“Is it that obvious?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, it’s personal.”
“I won’t judge.” A grin spread across Justin’s face.
“It’s nothing like that, pervert.” Danny laughed, glad to know his brother could bring him back from a mood. “It’s just— I mean— Well, I told Moira I loved her, and she didn’t say anything.”
Justin looked serious. “Was she awake?”
“Yeah.” She’d been plenty worn out, but she’d been awake.
“Did you read her wrong thinking she would say the same thing to you?”
Had he? He knew she was a free spirit, but he could’ve sworn she felt more for him than a fling. “I guess I did.” And that put him back in a mood. He didn’t want to lose her. He’d planned to agree to several trips to Ireland a year. He’d find a way to pay for them. He just wanted her happy, and he knew leaving her homeland forever would not do that.
“Cheer up. You’ve still got time. They can’t go home until I straighten out their fake deaths.” Justin grinned, and Danny laughed. His brother had his back.
Getting serious, Danny asked, “Did you go see Mom?”
Justin exhaled loudly. “Yes. She chastised me so much I had to leave.”
Danny burst out laughing. “She is good at that.”
“It was like she built it all up during these years.”
“Yeah, but I bet she also spoiled you.”
A sheepish grin escaped his brother. “Yeah, she made my favorite cookies, did my laundry. She even ironed my jeans.”
“They’ve got him.” Danny didn’t need to explain to his brother the change of topic. He’d know the meaning. The authorities had their father’s killer. Well, the man who’d ordered it. They already had the actual killer.
Justin gave a slight nod of understanding. His “Yeah” left Danny wondering why he didn’t sound happy.
“It’s about time.”
“Sorry I couldn’t move faster,” Justin said.
“You did what you had to do.”
“You know, all this time I worried you blamed me for Dad’s death.”
An unsettling feeling dropped into his gut. “At first I did. Then I got the facts.” He’d kept that anger for too long.
“I heard about the kidnapping and all. You’ve been a busy boy.”
Yeah, he’d been busy. In more ways than one. “Did you hear she rescued herself?” Pride infused his voice.
“I heard you flew. Just like Dad.”
In the past, when he was taking courses or training, Danny would bristle when Justin said that. But Justin hadn’t been the problem; Danny’s disappointment was because he should’ve finished his flight training before his father had died. He wanted his dad to have seen him as a pilot.
“Yeah.” That was all there was to say about it.
Moira approached them, and Justin got up for his turn with the DEA agent.
“All done?” Danny asked, knowing she was unless the agent had asked for more.
“Yes. I’m hungry. Can we get something to eat on the way home?”
“Sure.” He loved this woman so deeply it almost hurt. He had to find a way into her heart. He couldn’t bear the thought of her leaving.
Realizing they had plenty of privacy, Danny decided to push his point. “Come here.” Before he fully opened his arms, she’d launched herself at him. He inhaled her scent and knew she’d ruined him for other women.
Taking the biggest leap of his life, he gave her body a tight squeeze and lowered his voice near her ear. “We’ve been good together, haven’t we?”
A rub on his chest was her response.
Moving his hand up and down her back to help relax her, he put his chin on the top of her head. “I know it’s only been a few months, but I want to spend more time with you. I want you to stay here. With me.” He needed her with him. He had to find a way for them. Otherwise, his heart would never recover.
Pulling her head back, she looked at him. “As lovers?”
He cleared his throat, hoping to wipe away his nervousness. “I see us getting married in about six months. I’d like it sooner, but I hear women need time to prepare.”
She searched his eyes. “My home?”
His forefinger traced her cheekbone with a featherlight touch. “We’ll take care of your Visa after you marry me.”
With a tremulous smile, she said, “I know, but—”
Her argument shoved a jagged knife in his heart, tearing it to shreds and leaving him sick to his stomach.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
As Moira climbed the stairs to the studio, she silently asked herself, how do I come to terms with what my brother did? He handed me over to the bad guy. Then she thoughtfully added, to save the life of his lover and unborn child.
She remembered growing up with Declan as her hero. He’d saved her from monsters under her bed, had kissed her wounds like her mam. He’d snuck her cookies when she’d broken her ankle, and he’d pulled Donovan O’Leary off her when his advances went too far. He was always there to love and protect her.
In her heart, he could do no wrong. And until recently, he never had. As far as she knew. Although he had already planned for her to leave Ireland with him and Diana, without informing her.
What a dilemma he must’ve faced then. Stop loving Diana or leave all he knew and uproot all he loved for their safety?
He’d never have stopped loving Diana. Just like she’d never stop loving him. They had no choice.
Although she wished she hadn’t had to leave, she’d eventually understood when she’d overhead Justin describing to Danny the torture Boyle had inflicted in an effort to find them.
Which meant she wasn’t angry with her brother about the move. For not telling her before they left, aye.
That brought her to his second big dilemma. Diana and his unborn baby versus her. She closed her eyes to think of how hard that must’ve been for him. One person he loved versus the other. And to be given the added reality of watching Diana die.
Danny had given her the basics
