She just went with what Declan expected. Her brother’s feelings, she knew. Danny’s, it was too late to discuss them. “What Declan says makes sense. Boyle will come here. I’d rather be far away when he does. You’ll take care of him and we’ll all be safe.”
“Moira, you’re making a mistake. What if Boyle doesn’t come straight here?”
She wet her lips to stall while she thought. “Well, Declan’s employed some security. Haven’t you?” she directed at her brother.
“Yes.”
The men went back and forth on the topic a bit more, then moved on to others. Declan was now into American sports and the animosity seemed to ease. After a couple hours, she became tired. When the two men didn’t seem to want to break up their chatter anytime soon, she slipped off to bed. Her bed. For two reasons. One, because Declan wanted to speak with her. Two, because she was chicken and didn’t want to say goodbye to Danny.
It wasn’t long before her brother visited her. He slipped in her room and closed the door behind him.
“We have to leave now,” he whispered.
“What? Why?” That made no sense. They were leaving tomorrow.
“My contact says Danny is working with Justin who’s still working with Boyle.”
She shook her head. “Nay, Justin isn’t working with Boyle any longer. The man wants him dead.”
“It was all a ruse to get Danny’s help. They’re just keeping you safe until Boyle can get here, without being stopped by US authorities. And he’s on his way.”
The other made no sense. Danny and Justin were good people. They’d never sell her out. Something wasn’t right. “How do you know this?”
“I told you. Quinn. He knows everything that happens, and Boyle is so far up Donnelly’s ass, he knows even more. Like that your call to Cassie was traced. Not that they really needed to locate you since Danny was sitting on you.”
Traced? Shocked, she shook her head. This couldn’t be. Danny, whose hands had touched her everywhere with loving tenderness, could not be holding her for Boyle. Nay. That had to be wrong.
Again, she shook her head. “You’re wrong.”
“Boyle still wants me, and I never told Danny where Diana and I were staying. They planned to use you to get to me. Has Danny or Justin asked about me?”
Her back stiffened. They had. Casually. Including if she’d received Declan’s address. This couldn’t be right. Danny couldn’t do this to her after loving her so gently. Had it all been an act?
“Just pack an overnight bag. Quinn has a place for us to stay along the route. He’s driving Diana up to meet us. Like I said, we’re moving. Too many people know Diana was in the hospital.”
“Wait, Quinn’s here?”
“I called him to check on things. I didn’t like there never being any information. That’s when I began to think something had happened. You were fine with just Danny. Then Justin showed up and things began to change.” He waved a hand. “Pack and be quiet.”
She didn’t pay attention to what she tossed in the small bag. As she zipped it closed, she hoped she’d grabbed clean knickers.
They exited through the back door and were swiftly met by Cowboy who was speaking, but not to them. Another communication thing, which meant Danny knew they were leaving.
“Look,” Declan said, “we’re leaving. Now, get out of the way.”
Moira didn’t like him being rude to someone she called a friend, albeit loosely, since Danny wouldn’t let Cowboy hang out around her much. If at all.
“No” was all he said in response. When he looked behind them, Moira hesitated to turn. She knew who’d be there and how angry he’d be for them slipping out. But he’d agreed she could leave. Now that she thought about it, he never had. He just stopped arguing after she’d agreed to leave with Declan.
“Going somewhere?” Danny asked. She looked over at him. He stood wearing a pair of sweatpants and a much-worn T-shirt. At least he wasn’t carrying his weapon. She took that as a plus.
“We’re leaving,” Declan told Danny.
“Now? Christ, you drove eight hours to get here and now you want to turn around and drive eight more? That’s dangerous.”
“I appreciate the concern, but we need to leave as soon as possible.”
“What the fuck for?”
Moira volleyed back and forth between the two men. This seemed deeper than them leaving. However, if Danny was truly in with Justin and Boyle, then he wouldn’t want her to leave. Not even a few hours earlier than agreed upon. Suddenly, she felt the need to leave. She didn’t know whether she could trust Danny or not, but she didn’t want to risk it.
“I’m helping him drive,” she piped up to keep Declan from outright accusing Danny of being in league with Boyle.
Danny looked at her. “Your license isn’t even valid.”
“I’ll chance it.” She hoped it never came to that.
“I still think you should get a good night’s sleep before you depart.”
“Like Declan said, we’re gonna head on.” Her heart was ripping apart now that the break was actually happening. She had no idea it would hurt so much to leave him.
His gaze searched hers with an intensity that made her want to crawl all over him to get as close as she could. “Well, I guess this is goodbye.” His eyes never left hers when he spoke. Hurt flared in them, but what else could she do? Boyle was on his way. Whether Danny helped Justin or not.
This was not how she’d envisioned them saying goodbye. She’d expected lots of time in bed exploring each other’s bodies to remember every fine detail, like the scar on his ribs from a knife, or the fine hairs on his chest. Good grief, this sucked. “I guess it is.” She hoped the sorrow she felt was
