Chapter 7
Best Friends
Deja
The O’Brien home has always felt so welcoming to me. Even now, as Kate and I sit in the living room playing board games with Jamie and Dylan, I feel right at home.
I was excited when Kate asked me to come over for a sleepover. I was hoping I would get a chance to see Cole and talk to him about what happened the night of the bonfire.
I keep looking at the door, waiting for him and Logan to walk in. They haven’t yet and it’s almost time for bed. Kara has already told us we can play one more round before time to turn in.
I’m sure she meant that for Jamie and Dylan, but Kate and I usually call it a night when they do. Maybe I can get Kate to put in a movie.
I get lost in thought as my mum’s voice from earlier comes back to me. She sounded off when I called to ask if it was okay for me to stay the night here.
She said yes, but there was something about the way she answered the line that tugged at my ear. I almost changed my mind. However, once I asked, she sort of had relief in her voice.
She and Da went to Dublin this morning. Da had to head there on business. I believe Mum just wanted to tag along.
“Oww, what’s wrong with ya,” Jamie groans.
“Yer a cheater,” Dylan whines.
“So ya hit me?”
“Aye, I did. Stop trying to cheat.” Dylan pouts.
He’s so stinking cute. His blond hair has grown to fall in his face. He’s been combing it out of his blue eyes all night.
Jamie grumbles under his breath as he rolls his eyes. It’s the same thing every time. Jamie does cheat.
I think he only does it to taunt his little brother. The smirk on his lips says it all. Quickly, I take my turn before the two start to really fight.
The door opens and I perk up, only to sag my shoulders once again as I see it’s only Uncle Dougie. Aunt Kara comes out to greet him with a kiss. I love Kate’s parents.
Watching them always puts a smile on my face. I would never question their love for each other. It’s clear to see by watching them.
Dougie turns to look into the living room where we are and a look crosses his face when he sees me. Something between sadness and pity. I’m not sure which as he clears his throat and comes to sit down on the couch.
“Ya kids wrap this. Ye should be getting to bed,” he says.
“Aw, Da. Mum said we could finish one more game. Please,” Dylan pleads.
“I will not tell ya again,” he says.
“Ach, this week has sucked. First, Logan and Cole had to leave, now we can’t even finish our game,” Jamie mutters.
I whip my head in his direction and knit my brows. Cole and Logan left? I had no idea they had already left to return to America.
I sit here frustrated and confused. How am I to get answers now? What does this mean?
I have to fight against poking my lip out and pouting. Instead, I help Kate begin to put the games away. Sadness washes over me because I don’t know when Cole will return.
“Ach, ye girls should head to bed. I’ll drop ye to softball practice in the morning,” Dougie says, breaking into my thoughts.
As I look at Dougie, I get this feeling there’s something more he wants to say. He’s watching me as closely as I’m watching him. I look away as I note the pity in his eyes.
Does he know that I have a thing for his son? Is he pitying me and my stupid crush? I shake my thoughts off and follow Kate to her room.
I’ll have to wait until Cole calls, then maybe I’ll have the courage to ask him all the questions I have floating in my head. I guess only time will tell.
Helen
“Finlay warned ye would come to my door,” Ken McDougal says as I enter his study.
“Then you know what he has done?”
“Aye, I know what the bastard has done.”
I couldn’t go home without knowing if this happened because of me. Angus is dead. In the back of my mind, I have always known there was a chance that the Krupins would find me.
If this was them, I need to know now. I should have known the death of Ian Black was going to open up a can of worms. I disappeared for the most part when I met Angus.
Onyx died, and Helen was born. I fell in love with Angus that first day in that coffee shop; now he’s gone.
It was a hit. That much I knew for sure before I arrived in Scotland. However, I’ve come to know Angus’s family and I knew this could have come from them just the same.
That’s why I came here to Scotland this morning. I watched as the man I love was taken from me. I felt so helpless as the woman I’ve become would have no need to carry weapons.
Angus died in my arms after I got him out of the wreck. People on the street yelled and screamed in confusion and concern. Yet the driver of the car that rammed Angus right outside our hotel got away.
I stared into my love’s eyes as the life went out of them. However, not before I promised him I would find whoever did this and make them pay. I now have my answer and the name of the person who will die for this.
All I need now is permission. Archie McDougal is a dead man. That I will make sure of.
“I knew you were one of Ian’s mercenaries from the time Angus showed up with you.”
I turn to see Ewan McDougal has entered the room from a hidden entrance. I ready myself for a fight. I knew this was a chance I would take when I came here.
“Aren’t you and I the same?” I scoff.
“Aye, love. Ye can relax. My quarrel is not with ye,” he replies.
“I know what ye have come to ask,” Ken says.
“He not only set in motion the events that took my husband’s life, but he has also told the Russians how to find me. Pavel Krupin promised he would find and kill me. Archie has done half the work.
“All of this for a man who’s sure to kill him next. Oland will always be out for himself. Archie is just a pawn, but he will pay for his actions.” I seethe.
I am to be next, but not before Archie is wiped from the face of the earth.
“Och, we know this. Archie has been working outside the family for some time now with that auld bastard Oland,” Ken says.
“He’s our brother, but our da was right not to trust him. We never will again.”
“Then you give your approval?”
“Aye, but with conditions.”
“Name them,” I bite out.
“We will watch.”
I lift a brow in question.
“This must be completed without wind of who or how. We believe he was involved in Da’s demise, but we haven’t been able to prove it. Da was as fit as a fiddle.
“To drop dead of a heart attack. Rubbish. Now Angus.
“Our own nephew. Och, it’s not right. The only reason I don’t take his head off myself is because I don’t want my own blood on my hands,” Ewans says.
“All right.” I shrug. “As long as you know I’m not going to show mercy.”
“Aye, understood. Once it is done, you can never come back. We can’t justify allowing our brother’s murderer to walk Scotland. If anyone found out, it would end badly for all involved.”
“Fine. Deja and I will leave and never return.”
“Is that wise?” Ewan speaks up.
“What do you mean?”
“Ye said yerself Archie has revealed to the Russians yer whereabouts. Deja isn’t our blood, but we love her like our own great-niece. Angus would want us to protect her.
“Mum would be devastated if something happened to her. She’s already broken up about her grandson,” he says.
“What are you suggesting?”
“Leave Deja with Mum. We will keep the lass safe. I can teach her just like Ian Black taught ye—”
“That’s the problem. I never wanted this for her. I don’t want her to become what I was,” I say.
“Och, but do ye have that choice now?”
I ball my fists. Ian Black warned me I should have started training Deja years ago. I refused. I didn’t want this for her.
“Once ye handle the Russians, ye can send for her. We will verify it’s ye and hand her over,” Ewan coaxes.
I swallow hard. I have no fear of the Krupin family. At least not when it concerns my life.
It is my daughter I fear for. Deja is in the path of danger every second she spends with me. I cannot return to her until I settle this.
This is why I came to ask permission first before my next move. I refuse to place another target on her back. Not killing everyone connected to the Krupin name before I retired was my mistake, not my daughter’s.
They may be dangerous, but so am I. Once I handle Archie, they will still remain a danger I can no longer ignore.
“How do I know you won’t take her life for Archie’s? He is your blood after all. Deja and I are nothing to you.”
“Och, that isn’t true, lassie. Ye have become family.”
“Yet you forbid my return.”
“Ian taught ye a lot about this life. Ye know why ye can’t return. We have no proof of the crimes he’s committed to provide. If ever there is such, we will welcome ye home with open arms,” Ken says.
“Deja is a bright lass. I only mean to make her stronger and capable of keeping herself alive. We have loved her as much as Angus has.
“I’ve known the lass from the time she was a wee bairn. The lassie has stolen our hearts. I’d be willing to lay down my own life for hers. Is she not safest with us?” Ewan says, lifting a brow.
“Dinnae fash yersel. We will take care of the lass. Ye are welcome to check in as often as ye like,” Ken adds.
“If something happens to my daughter, your entire family will be next, and I won’t come asking for permission. You have not seen hell as I will bring it over my child.”
“Aye, we know,” the brothers say in unison.