Meanwhile, I’m unemployable and no closer to starting a family.
“Ugh.” Okay, I can’t sit around the house all day and wallow. I text Finn. I’m going out.
For some peace, I decide to stroll through Central Park. It’s still warm, but the air holds a crispness, a gentle cooling breeze, that hints at the coming autumn.
Finn waits at the car, while Kody shadows me, staying far enough away to be discreet, but close enough to offer his protection. His gaze scans the area like every jogger or mom with a stroller could be suspect. Without a destination in mind, I amble along.
I come to a crossroads and startle when I hear my name.
“Mrs. O’Rourke!”
Turning, I find Devlin waving at me, a grin on his face. Not the reaction I would have expected, given how the last time I saw him my husband had punched his face. Devlin does strike me as the easy going, forgive and forget type. So maybe this greeting isn’t too unusual?
He jogs over to me, his breath escaping in white whisps. “Hey.”
“Hello,” I say, my tone laced with caution.
“I’ve been meaning to get ahold of you but I don’t have your number.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. So… I never filed assault charges, and I managed to smooth over everything at work with your boss. Have you heard from her?”
“I haven’t. And why didn’t you file charges?” I’m more surprised than anything.
His smile wavers. “I thought you’d be happy about that. You don’t actually want me to put your husband in jail for assaulting me, do you?”
“No, of course not. But you had every right after what he did to you.”
Devlin waves me off, as if he’s used to it and gets punched in the face quite often. Maybe he does?
“That’s all in the past now. No hard feelings, you know?”
I nod, even though I don’t know. If I were him, I’d be pissed.
“Anyway, I can put in a good word for you at work. That is… if you want your job back.”
I brighten at that. “I would like to return to work at the agency. Would you really do that for me?”
“Sure.” He chuckles. “We’re friends, remember? Friends help out friends.”
Friends. Sure. Okay.
“That’s very kind of you.”
“No problem at all. Hey, I have to run, but let’s do coffee once you’re back at work.” He jogs off before I can get in a single word.
Why isn’t he worried about Cian coming after him again? I feel like I’m missing something crucial, but for the life of me I don’t know what. His actions don’t make sense to me.
At the same time, I’d be thrilled if he can get me rehired.
I’m sure my paranoia’s misplaced. Maybe he’s just a nice guy? Those do exist, right?
CHAPTER 49
Ravenna
“Why did you meet up with Devlin in the park today?” Cian asks as soon as he comes home, finding me in the living room, curled up on the sofa with a fascinating book about the Revolutionary War in my lap.
