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)
Maybe it was just sex. But if that were the case, then why did he spare me?
“Will you bring Finn to Gulliver too?”
“Yes. Once I drop you off, I’ll head home to Maeve and pick him up.”
“He won’t understand what’s going on.”
“I guess you can explain everything to him.”
How could I explain everything to him? I hardly understood any of it myself.
“Time to get out,” Seamus muttered. I glanced out of the window to find Gulliver on the sidewalk, huddled under a huge umbrella to avoid the heavy rainfall.
“I’ll pick you and Finn up in the morning and take you to the airport. Someone’s going to watch the house. Don’t try to do something.”
When I didn’t get out right away, he leaned over and shoved open the door. Rain and wind slapped against me. Gulliver rushed over to me and half dragged me out of the car then toward his front door. Once inside, he slammed the door shut and locked it twice before pocketing the keys. He closed the umbrella before turning to me. He quickly looked away as if he couldn’t bear looking at me.
“The moment I saw you on my door step I knew you meant trouble.”
Done with being insulted and chastised, I glared at him. “Your world is already rife with trouble without my presence. I never wanted any of this to happen, but I at least acted because I wanted to help my sister. What are your reasons for your actions?”
“I don’t have to explain myself to you. Be glad Lorcan didn’t kill you. He isn’t a lenient man. You’re lucky.”
I didn’t feel lucky. I felt adrift and helpless. Rushing past Gulliver, I made my way toward my old room, where my suitcase awaited me. My belongings had been stuffed into the suitcase and were wrinkled. I slipped on a sweater and a skirt before going to find my uncle.
He sat at the kitchen table, hunched over a cup of tea, his expression pinched. I sat down across from him.
“I can’t leave now. I need to find Imogen. She’s in Florida, so I don’t even have to stay in New York, but I can’t return to Dublin yet. Can’t you have a word with Lorcan?”
Gulliver slammed his palm down on the table. Tea spilled over the rim of his cup. He grimaced, got up and quickly cleaned the table with a dish towel.
“I won’t talk to Lorcan. Neither should you. That you’re still alive and well is a miracle of major proportions. Don’t you understand? Lorcan doesn’t show mercy, but allowing you to live after your betrayal is mercy, Aislinn. Lorcan honored your marriage. He valued the holy bond, even when you didn’t.”
“It’s a bond I never wanted.”
“But a bond you said yes to.”
“I didn’t mean to betray Lorcan. I wanted to find Imogen, and the police promised to help me. That’s more than Lorcan did in all the time.”
Gulliver shook his head. He raised a finger. “You know nothing.”
I frowned. “Do you know anything?” I wondered if Gulliver would confirm Lorcan’s story about Imogen.
“I’m sure he already told you. Lorcan found your sister a few weeks ago. In Florida. She was about to embark on a cruise of the Caribbean with a Russian oligarch she met in Sodom. She didn’t want to postpone her trip, even when Lorcan told her about you.”
I swallowed. Hearing it again didn’t make things any easier. I wanted to defend her, say that Imogen wouldn’t do it, but that actually sounded like something Imogen would do. Not to hurt me but because she thought of herself first and didn’t pause to think of the consequences for others.
“Why didn’t Lorcan tell me right away? With all his secrets he practically forced me into the arms of the police.”
Gulliver shrugged. “You are his wife. Don’t you have an idea?”
“He wanted to chain me to him, to New York. He knew I’d try to leave once I found Imogen.”
“Lorcan has his ways to keep you where he wants you. Maybe he wanted to protect you.”
I scoffed. I was still reeling from everything that had happened. I needed to figure out a way to reach Imogen. But without the name of the yacht or the oligarch, that was impossible.
Gulliver leaned across the table and gripped my hands. “You need to accept Imogen’s decision, and what’s even more important, you need to respect Lorcan’s. He gave you a chance to return to your mother. Think of Finn. Return to Dublin immediately. I already talked to your mother and told her that you’ll be back tomorrow. She’s excited to have you and Finn back.”
I tugged my hands away from Gulliver. He knew I would take the flight because of Finn. I didn’t want him to figure out what was going on. Things were too volatile in New York right now.