“I agree,” Maeve said. “The notebook says the bride must be readybefore dawn.”
“You keep reading, and I’ll go through Clare’s phone for more clues,” Griffin said. “I don’t believe she was double-crossing me. She looked so scared. I swear, I’ll never forgive myself if anything happens to her.”
“I hope you’re not playing me,” Maeve said. “Because in this notebook, you said you are going to set her up by luring her with the gemstone and getting herto fall in love with you so she would provide the proper sacrifice.”
“I’m not paying attention to the notebook. All I care about is making sure Clare is happy and safe,” Griffin said, flipping screens on her phone. “Look what Clare texted me this morning. She told me to hold on to memories of what really happened, that they are worth keeping, whether good or bad.”
Maeve read thepithy messages. “Clare is always saying motivational things. She’s really into self-help, visualization, positive thinking, and mindfulness.”
“She promised to stay with me when I go through my surgery,” Griffin said. “I need someone like her to witness my life and for me to witness and cherish hers.”
“Why, Mr. Griffin Gallagher,” Maeve said teasingly. “I didn’t know you were sucha romantic. Maybe you should be a hero in one of Clare’s romance novels.”
“I would be honored,” he said as headlamps appeared down the road. “Looks like the rideshare is here. Let’s hope we’re not too late.”
Maeve turned a page of the notebook. “We have until dawn, and according to this book, whoever took Clare is missing an ingredient.”
“What’s that?” he asked, peering atthe chicken scratch he was no longer able to decipher.
“It’s obvious. The sacrificial woman, or the Morrigan, must be a virgin. I’m sorry, but Clare is not a virgin, and your entire scheme falls apart. You’ll have to wait for another year when the full moon falls on the night of the vernal equinox.”
“Clare’s not a virgin?” Griffin felt his blood boil. “She has the virgin vibe writtenall over her. She only goes so far before she clamps up. I never would have guessed.”
“Caught you.” Maeve gave him a shove. “If you really cared about Clare and didn’t want her to be sacrificed, you’d be happy and relieved. As it stands now, I’m getting into the rideshare, and you’re staying here.”
“Wait, I do care about her,” Griffin said, but Maeve was already at the open doorof the car.
She greeted the driver and said, “Ride for one. Me. This man is not coming with us.”
“I’ll stay here,” Griffin told Maeve. “But give me the notebook. It’s my property.”
“You can’t read it anyway,” she said, throwing it at him. It landed in a puddle, and the ink began to run. “Good luck with your silly scheme of bringing Brigid back from the dead. Dawn is but afew hours away, and you might as well say bye-bye to Brigid.”
She slid into the rideshare car and left him standing in the field with the wet notebook and Clare’s phone.
Her mistake. What kind of friend was she to leave Clare in a lurch?
Griffin brought up the rideshare app on Clare’s phone and requested another one. There was no way he would hurt Clare, virgin or not.
He called the phone at the castle, and Pierce answered. “Gallagher Castle, how may I direct your call?”
“Oh, Pierce, so glad I caught you,” Griffin said. “It’s me, Griffin. I’d like to speak to my grandfather. I know it’s late, but this is important.”
“Indeed, it is late,” Pierce said in his gravelly butler’s voice. “I’m sorry, but your grandfather has gone to bed and does notwish to be disturbed. How may I help you?”
“I’m out in the countryside,” Griffin said. “Crashed my Ashton and standing in a field. I’m on my way home, but I need to know if we’ve had any unexpected visitors.”
“Visitors? No, I don’t believe anyone has come to the castle.”
“How about that young woman who had lunch with me yesterday? The one who called herself Brigid O’Brien?”Griffin used the alias Clare had given him the day before. For some reason, it came to him just now. Weird how it had only been such a short time ago.
“Brigid O’Brien? I thought she left with you in the Ashton,” Pierce said. “Come home as soon as you can. I’ll call a tow truck for your car. Where are you located?”
Griffin gave the location by texting the GPS coordinates from Clare’sphone. “Thanks. I’m taking a rideshare and should be back as soon as I can. If you see Brigid O’Brien, can you please call me?”
“I’m so sorry you two had a tiff,” Pierce said. “Is there anything else I can do for you?”
“No, nothing.” He decided not to tell Pierce about the limo and Clare. He hadn’t been able to write the license number down, although there was something he shouldhave known.
