“I’ll take it. Everything I do now is for her anyway.”
“Untie me,” Fallon orders. She’s ready to get things going apparently.
I don’t move initially, hoping I didn’t just make a deal with the wrong devil. But I have nothing left, and no one left to help me. She’s my Hail Mary. Getting to my feet, I head into the kitchen and grab a serrated knife. Crouching next to her again, I twist the blade right in front of her. “If you double-cross me,”—I touch the tip to her jugular vein—“I’ll kill you.”
“Don’t give me a reason to double-cross you, and the only person you’ll have to worry about killing is Ronan.” She doesn’t even look remotely threatened by me. Even tied up with a knife to her throat.
That fearlessness is what drew me to her in the first place, and what draws me to her now. I cut her free, and Aisling wakes up. She lets out a little cry, and I drop the knife and pick her up. “Daddy’s right here.”
“Cuddles later.” Fallon gets to her feet and stretches her tight muscles. “We need to get the fuck out of here,now.”
She reaches into her back pocket, and I spook, grabbing her arm.
“What the fuck is your problem?” She pushes me, pulling out a tiny earpiece.
I suddenly realize we are going to have some trust issues to work through.
“Sorry, I just didn’t know what you were reaching for.”
“If I’m going to kill you, I’ll make sure it’s in your sleep.” She slips the piece in her ear.
“Good luck with that. I’ve pretty much traded sleep for fatherhood.”
“You slept pretty soundly last night.” She taps the mechanism.
“My good friend Jameson helped with that.”
“Yeah, that’s definitely one thing that’s going to change. No more drinking.”
“Acting like my damn wife already?”
“Keep dreaming, Paddy . . . no, not you.” She touches her ear. “Get your shit together.” She hisses. “No, March, not you . . . yes, I’m fine. No.” Fallon looks at me. “There’s been a change of plans.” I eavesdrop on her conversation. “No, dear God, this is no time for your perverted sarcasm. I need the fastest route out of the city. One that’ll keep us off main roads. We need a safe house, too, money, and new identities. Three of them. We need to get out of the country . . . yes, I know. Yes, I’ll explain everything when I know we’re in the clear . . .” Fallon shoots me a dirty look. “Why the fuck are you just standing there? Get what you need, and let’s go!”
“All right, all right.” I head into the bedroom where I have most of Aisling’s things. “First things first, you need a change. I can feel how soppy that diaper is.” I lie her down on the bed and do a quick switch. Three months of this, and I’m nearly an expert. She doesn’t make it easy, though, squirming around like a slippery little fish. “Think you’re gonna get away from me that easily, aye?” I tickle her tummy, and she giggles. “Not a chance.” I pull off her nightgown and throw it on the floor. I set her on her feet and rummage through the trash bag of her clean clothes. A T-shirt with a unicorn and a pair of black stretchies does the trick. “We need to get our butts moving, munchkin. Or else the copperhead killer will come and get us.” I play with her as I look for a pair of matching socks.
“We need to go.” Fallon barges into the room.
“I’m not done packing.”
“It doesn't matter.” She pulls on my arm. “Leave it. Leave it all. They’re coming.”
“Shite.” I haul Aisling into my arms.
“Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go.” Fallon rushes me while checking for a round in her chamber. The metal clinks just before she opens the door. “Ready?”
“I need shoes.”
“Should have moved faster.” She checks the hallway before giving me the all-clear sign. “We’ll go down the back stairs. I have a car waiting.”
“Always prepared.” I grab my sneakers off the floor, securing Aisling against me with one arm.
“It’s what keeps me alive. You should try it sometime.” We creep down the hallway as quickly as possible.
“I’m feeling a little exposed. I don’t have any fire power.”
“Again, always be prepared,” Fallon reiterates annoyingly.
“Stuff it, copperhead killer.”
