argument into some sort of silent battle. “Avery, where are you? Who’s that person with you?”
Kalen’s eyes speared hers, making it impossible for her to look away. “Don’t do it,” he said, his voice low and threatening.
Crossing her arms defiantly, she turned toward the opening of the arch to gain some privacy. With a note of caution in her voice, she said, “I’m fine. I’m just out exploring Galway, getting some fresh air, clearing my mind.”
Kalen released the breath he was holding.
“Your aunt told me your mother died. Are you okay? Did you learn anything?”
“I’m shaken but otherwise fine.” Avery’s eyes met Kalen’s. “I didn’t learn anything I didn’t already know. Dierdre was so out of it before she died, I’m not sure she could tell me anything even if she wanted to.”
Kalen nodded as though he approved of her answer.
“Avery, I’m so sorry. I know you hoped things would turn out differently. At least you made it there in time to say goodbye. When are you coming home? I miss you.”
Avery forced out a laugh. “You’re right. I’m glad I came.” Avery fell silent for a few moments. Static zipped through the line.
“Avery, are you still there? Can you hear me?”
“Yes, I’m still here. My reception isn’t great,” Avery responded faintly, and then she paused to clear her throat. “I thought I would take advantage of my time here and see some sights before I start sorting through Dierdre’s things. Besides, I should probably stick around for Dierdre’s memorial service. I think she had some friends here, and it would be nice to meet them. I just need some time to think. I need to clear my head.”
“I don’t get it. Why do you need to stay in Ireland to think? Come home and I’ll be here to help you. Ship Dierdre’s things to our apartment where you’ll have plenty of time to go through everything at your own pace. What would the Foundation think? You don’t want to lose your job, do you?”
Kalen came up behind Avery, lightly pressing his chest against her back and whispered in her ear. “That’s enough for now. We need to go.” His warm breath heightened her senses. Avery shivered in response, wanting to lean into him and feel him pressed against her.
“Who’s that, Avery?”
“Just some person asking for directions.”
“I could take a week off work and meet you in Galway to help. We’d have a great time, and you wouldn’t be alone.”
Avery sighed. “That’s such a nice offer, but I’m not sure what I want right now. I think I need to be alone. I have to go. I’m going to miss my tour of the Spanish Arch. I’ll call you soon. I promise.”
Before Avery could hear Grace’s response, Kalen pulled the phone out of her hand, shut it off, and placed it back in his pocket. Watching Kalen put her phone in his pocket, she felt as though he effectively severed her last link to her old life and maybe that was for the best. She didn’t want to drag anyone into this mess.
Maybe if she concentrated like when she was a child, she would be more perceptive of other people’s motives and feelings. Just as the thought floated through her mind, Avery’s whole body tensed. She didn’t want to think about that right now. She wasn’t sure if that memory was real or a figment of her imagination.
Kalen ran his hand down Avery’s shoulder, startling her with his searing touch. “Avery, you know this is for the best, don’t you?”
“What’s for the best?” Avery responded absently. She tried to focus on Kalen, but she was still lost in the childhood memories before her mother left when she still felt free to be herself.
“Severing all links to your past. You need to evaluate who you can trust before you can continue any relationship. As time passes, this will become easier. I’m confident you’ll be able to read people again, and you won’t have to question everyone’s motives.”
Avery studied Kalen’s face, flustered that he seemed to know her thoughts. A dull throb started in her head as if everything she needed to know was buried somewhere in her subconscious. She just needed the key. She shook her head to clear it. “I don’t know if it will become easier to know whom to trust as time passes, but I agree that I should keep a low profile and involve as few people as possible until I understand what’s happening.”
“Okay. I’ll take that. It’s a start. Let’s go.”
Grabbing her hand, they walked out of the Arch when Avery’s stomach growled loudly. She realized she hadn’t eaten since yesterday morning before Dierdre was murdered. “Can we please stop somewhere to grab a quick bite to eat or a coffee? I haven’t eaten anything in over a day.”
“Sure. We can stop at a shop close to Eyre Square that has takeaway coffee, but we can’t linger. It won’t take long for the Foundation to find us. I’m faster, but they will catch up with us if we aren’t careful.”
Avery swallowed. “Do they want to kill me like Dierdre?”
“I don’t know what they plan to do with you, exactly. I don’t think they want to kill you, but there are no guarantees in this life. We didn’t think they would kill Dierdre either.” Kalen’s words and flat smile were far from reassuring.
“What does my father want with me? It seems a little late in the game for him to start playing daddy, don’t you think?”
“I’ll let him explain that to you.”
“Does that mean that you know and you don’t want to tell me, or that you don’t know?”
Kalen shrugged. “Does it matter?”
“Of course. If you know, then I might decide to press you for more information.”
“You can try, but it would be a shame to waste your time,” he said wearily.
Some inner devil prompted her to continue to press him for any kind of information even though she knew it was pointless. “Where’s my father? Are you taking me to his house?”
“I guess you could say I’m taking you to his house.”
“Is it close to the city center?”
“No, not exactly, but it won’t take us long to get there.”
“How long have you known my father?”
“For a while.”
Avery released a sudden bark of frustrated laughter and jerked her hand out of his grasp. “Could you be any more vague if you tried?”
Avery quickened her pace, so she could walk in front of him. She might
be obedient right now, play his little game, and listen to what Kalen wanted her to do, but she wouldn’t follow him blindly forever. God knows, she’d done that long enough with the other people in her life, and that had gotten her absolutely nowhere. She’d take what she needed from Kalen and her so called father, and if they couldn’t or wouldn’t answer questions, she would face the Foundation.
Kalen said he didn’t know what the Foundation wanted from her, but she knew he was lying. Based on the conversations she overheard between Dierdre and Flannigan, she didn’t think they would kill her or at least not before they got what they wanted from her. She would use them too if she had too. When she got what she needed to make an informed decision, she would be on her own.
Kalen caught up with her and grabbed her limp hand, leading her through the city. Even when she was angry, he couldn’t help but touch her. He wove in and out of streets, backtracking to make sure they weren’t followed. The traffic in the city had just picked up, and people started filling the sidewalks. The additional foot traffic made it difficult to concentrate. He had to filter out all the emotions of the people they passed.
Just as he opened the door to the coffee shop on Eyre Street, his instincts alerted him that something was not right—somebody was watching them. Moving toward a glass counter filled with baked goods and prepared sandwiches, he placed his hand at the small of her back, guiding her toward the register. He turned slowly, surveying the people inside the coffee shop and near its entrance. He wasn’t sure who he was looking for, but he hoped he would know when he spotted him.
