Page 13 of Retribution
Carys sighs and focuses on the scenery out the window. “I know I seemed excited about the arms deal if they split. I wasn’t sure I wanted to tell you any of this. The truth, the complete and utter truth, is watching them destroy each other would hurt my heart too much.” A wry smile plays on her lips. “You know, what’s left of it.”
I offer her a half smile. Her iron facade isn’t as pristine as she likes to think.
“I know them. I knew their parents. I can’t sit back and watch it happen.” She twirls one of the rings on her finger. “In the end, family is all we’ve got. All they have left is each other.”
Unbidden, the memory of my mother’s laugh rings in my ears. It never sounds the same anymore. For the first time, I wish I could be Kimi in this moment, confide, confess, and share my grief with someone.
“If you let them, they’ll destroy you. Don’t let it happen, okay? Keep your head in the game.”
My mind snaps back into focus, and I wink at her. “My head’s always in the game.”
Chapter Six
The next day when the door swings open to Finn, I curse Lorcan and his matchmaking skills. I sent Lorcan a text when I landed to let him know when I’d arrive at the house. He knew it would be me at the door. I step around Finn. The idea I don’t understand how to seduce a man is laughable. Lorcan and I are going to have a chat. This isn’t how I work.
“Carys must be a pretty shitty employer if you decided working for Lorcan is better.”
Instead of turning to address Finn, I continue heading to the back of the house toward Lorcan’s office. I offer Finn a wave above my head, not bothering to give him the satisfaction of a reply.
His deep laughter follows me until I round the corner. When I get to Lorcan’s door, I press the buzzer like I saw Antonio do yesterday.
It takes a moment for Lorcan’s voice to come through the speaker, and when it does, it’s breathless. “Yes?”
“Kim.”
The door buzzes, and I enter the spacious room. Shirtless, Lorcan runs on the treadmill at a full-on sprint. His stride is impressive. It’s been a while since I’ve done the same, and my limbs ache with the remembrance of an unrelenting pace.
“Just be a tic,” he calls to me before upping the speed on the treadmill.
I ease into a chair and cross my legs, watching him with mild amusement. His build isn’t of a runner, more like a boxer or wrestler. As he slows, I say, “That’s quite a pace.”
“You never know when you might need to run for your life.” He grabs a towel off a chair and wipes his face. With one last swipe at his neck, his gaze sweeps me from head to toe. “You work out?”
“Not much lately. I should probably get back into it.” Fitness is vital for my job, but I’m athletic and don’t worry about it as often as I should.
“There’s a communal gym off the front entrance.”
“Meaning Finn uses it.”
“Maybe. I don’t. I wouldn’t know.” He tosses his towel into a laundry chute by the workout equipment and crosses the room to perch on the edge of his desk.
“Pushing me on Finn isn’t helpful.”
Glowering at me, he runs a hand through his damp hair. “I know my brother. You don’t need to worry how you appear. If I seem interested, he will be too.”
I twist in my chair to face him. Gone is the charmer from the last couple of days. In his place is a man with a determined, edgy air.
“I need you to be ready in twenty minutes. I have a few errands to run.”
“I’m ready now.” I indicate my tight black yoga pants and my flowing black shirt. “Unless we’re going somewhere special?”
He looks me over again before he rises and heads for the door. “What you’re wearing is fine. I’ll meet you at the front door in twenty. Go unpack, explore, whatever.”
Explore.“Sure.” The doors I passed on the way to this one showed promise. The best place to be is the office though. “I could wait for you here.”
He chuckles and wanders closer to me. “I’m sure you could.” He bends toward me, and his lilting voice purrs in my ear, “Unless you’remy a ghrá, you don’t get to stay here alone.”
I close my eyes as the Irish washes over me. My father used to call me hisa chroí.Neither of those will ever happen. I’ll never be Lorcan’s love, and I’ll never again be my father’s heart as he squeezes me tight.