Declan heaved a sigh, then admitted, “Justin suggested it.”
“Did he now?” She didn’t know whether she wanted to slap or hug Justin for taking care of her family. For ensuring her brother and Diana would have a chance at a life away from Boyle. There just seemed to be some high-handedness, but Justin was smooth.
Her brother shook his head, sadness seemed to overwhelm his features. “Based on all I know about Boyle, you wouldn’t have been safe.”
“Yet you didn’t care that it’d put us all in danger when you decided to jump into Diana’s bed,” she snapped, then immediately felt contrite. That’d been uncalled for. As far as she knew, her brother didn’t jump in and out of bed without thought. “Do you really love her or is it the baby? Is it all worth it?” Maybe she shouldn’t ask him while Diana was there, as his answer could be fake—like their new identification—in case she was awake.
“I do love her. The baby just makes it all better.”
Love sparkled in Declan’s light green eyes with vivid blue-colored shards at the edges. Green eyes just like hers and their mother’s. Yet when she really searched them, fear lurked there. Probably fear for her, Diana, and their unborn baby. He always did take on the role of protector for all.
What would happen to him and Diana now? Based on all she’d heard listening to him and Justin—and reading between the lines—the two would never be able to live openly without risk of being found by Boyle, who was, apparently, relentless in his vengeance. And for Diana, falling in love with a law officer was a betrayal her father would never allow to go unanswered. Spawn or not.
Exhaustion weighed on her. Her life had been turned upside down. She couldn’t be mad at him for wanting to protect her by having documents ready in case they had to escape quickly. Especially since they had. If only he’d discussed it with her before today, it’d be an easier pill to swallow.
As if realizing how empty and alone she felt, Declan deftly maneuvered from under Diana, without waking her, and sat beside Moira on the small love seat she occupied.
“Can’t we ever go home?” She’d asked this already and didn’t expect a different answer, but the words fled her mouth. While she enjoyed independence, she didn’t relish trying to start over somewhere new. Surely, she’d be able to go back to somewhere in Ireland at some point.
After he put his arm around her and she leaned her head on his shoulder. Safety, security, and love. Always how she felt with her big brother. “Nay, my deirfiúr. Not as long as Boyle lives.” His resigned voice broke her heart.
Holding onto his shirt and tucking her head closer into his shoulder, she let him know, “I don’t want to do this without you.”
“You won’t.” He kissed the top of her head with such gentleness she wanted to cry. “Don’t worry. We won’t be alone. Danny, Justin’s brother, will help us get settled and secure. Remember him?”
Yes, she remembered him. Although she remembered how handsome he looked the last time he’d visited. For her brother’s benefit—so he didn’t know she’d had a thing for Danny—she scrunched up her nose. “You mean the gangly kid?” That’d help Declan not realize she’d always had a crush on Danny. It’d started the first time he’d given her attention. It later grew from a child’s crush to a teenager’s lovesickness. She liked the idea of him, but she didn’t know him and doubted that her crush had grown into anything more. They were adults now.
The rumble of laughter from Declan’s chest made her want to laugh. She couldn’t help the smile.
“He’ll surprise you. I know you’re mad about all this, but listen to me and listen well. Danny works in security and protection, so you listen to him. I don’t want Boyle to find any of us.”
Finally lifting her head, she settled back into the seat, although not having strong arms around her did feel lonely—even if they’d been her brother’s and not a lover’s. “Surely we’ll be safe there using the fake identities?” While she wondered if Justin overreacted, she also knew to trust him. “Boyle doesn’t know we’ve left Ireland.”
He nodded. “I think we will be, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t keep that threat at the forefront in your mind. If Justin does it right, no one will even look for us. The IDs”—he looked at her sheepishly— “again, I’m sorry. Anyhow, it’ll take work to find us.”
“How do you think Justin will fake kill us?” A tingle of fear slid up her spine at those words.
“I think I might find a drop-off and push your car over it,” a sexy, male voice whispered near her ear. She hadn’t noticed Justin come close. Then again, she’d always found his ability to sneak up on her scary. She’d been six the first time he’d frightened her doing that when she’d been sneaking a cookie in the kitchen after she’d been told no by the cook.
Dropping her hand from where she’d been rubbing her necklace without realizing it, almost as if guilty for touching it, she looked at him and smiled. “Sorry.” Then shaking her head, she said firmly, “Won’t they know I’m not in it?”
Justin continued around her seat to stand near them. “My hope is an unclaimed body is released around that time, so I can put her in the vehicle. If not, I’ll find a way to make it appear like you’ve died.” He shrugged as if talking about killing people was nothing more than a bother in the conversation. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.”
She ignored the whole corpse stealing thing because she didn’t want to touch that and find out Justin was into some crazy things. “Why are you even going back? Won’t he know you helped us?
