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)
My conversation with the hooker who’d found her didn’t shed any light on what happened to Imogen, and a contact at the Miami police department left me with the same information I had before. Maybe the only one who really knew what had happened was Imogen. She could name her attacker. It was unlikely she’d wake, and even if she did, it was even less likely that she’d remember, but I would have to keep a guard in front of her room indefinitely.
When I returned to New York, I filled Seamus in on what I’d found out.
“You should tell Aislinn. Maybe she’ll find a way to transport her sister back to Dublin. Then she isn’t our problem anymore.”
“She’s not stable enough. And I doubt Imogen had travel health insurance. Plus, I feel like this is our problem. Sergej and Maksim know Imogen is my sister-in-law. If I don’t try to avenge her, how would that look?”
If Aislinn found out about her sister, she’d get herself in trouble. She’d try to investigate.
“You’re on the brink of divorcing Aislinn.” Seamus paused. His expression told me he only said it to provoke me. The fucker knew I wasn’t close to filing divorce. “Right?”
I ignored his question. I wasn’t sure I wanted to discuss the details of my emotional predicament, even with my best friend. I despised myself for my weakness when it came to Aislinn. “This is Devaney business. End of story.”
Seamus sighed. “All right. But you need to tell her. It’s her sister.”
“She’ll feel obligated to spend every moment at her sister’s side. She’ll want to believe in a miracle and waste her life on foolish hope.”
“That’s her decision to make, don’t you think? Why do you care? She betrayed you. To be honest, I thought you would dispose of her.” He tilted his head and regarded me curiously.
“Don’t say whatever it is you want to say. I’m not in the mood for your shrink bullshit. For once, remember I’m your boss not just your friend.”
Seamus shrugged. “This is your game. I’m just a player.”
I knew he wouldn’t stay silent for long. This was bothering him. “Listen, I don’t care if you’ll be mad, but I need to say this. You obviously still care about Aislinn as your insistence to keep her safe shows. So why don’t you see Imogen as a chance for a reunion. Now you can bring Aislinn back to New York without having to admit your feelings. You’ll keep face and get what you want: her. Maybe this marriage deserves another chance. She can prove her loyalty over the next few months and years.”
I glared. “Balor told you everything, didn’t he?”
Seamus shrugged, as if it was obvious. “Think about it.”
I nodded, not sure what to say. He had a point. This was an easy way to bring Aislinn back to New York, to me. But should I really risk it? Should I risk opening myself up for more weakness?
A week later, I organized a medical helicopter to transport Imogen to New York. She still wasn’t exactly stable, but my men had noticed strange guys wandering around the hospital and the parking lot. They tried to catch one of them, but they were professionals and knew how to get away, which made me believe they belonged to a crime family or someone with very good connections in the underworld. I didn’t think it was Sergej. I hoped it wasn’t. Our business endeavor with the counterfeit guns was off to a promising start. But I couldn’t guarantee Imogen’s safety in Florida. It wasn’t my territory. I didn’t have enough contacts there, and I couldn’t send a large enough number of men over there. The only place where Imogen would be safe from the people who’d tried to dispose of her was New York.
She survived the transport, but of course having her in New York made Seamus only grate on my nerves all the more. And I couldn’t stop thinking about telling Aislinn. I couldn’t stop thinking about Aislinn. Period.
It would mean she’d come back. I was the one who’d sent her away, who didn’t want to see her again, but now the idea of having her close again made my heart throb in the most annoying way possible. Our encounter in Dublin had chipped away at my resolve.
Should I let Aislinn back into my life? For what reason? A few more pleasurable nights? I had a feeling she’d be up for them. She always had trouble resisting my touch. Just thinking about how wet she got when I touched and licked her made my cock fill with blood.
The problem was I wanted more than just fucking. I wanted our marriage to be what I’d always envisioned.
Two weeks after Christmas, I finally found a temporary job in the kitchen of an Italian restaurant as a dishwasher and general maid. It was hard work and I was poorly paid, but I wanted to contribute to our rent. And I badly needed to be busy. Since the attack, I hadn’t stopped watching my back. At least now the guards who watched me on Lorcan’s orders always showed themselves so I knew they were close by. It helped with my anxiety.