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“Miss Byrne,” he says as he stops at my bedside.
“Doctor, I would really like to go home. I can’t stay here for much longer.” He thinks I’m talking about the hospital, instead, I mean Belfast. There’s not much for me to do at the club back home. But I needed to tell Sully something. He should let me go because I’ve only brought lies to his door when he didn’t deserve it.
The doctor opens the manila folder in his hand and scans the details before nodding. “Everything looks good. You have lost a lot of blood, and you will feel weak fer a wee while yet. The transfusion will help, but you need to rest. I’ll have a nurse come in to remove the drip shortly.”
“Thank you, I appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome to go home in the morning, but only if there is someone who can look after ye there,” he tells me with a stern look on his face.
“Yes, doctor, I understand.” I nod, but I don’t tell him that I’m going to have to fly soon. I’ll be okay, I’m sure I will. He makes a few notes on the paperwork in the folder before offering me a smile and leaving the room with a quiet goodbye. And then I’m alone with my thoughts.
I allow my mind to drift back to the day at the airport when I almost ran from the agent who was trying to get me to listen to her.
“You’re Clover Byrne,” she says as I pick up my coffee and try to make a hasty retreat. “I need you to listen to me, Clover.” She settles in the seat across from me and sets down a folder.
Panic sets in as I look at her. “I don’t want any trouble. There are things I’m trying to get away from. I need to find safety.”
“We can ensure your safe passage out of the country, if you help us.”
I shake my head in disbelief as I wonder what the hell is even happening. How is it she could just come up to me in the middle of a fucking airport?
I meet her stare and whisper, “How did you find me?”
She smiles. “We’ve been watching the club for years, but when you left, we couldn’t track you until we found some hospital records that were sent through to us. We’d been looking in the wrong place for you. We wanted your father to help us, but he was never willing to give up his brother. If you work for us, we can make sure you’re looked after when you return to the States.” I realize it could be a good deal because I don’t know if I’ll want to live in Belfast forever. But, can I work undercover?
I take in her outfit. She looks like an office worker in her dark pants suit. The ID she sets on the table has her photo, name, and the official-looking stamp of the agency. I’ve never seen anything like it in real life, only ever in movies.
“It seems your boyfriend kept you under wraps. While we were searching for you in one place, he’d been covering his tracks and yours.”
I’ve no doubt in my mind that Rogan was making sure nobody knew about the abuse. He always ensured I’d cover up any visible injuries when we went out after he lost his mind, but I didn’t realize he was hiding all my hospital records as well.
“The thought of doing something like this makes me nervous. I just want to leave the country. And get away from my ex.” My voice shudders when I speak. “I don’t want to get involved with anything that could put me back into danger. I’m finally escaping a horrible life, and I don’t want more.” I explain my situation while looking at her.
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Her voice lowers. “We can keep you safe from him. I promise you that. There’s no reason to fear him anymore.”
“I’m sure there are plenty of reasons why my father chose not to help you. And honestly, I don’t want to get involved in whatever it is you’re proposing.”
I push to my feet, but she stops me with a gentle hand on my shoulder.
“We just need you to gather information, and when you do, send it through to me. I’ll be landing in Belfast not long after you, so I’ll be close by if you need anything. We can’t do this without you. Patrick Bragan is not a good man, Clover.”
“He’s my uncle,” I tell her, and she nods. It’s something she already knows. “And you say my dad didn’t want to do this?”
She shakes her head. “No. He refused to betray his brother, even though they weren’t close. We want to get the head of the Irish mob, Clover, and you’re the only one who can help.”
