AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I never thought he’d go after them because I’m sure he knows they mean nothing to me. Yes, I protected them because it was the right thing to do. But that doesn’t mean I’m interested in rekindling something that was never there.
However, I have no idea what game he’s playing because Julia hasn’t mentioned that he’s hurt them. Or that they’re in danger.
This means he’s waiting…but waiting for what?
“What’s going on?” Babydoll sleepily asks from behind me.
Julia smiles, but it’s strained.
“Cami, this is Julia. My cousin.”
I move aside so Babydoll can stand by me. She’s wearing my hoodie, which is about three sizes too big for her. Julia joins the dots to who she is to me.
“I’m sorry for comin’ over unannounced. I’ll leave ye be.”
She goes to turn, but I reach out, snaring her wrist. When she peers down, I loosen my hold.
“Where’s my uncle now?” I try my best to sound casual.
“He asked if he could stay with us, seein’ as it’s yer mum’s birthday and all. He’s lost everyone, and I think he’s awful lonely. My dad said he always preferred him over yer da. Oh,” she adds as an afterthought. “I’m sorry. That was rude of me to say.”
“It is?” The question was never supposed to be spoken aloud, but my brain and mouth aren’t connected right now because it’s her birthday? Why don’t I know this?
I don’t know anything because the man who has the answers is holding them as ransom. But what I do know is…is that Sean wants me to find him.
“Yer right,” I say, slipping into the role Julia wanted. “It would be nice to get the family together. If ya give me yer address, I can come by later. To celebrate my ma’s birthday…like a family.”
Her green eyes narrow, and she has every right to be suspicious, but it seems her need to play make-believe overrides good sense. “Really? Oh, Grandma is goin’ to be so happy.”
“How ’bout we keep this to ourselves?” I gently suggest. “I’d like to surprise them.”
She nods eagerly, appearing to believe me as she rattles off her address and mobile number. Babydoll doesn’t say a word, but she doesn’t have to. I know what she’s thinking. Sean is there for a reason. And the fact it’s my mum’s birthday is no coincidence either.
This is definitely a trap…one I’ll be walking into willingly.
“All right, phone me when yer on the way,” Julia says, smiling broadly.
She waves goodbye, and we watch in silence as she gets in her car and drives away.
“This is a trap,” Babydoll says, her panic clear. “We need to call on everyone to surround that house so we can take Sean out. How do we even know she is who she claims to be? This could be another one of Sean’s tricks.”
I don’t reply.
Instead, I pull her into my arms and spin her so her back is nestled against my front. “Have you thought about what month ye’d like us to marry in?”
“Puck,” she says, trying to turn around. But I hold her tightly, kissing her temple.
“And what about the venue? If it’s okay with you, I’d like to have it here. In the castle. Once it’s finished, of course. I think Connor and my ma would have liked that.”
“We need to talk to Ron and—”
“Cami, it’s all right. It’ll be all right.”
“How?” She sighs, shaking her head. “Yer father is no doubt planning something horrible, and yer talking about our wedding. Why?”
“’Cause I need this,” I explain, calmly staring into the clear morning sky. “I need this sense of normal because nothing about what we’re walkin’ into is. A new day means hope, and I hope come nightfall, y’ll tell me what date yer goin’ to be my wife. That’s all I care about.”
She sighs, leaning into me. “I’m sorry.”
