AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I promised Sadie a trip to Manhattan. More doll shopping.”
“Planning to spoil her?”
“She’s the only wee one in my family right now. It won’t be just me. Ma. Da. Griffin. Connor. Shane. Sabine will definitely want a piece of her. My sister has nieces and nephews on her husband’s side, but none of her own blood. I want you and her to be close.”
“I’d like that.”
We get our stamps and walk to the exit in silence. The way Darcy blinks and sweats suggests I may have overwhelmed her.
Arrivals is a teeming mess of people when suddenly a hand claps my shoulder hard from behind. I’m still wired from the fight with Callum, and I go to punch the stupid arsehole who grabbed me.
“Whoa. Peace, brother.” Connor’s blue eyes calm me, but this bear hug of his doesn’t comfort me the way holding Sadie does. “You made it,” he says, letting me go. “Griffin is driving me crazy.”
“The boss is back.” I can only imagine all the work they left me while those two bickered and fucked around. “Connor, this is Darcy. Our niece.” The words make my heart pound.
I can never admit what happened in Ireland. My brothers have a wide range of sexual tastes, but I’m sure they don’t include shagging a relative.
“Darcy!” Connor hugs her. “And this is Sadie, I hear?”
“Yes. She’s still out of it. I hope your mum won’t mind if I put her right to bed when we get to your house.”
“Not a chance. We told Ma all about Sadie after making the arrangements for you to fly here. She can’t wait to have a wee one in the house.” He leans in and whispers to me, “She even opened up Norah’s room.”
“What?” This news shocks me, but I can’t expect Sadie to sleep in Shane’s old sex pit next to my room. I certainly don’t want Darcy one door away in a quiet part of the house. I won’t be able to control myself.
“Where will I be sleeping?” Darcy asks and then glances at me.
“Siobhan’s room,” Connor answers. “I mean Sabine.”
My sister looked radiant and happy on her wedding day. No way was she ever coming home. Plus, Quinlans honor their commitments.
Connor helps me get the bags, and outside, an Escalade waits for us with a driver who loads up the luggage. “I figured with the bags, we needed the room. My Corvette only seats two.”
“Just admit it, you want one of these tanks for yourself.”
“I do, but parking in Astoria is brutal.” He reminds me I’m bringing Darcy and Sadie to a neighborhood that can fall into a world of chaos if we don’t locate Stasia Koslov.
The deal I’ll make with Kieran will have mutual benefits. Protection from Lachlan’s enforcer team in exchange for my cooperation on the council. I trust Eoghan, his brother, the lawyer, to give me fair terms.
“Has Balor said anything about me being away?” I ask Connor about the O’Rourke brother we technically work for.
“Yes and no. He wants us to dig into every Irish family for traces of Stasia so we can firmly attest that we don’t have her. We have to stand as one in Astoria and in our commitment to Koslov that we don’t know where his daughter is. We had nothing to do with her disappearance.” Connor gets passionate.
“Problem?” Darcy whispers to me after the driver helps her get Sadie into the booster seat that I reminded them we needed.
“No.” Without thinking, I kiss her on the forehead.
She freezes, and I turn around to see Connor looking at me strangely.
Fuck.
The ride to Astoria takes about forty minutes. Darcy stares out the window, asking the names of all the bridges and buildings rising in the distance. I imagine that taking New York City in a single gulp is overwhelming, compared to growing up here and discovering it all a little at a time.
I’ve taken so much for granted, working and living here. If Kieran doesn’t take the time to show Darcy around, I’ll do it. It’s my right. She’s my niece. No one will suspect anything.
Just don’t kiss her on the mouth next time.
Christ almighty, that was close.
