“Argus and Grania.” Maeve nodded. “Perfect. Fits them. Let’s go with those, or we can go with the names from the story you told me. What were they? Bran and Sceolan? We can call her Branee or something.”
“Argus and Grania will do, if you like ’em too.”
“I do!”
A warm wind picked up. My entire body went rigid when I smelled his cologne in the air. It was that distinct. Embedded into most of my memories.
Keenan came to stand next to me a minute later. He looked down at the dogs and then at me. “Argus and Grania?” He held his hands up. “I’ve kept my distance.”
“You’re standin’ mighty close now.” My eyes scanned the street. The telltale black tulle whispered in the wind from the doorway of a new-age apothecary shop. Fiona. “I see your sidekick is not far either.”
“Still can’t believe I’m hearin’ your voice so clear.” He shook his head. “Couldn’t let you go out on your own, knowin’ what you’re standin’ against. You wrecked my nerves. Since the two of ye left, my gut hasn’t been right. Same for Fiona.” He squeezed my shoulder.
We stood that way for a second before he pulled his hand back. He’d never tried to replace my father, but he’d always been that figure for me, even if he didn’t always know how to be. He looked down the street and nodded. Fiona left her spot and met us.
I looked between them. This wasn’t a cordial visit.
Keenan nodded down the street. He wanted to talk to me alone. I handed Fiona the leashes, and she and Maeve started talkin’ about the dogs while we walked a few paces away.
Keenan stopped, took his cap off, and wiped a hand down his head. “A few things have happened. First thing. Murphy agreed to a meetin’ back in Boston.”
Tom Murphy was an arms dealer. He dealt solely with Craig and had been loyal to him. He wouldn’t even see me. Somethin’ had changed with his loyalty, or they were plannin’ to try to catch the beast in a trap.
“When does he want to meet?” I asked.
“As soon as possible.”
“What’s the problem then?” Even after Keenan had delivered the news—which should have been good for us—his shoulders were still rigid, and I could tell by his eyes he was guarded.
“Nothin’ that has to do with Murphy. At the moment.” He sighed. “This is a separate situation. Pauric had a heart attack this mornin’. Beatrice and Henry rushed him to the hospital, and he’s in stable condition. But he’s goin’ to need surgery to survive.”
My eyes found Maeve’s. Hers narrowed, tryin’ to read the look on my face. She knew somethin’ was wrong.
Our honeymoon was over.
Chapter21
Cian
When I’d first set eyes on Maeve O'Callaghan, I knew I wanted her, even if my purpose and my time had been at war over it.
Lookin’ back, even through such a short lens of time, my gut knew. I didn’t just want her. I needed her.
I hadn’t wanted or needed anythin’ for so long, the feelin’ was superior to anythin’ else. Even logic.
Ever since that night, my future ran from my past. But my past was fast and couldn’t be tired. My future stopped to take breaths, and they would both collide before the chase would start again.
They were crashin’ in that moment.
My wife sat with her father, who looked pale and fragile in the hospital bed. Keenan stood with his back against the wall, starin’ at me.
“The hourglass is runnin’, Cian. We’ve hit Craig enough to make him feel it, but we need to start cripplin’ him. We have men who are salivatin’ for this. For the chance to get back at him. But they’re impatient. We need weapons. We need to start turnin’ the city our way.”
I looked at my wife, holdin’ Pauric’s hand.
It was like she was in an entirely different world. A world that had a wider view than the one I stood in. My side was narrow, concentrated on a certain point. Her side was open and full of people dealin’ with all sorts of problems. It was like sittin’ in an emergency room full of people, realizin’ you’re not the only one.
“We need to get back to Boston, Cian.” Keenan’s voice was still buzzin’ in my ear. “Or we’re going to lose the slight grip we have. The meetin’ with Tom Murphy must happen. He’s the only man who agreed to even see us.”
