Page 80 of Irish Betrayal

He wondered if the paper had a write-up about Blair, a plant, or something. He spread out the pages and quickly looked front and back. He was stunned when he found an article about him. “Daniel O’Faolain to become the O’Faolain Mogul’s youngest financial advisor: grandson of Hugh O’Faolain and son of Bran O'Faolain. All eyes are on the young businessman to see if he has what it takes to walk with the Wolves.” There was a small heart by his name.

The paper was dated three years ago. God, he remembered being embarrassed by the ridiculously flattering article. Jonathan had ribbed him for weeks.

He was ashamed to think that his eyes hadn’t been on Blair, though she had to forgive him since that would make her only seventeen and way too young for a super cool twenty-two-year-old.

Still, he loved that she had been looking at him. “Come on, Blair. Call me,” he pleaded to the empty room.

There were several outfits and…he paused as his fingers grazed a stack of books underneath a stained Trinity sweatshirt. There were four identical books tied together with twine. Nothing was written on the plain brown covers. Journals?

His phone rang. It was Barr.

“She didn’t make the flight. Still waiting on the car rental video.” Barr’s voice was completely dead of emotion, though Daniel knew the man had to be screaming inside. Daniel was.

“Cat and I land in thirty minutes. Be ready,” Barr said before hanging up.

He called his father, who had already received a call from MacGregor and was almost to Daniel’s flat.

Daniel grabbed his bag, but before he walked out the door, he doubled back and shoved the stack of books and the notebook into the duffle.

Daniel ran out the door, his father’s driver pulling up to the curb. When he looked through the glass, he saw his father, mother, Rowan, and Ulf in the back.

Daniel wasn’t surprised to see everyone. He was sure Patrick and River would have come if there had been room.

The driver got them as close to their private jet as he could and, without a word, exited the vehicle to load the bags on a waiting luggage cart.

As the group walked silently toward the plane, a car roared down the tarmac, coming to a squealing halt next to the jet, well past where vehicles were allowed.

Blair’s parents shoved open the back doors, quickly grabbing their bags from the boot. Coll had Catriona plastered to his side, her red face and swollen eyes a sure sign that she’d been crying for hours. The only surprise was when Laith and Lachlann’s lanky forms fell into step behind them.

There was no time to wonder why they chose to bring the boys. Laith probably insisted on coming, and where he went Lachlann went.

Before he could take a step, another car came roaring down the private runway, a police car with its sirens and red lights flashing. It looked like Jonathan’s gray Mercedes.

Everyone froze, waiting to see why he was there. Jon, Dagr, and Ciar exited the car, helping a very pregnant Bébhinn, Gray, and Mags out. The three women ran toward Daniel. Their tears made his knees weak, fearing they knew something about Blair and it wasn’t good.

Rowan rushed forward, catching her daughter’s hands. “Why are you here, sweetheart?”

Bébhinn could only shake her head, catching Mags and then Gray’s hands. They stood before Daniel, Coll Barr at his shoulder, Catriona at Coll’s.

Mags started. “We prayed you would find her, that she would show up, but,” she shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks harder, “we needed to tell you…Blair is pregnant.”

“Four months gone,” Bébhinn cried out.

“She couldn’t wait to tell you, Dan,” Gray added, her voice hiccupping.

Daniel had never been shot, but the revelation hit him with the brutal force of a bullet, ripping through the fragile hold he had on his emotions.

Blair was pregnant.

Blair was pregnant and missing.

He heard Barr shout and Catriona cry out. His mom and dad crowded him, silently giving him support.

His phone buzzed in his hand, and Daniel couldn’t describe the out-of-body way he was feeling when he looked at the screen.

“Blair,” he whispered. “She texted.” Barr tried to grab his phone, but Daniel shoved the man back, not worrying about who had the most right, and opened his phone with shaking hands.

Blair: I never want to see you again.