He thought he might know.
Let this not be what he was imagining.
Patrick and his dad both scrutinized the... device.
“Holy fuck. Is that a camera?”
Dad didn’t bother answering Patrick. He was already calling the police.
“Pat, call James and tell him what we found. Have him call his detective friend and see what steps we need to take. Tell him Dad is calling the local police.” Count on his brother. Pat was already talking to James before he finished.
Bran was calling Nan.
23
Morcote had to be the most glorious slice of land on this side of Heaven. When travel blogs insisted this was the place to go if a person wanted to leave behind the modern world, they weren’t lying. They’d just arrived, and Raven felt some of the tension in her body relax. Not even two weeks had passed since Bran broke things off, and here she was, stepping off a private jet and walking into a whole new life— without Bran.
The drive to their villa in Morcote was surreal. Nothing this beautiful could surely exist. Raven and her sisters had pictured a quaint, affordable, heavy on the rustic, cottage with tight quarters, one bathroom— a nightmare with four women, but not impossible— bed-sharing, but the atmosphere would overcome it all.
They hadn’t considered Travel Agent O’Connor.
Or the going away present that kept getting additional clauses, footnotes, and addendums— all nonnegotiable. River probably regretted her past word choices— it made it hard to put her foot down.
The first look inside the luxury villa that was now part of Jo’s parting gift had been nothing short of shocking for all ofthem.The property was for sale, but Jo talked the owners into renting it to her for two months. Raven shuddered to consider the expense of it all.
The main villa— as in there were other accommodations on the property— had seven bedrooms and multiple bathrooms. She and her sisters wouldn’t even remember how to share after this vacation.
The indoor/outdoor pool was second in beauty only to the veranda, covered in flowers that flowed in a profusion of color, swirling around the entire property. The veranda overlooked Lake Lugano.
A separate three-bedroom villa dotted the lush scenery to the right of the veranda. Separate accommodation toward the back of the villa was set up for the home’s service staff.
And surprise, Jo hired three housekeepers to live there while they were in residence. Arguing about the unnecessary expense got them nowhere. She only argued back. Raven asked if she didn’t think three housekeepers was a bit excessive. She admitted that one of them was actually a private chef.
“I’m telling you guys, Jo has lost her mind. This...” Raven flapped her hands all around them, “... is insane!”
“Yes, it is,” Rowan agreed. “But,” she paused and looked around her once again, just as awed as her sisters, “Jo isn’t changing her mind. It’s a done deal, as she put it. So, I suggest we go jump on all the beds, unpack, and explore.”
They were all grinning like loons now.
“Nan is literally going to shit!”
Before they could run off, Raven grabbed her sisters’ hands.
“Thank you.” Raven willed the tears stinging her eyes not to fall. “We loved Eufaula, and we loved the space we’d created... and you left it all, and... I’m sorry I wasn’t strong enough to stay.”
Rowan and River clasped their hands together, finishing the circle.
“We’re together in this, as we’ve been together in everything else.”
“We are each other’s home, Rave. What we started planning as kids in Bristow, worked toward in college, and finished in Eufaula was amazing, but that really was just the first version of what we’re capable of. Like a... trial run.” Rowan smiled.
“Row’s right. Byrne’s Triskelion Territory Designs 2.0 will rock Ireland’s world!”
“And, if you’re concerned we’ll miss Oklahoma, don’t be. We will go back whenever we feel like it once we’re established in Dublin.”
“And Mom and Dad are forever in Ireland. There is nothing to hold us back from starting a new life. And,” River grinned, squeezing her hand, “I’m kind of liking the beginning of this adventure.”
Done with sadness, Raven smiled back. Before her sisters could anticipate her move, Raven dropped their hands and started running toward the bedrooms, laughing as she went.
