Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 126485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 632(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 632(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
“Like a real basketball player,” she said, patting his head.
“Football,” Finn and I corrected.
“I thought the American don’t like football.”
“Not our football. Theirs. Our football is called soccer over there,” I said.
Mum shook her head and sank down at the kitchen table. Finn started the puzzle of the Statue of Liberty, though it was for Mum and way too difficult for a boy his age. He loved puzzles and would probably beg Mum or me to help him with this one-thousand-piece puzzle later.
Mum gripped my hand. “I was sure I wouldn’t see you again.”
I glanced at Finn, who was focused on the puzzle, before whispering, “I’m here. I’m sorry I didn’t bring Imogen with me.”
Mum let out a laugh. “I never thought you would. Imogen wanted a new life. We are part of her old one. She must let us go to become someone new.”
She sounded resigned but also as if she’d long come to terms with the fact. I wished I could accept Imogen turning away from us so easily.
“Did you talk to her?”
“Oh no. Gulliver told me that she found a rich man who’s taking her to the Caribbean on his yacht.”
She nodded as if it made sense to her. Mum didn’t know that Imogen had met him in Sodom. Few honest people went there, and a Russian billionaire on the hunt for a young woman probably wasn’t a nice guy either no matter what Lorcan said.
But what did that even mean? I was married to Lorcan, and he’d never hurt me, not really. A shiver raced down my spine as I remembered our last encounter. I couldn’t believe it was really our last.
“How are you?”
I blinked at Mum. “I’m …fine. I think. A lot has happened.”
Mum squeezed my hand. “I never wanted this for you. Five-leaf Clover, the Devaneys, and all they stand for.” She released a sigh. “Do you think Lorcan is really going to let you go? Allow you to divorce him?”
“That’s what he said. I’m here, so he doesn’t want me anymore.”
“It’s not like a Devaney to give up someone they want.”
“A Devaney gave you up.”
“Because I was pregnant with another man’s child. I knew that was the only way to get rid of him. Are you pregnant?”
“No,” I said with a quick laugh. I had a feeling Lorcan wouldn’t have let me leave New York alive if I’d cheated on him. To be honest, not once had I imagined being with another man since I first met Lorcan. His touch consumed me so entirely that there was no room for anyone else. “I’m not pregnant. Lorcan found out I worked with the police, that’s why he got rid of me.”
Mum froze. “Oh, Aislinn. That’s a big risk you took. I can’t believe he let you go despite your betrayal. He must really have feelings for you.”
I pursed my lips. “I doubt it.”
“Why else would he let you live?”
I’d asked myself the same question, but the thought that Lorcan and his twisted heart might really care about me made me feel even guiltier for working with the police, which I definitely shouldn’t. Right? “I don’t know,” I admitted. “I’m here now. That’s all that matters.”
Mum squeezed my hand. “I’m glad. But what are your plans now?”
Yes, what now? I still couldn’t imagine being with anyone but Lorcan. Maybe time would erase him from my memory, even if it seemed impossible.
“Do you think Sean is going to take me back? I need work.”
“I don’t know. You’re still a Devaney, Aislinn. You can’t just be a waitress. I doubt the Devaneys would like that. It could cause Sean a whole lot of trouble. I have enough money to get us through the next couple of months until you’re divorced and free to work as you please.”
“I could go to the Devaneys and ask for permission to work. Balor’s at the manor, but Aran is in the city. I could go talk to him.”
“You talk about them as if you know them. Do you? Really?”
“No.” I’d only met them once at the wedding. My time with Lorcan had been too short for another family reunion. And after my betrayal, which Lorcan had probably filled them in on by now, I would be crazy to go near any Devaney.
Finn spent the night in my bed, cuddled up to me. I couldn’t shake the feeling that he missed New York, especially Lorcan. Maybe because Lorcan had been the first father figure in his short life, and he’d been ripped away again.
I kissed his forehead, feeling a potent wave of guilt. I loved the feel of his small body beside mine, but I missed the familiar heat of Lorcan, his possessive touch, and the way he filled me with fire.
Just as Mum suspected Sean didn’t dare taking me back. He paid protection money to the Devaneys so having someone with that last name as a waitress was too big a risk.