She shook her head. “I’m sorry, but I don’t even recognize the name.” That was the problem with always running, alwayshiding. There was so much she didn’t know about her father and his world, because she hadn’t wanted to know anything about him. In hindsight, she now realized that was probably foolish of her.
Her entire life was about staying invisible. It was a skill she’d developed so well that on the rare occasion she’d had to shoplift to eat, she’d gotten away with it so easily because being invisible had become her superpower. She knew how to act, how to dress, how to move to attract as little attention as possible. She hadn’t thought to take further precautions by learning about her father and his world.
“Do you think he has an interest in me? This Callahan man?” she asked. She and her mother had known her father’s men were always after her, but a tiny part of her had begun to hope that once her father had been dead a few years, the men who took over after him would forget her, and she’d someday be able to emerge into a visible life.
Roarke cleared his throat with a glance at Angelo before speaking to her.
“We fear he might. Callahan and his second-in-command Jim O’Leary, recently arrived in New York City. They’ve been seen talking to the Westies, the group your father ran for over two decades. We think the Westies were the ones he had chasing you down here in the States. Until we know for sure, we have to act like he is after you.”
She stiffened, her breath stuttering in her chest. They were here in the U.S?
Angelo turned away from the pancakes which were cooking on a griddle on the stove and with a glance at Jared, he spoke.
“It’s okay, Kara.” Angelo assured her. “We’re watching his every move. I promise you’re safe, but I thought you deserved to know that Callahan left Ireland.”
She desperately wanted to believe him, but how could she? He had no idea how dangerous these men were.
“Kara,” Roarke suddenly spoke up. “We’re prepared to deal with him.”
Kara shook her head. “But you can’t be ready every second?—”
“We can,” Roarke said. He pulled his cell phone out of his coat pocket and dialed a number.
“Hey, it’s me. I’ve put you on speaker.” Roarke hit a button on his phone and placed the phone on the counter near her. “Tell Kara where Callahan and O’Leary are right now.”
“They just entered a coffee shop in Manhattan. I have eyes on them in the window right now.”
“Thanks.” Roarke hit the end call button. “My friends won’t let them go anywhere without knowing.”
“What about his men?” she asked.
“We’re in the middle of mapping Callahan’s networks. By the end of the day, we will know all of his men, and even his common associates that aren’t considered to be in his immediate employment.”
If that was true, would that mean that she might actually be safe? Her body was still full of tension, so much that it took effort to unclench her jaw, but a flicker of hope was now inside her.
“I hope everyone’s hungry.” Angelo finished sliding pancakes off the griddle and onto four plates. The pancakes were perfectly round, perfectly golden and smelled amazing.
“You know I never turn down your cooking,” Jared said as he eyed the pancakes with excitement.
“I wouldn’t mind one,” Roarke admitted. “I’ve heard great things about your cooking.”
“Thad?” Angelo asked.
Thad nodded solemnly before he looked at Kara. “I owe you an apology, Kara. Angelo was right. You shouldn’t have to run just because it’s easier. You deserve a life.”
Kara suddenly found she had no words and simply nodded at him that she understood and accepted his apology. Angelo passed her a plate with two pancakes covered in butter and syrup first, then he passed out the remaining plates to his friends. The pancakes were asperfectas they looked. She really had to stop being so surprised at his cooking skills. He was a chef with a popular restaurant after all.
“Eat up, everyone,” Angelo said as he finally prepared a plate for himself. They all dug into their breakfast the moment Angelo took his seat beside Kara at the tabletop bar.
“Roarke, do you think your security detail would let us leave the house to do a few things in the city today?”
“I’m sure they would. That will give Asher time to have someone come and fix the broken window in your bedroom. What did you have a mind?”
“Shopping, and maybe stopping by the restaurant,” Angelo said.
“That should be fine. You have Asher’s number. He’s outside. He can arrange everything.”
Kara ate all of her pancakes, even though she felt like her stomach was going to burst open. But Angelo’s cooking was truly too good to not enjoy.
