Chapter 33
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Brendan
I can’t take my eyes off Nora as she sits across from me at the kitchen table, pizza slice halfway to her mouth. The way her eyes light up when she laughs, the possessive pride I feel with her wearing my T-shirt—it’s like every dream I never knew I had come true.
“And you’re sure Tag doesn’t mind us hiding out here, playing house?” She glances around the industrial-modern space.
I grab another slice. “Not at all. He understands that sometimes you need to withdraw from the realities of the world. This was his hiding place for months after Da died.”
Something tightens in Nora’s expression as she swallows. “And they were close?”
“We all were. Da was our leader, but he was also our biggest supporter and best friend. He was exactly what a father should be.”
Her expression dims more, and I curse myself for not thinking about my words before speaking. “I’m sorry, mo chroi. That was thoughtless. It guts me that your father wasn’t what you needed him to be.”
She pats my hand and then takes a sip of her wine. “It’s fine. My father raised me with the best of intentions and to the best of his abilities.”
That sounds very clinical and cold.
“And I’m glad you and your brothers had a loving father.”
“Aye, me too, but it shattered our world to lose him like we did, with no warning. Of course, in our business, there’s always a chance we can lose someone we love. I think that’s why we love one another so deeply. Leave nothing unsaid, you know?”
Nora sets down her pizza, her eyes growing glassy. “Brendan, there’s something I need to tell you.”
The serious tone in her voice makes me pause. “What is it, angel?”
She wrings her hands in her lap. “First, I have to apologize. Maybe I should’ve told you right away, but I’ve been so torn about not betraying either you or my father, and I couldn’t see a way to do right by you both.”
I slide my plate to the side and reach across the table to hold her hand. “Nora, I won’t ever hold that against you. Loving me has put you in an impossible position—I understand that more than anyone.”
She swallows as a fat tear rolls down her cheek. “A couple of days ago—after you came to see me in the VIP suite at Legend—I had a fight with my father. It was a big one. It was also the first time I stood up for myself and wouldn’t let him tear me down.”
“Good girl. I’m proud of you.”
“Don’t be. I haven’t finished.”
I don’t like the sound of this, but force a neutral expression and wait for her to continue.
“After I cooled off, I went down to the dining room to patch the rift. We both said some hurtful things, and I felt bad about that. He wasn’t in the dining room, though. He’d taken a call behind closed doors and was busy on the phone.”
The look she pegs me with is so filled with anguish and guilt, it steals my breath. “I never snooped through his files—not once in my entire life—but a picture of you caught my attention. I went over to see what it said and got sucked in.”
Fucking hell. I have no idea how bad a file on me could make me look. I’ve killed people. I’ve tortured people. Who knows what her old man and his team could’ve dredged up on me. I close my eyes, unable to meet her gaze.
“But none of what I found sat right with me. My father’s notes were biased and didn’t align with what I knew of you and your family.” She squeezes my hand. “You’ve been honest with me about who you are and what you do. I’m not the delicate flower my father thinks I am. I accept that not all good guys are good, and not all bad guys are bad. I’ve seen that more clearly than ever in the past months.”
Hope flutters in my chest. It’s in her eyes, too.
Okay, so this might not be the end for me after all.
“One of my father’s notes talked about which of you poisoned your father. He suspects Tag, because of him inheriting the family business.”
“Poisoning our father? What the fuck does that mean? Da had a heart attack. Cora saw him go down. Finn and I did CPR until the medics got there.”
“There was an autopsy report. The medical examiner found traces of a drug that mimics the effects of a heart attack.”
Her words hit me like a physical blow. I push back from the table, running my hands through my hair. “No. That can’t be right. We were at home. Nobody within our private circle would’ve poisoned him.”
“There was a statement given. A woman willing to testify against Tag in exchange for immunity and a new identity.”
I turn to Nora, my head spinning, grief and anger crashing through me. “What fucking woman?”
“I’ll show you.” She gets up from the table and rushes to where I tossed her purse last night. After turning on her phone, she flips through a few screens and then hurries back, holding the image up for me.
The moment I see the red hair, I tip back my head and scream. “That fucking bitch!”
“You know her?”
I grab my keys and am storming toward the door when I realize I’m only wearing my boxers. “Aye, I fucking know her. Siobhan Daley was Tag’s teenage ex who never got the fucking hint.”
I point to the bedroom and the two of us rush in and start getting dressed. “The bitch hung around as a Quinn informant, fucking everyone she could in our organization, hoping Tag would take her back. If she’s whispering in your father’s ear, it’s no wonder his notes seem skewed. She spouts lies for a living.”
Nora pulls my T-shirt off and tosses it back to me, which is a crying shame. “And she hates your brother?”
“With an Irish vengeance. She was a lying cheat back then, and no better now. In the spring, Tag found out she was sleeping with both his right hand and Declan McGuire, spilling secrets on both sides. Tag exposed her lies to both organizations, and she’s been a ghost ever since.”
“Then it makes perfect sense that she’d be willing to testify for a new life.”
“Aye, because if either of our organizations ever get a hold of her, she’s fucking dead.” I realize a moment too late that I just declared the woman on our hit list.
Thankfully, Nora looks more pissed than afraid. She pulls her hair out of the neck of her sweater and nods that she’s ready. “Then you need to tell your brothers.”
I take her hand and tug her toward the door. “No, angel. We need to tell my brothers.”
Nora
The ride to the Quinn compound feels surreal. Brendan’s grip on the steering wheel of his classic muscle car leaves his knuckles white, and I’m afraid of both what I’ve done by sharing my father’s research and what will happen next.
Because I am responsible for what happens next.
Brendan turns the car off the road and slows as we pull up behind a set of majestic iron gates. I glance across at the sprawling grounds—greenery as far as the eye can see, a winding driveway, and in the distance, the top of an old stone castle almost completely hidden by rolling hills.
It’s stunning.
Brendan rolls down his window. “Hey, Andrew.”
“Good evening, Mr. Quinn.”
“Is everyone home?”
“Aye, in for the night, I’m told.”
“Good enough. Thanks.”
“Safe home, Mr. Quinn.”
The gates have been slowly edging open during their conversation and when Brendan rolls his window back up, the engine rumbles and we’re speeding up the long, winding driveway.
“This place looks like something out of a fairy tale,” I say quietly, gazing at the old stone walls that loom closer as we drive up the laneway.
Brendan gives a half-smile but doesn’t look away from the road. “Our Mam insisted on her boys having a true home with enough space to run wild, a barn for horses, and a pond to swim in. She understood the importance of Da’s….”
As his words break off, I reach over and squeeze his leg. “I’m so sorry.”
He shakes his head. “There’s nothing for you to apologize for, angel. If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t even know the truth about Da’s death.”
“Still, I’m sorry for stirring up your pain.”
He casts a sideways glance. “Och, that’s not on you. I’d rather know the truth than believe in a lie, any day of the week.”
Me too.
Brendan pulls up along the side of the house and parks beneath a large overhang car port. He hops out first and rushes around to my side to open my door. Extending his hand toward me, he helps me to my feet. As we make our way, I study the entrance adorned with intricate carvings over the doorway.
“I’ll give you the whole tour another time, angel. I promise.”
“I look forward to it.” I take his hand, a mix of warmth and apprehension swirling deep in my belly as he leads me inside. He sits to unlace his boots, and I toe off my sneakers. When he finishes, he sets his boots neatly on the mat next to a dozen other pairs.
Wow. These boys are truly housebroken.
“Master Brendan. Miss Kelly.” Cora greets us warmly as we enter a wide corridor lined with family photos.
“Cora, could you do me a favor? I need to talk with everyone. Can you take Nora to the living room while I try to round everyone up?”
“Of course. It would be my pleasure.”
“And stay there. What we have to say involves the whole family.”
It warms my heart that he considers Cora a part of his family. Then again, how could he not if the woman had been taking care of his household and him and his brothers for his entire life?
Brendan kisses my forehead and then bends to look me in the eye. “Everything will be fine. I’ll meet you in the living room in two minutes.”
When he rushes off, Cora gestures for me to follow her down a wide corridor lined with ornate paintings and family memorabilia.
The interior of the home is vast and I’m sure if Cora wasn’t guiding me, I would be lost by now. In the end, we end up in a large but cozy living room with deep leather sofas and bookshelves crammed full of volumes I’d love to dive into if given half a chance.
Piper and Finn are playing video games—wearing headphones while their laughter punctuates the air.
They pause when they notice us entering.
“Nora!” Piper shouts, setting her controller down and peeling off her headphones. “It’s great to see you again. Welcome to the Quinn compound.”
Finn stands and rushes forward, holding out his hand. “Aye, welcome, Nora. It’s nice to meet you properly. I don’t know if you remember, but we spoke briefly at the charity match a few weeks ago.”
I accept his handshake and chuckle. “I remember. I’m sorry I didn’t realize who you were at the time.”
“Och, from what Brenny said, you didn’t know who any of us were at the time, including him.”
I nod. “It was a bit of a shock, to say the least.”
“But as much of a shock again for him to find out who you are.”
There’s no judgement in his comment. If anything, it sounds like Finn finds the whole mess amusing.
“Nora? I didn’t realize you were stopping by tonight.” Tag’s voice is warm if not a little strained. I suppose I can’t blame him. I’m the daughter of the man out to get him and I’m standing within his private sanctum.
“It was unexpected. I, uh…Brendan and I have something important to tell you. He rushed off to gather everyone.”
“I don’t like the sound of that.” Laine steps deeper into the living room and takes a seat in one of the wide club chairs. Now, in her seventh month of pregnancy, the baby is really making its presence known. The woman is much rounder than the last time I saw her three weeks ago. No less beautiful, but she definitely has more waddle to her walk.
Before I can respond, Brendan is back with Sean and?—
“Oh my god.” I stare at the two of them side by side and my mouth drops open. “Brendan told me he’s a twin, but wow.”
Piper snorts. “It’s crazy, right?”
“So, if you were to kiss one of them right now, which one would it be?” Finn asks, chuckling.
Thankfully, I know what Brendan was wearing when we arrived, and I point to the right one. “Wow.”
Brendan saunters over and waggles his brows. “And before you get any hot and sexy ideas about a twin sin sandwich, I’ll warn you that I don’t share. Not even with my other half.”
Heat flushes my cheeks, and I look around. “I can’t believe you just said that and mortified me in front of your whole family.”
Brendan slides a hand around me and gestures to the family in question. They don’t even seem fazed. “It’s fine. They’ve learned to ignore me most of the time, anyway.”
“And yet here we all are.” Tag’s tone is patient but tense. “Care to share why we’ve been gathered to the living room?”
The atmosphere thickens with unspoken tension as all eyes turn toward us. Brendan squeezes my hand and his expression grows somber. “Nora learned something that hits us at the core. If it’s true, it changes everything that’s happened over the past year. And if it’s not, someone has a truly sick sense of humor.”
Tag slides his hands into the pockets of his black slacks. “Explain.”
“The task force has evidence that Da didn’t die of a heart attack—he was poisoned.”
Cora and Laine gasp, piper curses, and the brothers grow deadly still, each of them looking murderous as Brendan continues.
“And if I’m right, I know who fucking did it.”