“That wasn’t my intention.”
But she doesn’t seem to hear me. “Do you even care? Did you ask me about what I wanted or let me know about your plans?” I open my mouth, but she keeps going. “No, of course not. You never do. You always assume you know best. That you can do no wrong. I bet you’ve barely thought of me since you married him, have you?”
“That’s not fair,” I say in a low voice, hoping the music and conversation is enough to drown her out. “I wanted to call, but I knew you were upset with me. I was giving you time to cool down.”
Still, it’s like what I’m saying doesn’t register to her because she’s talking over me. “It’s always what you want. You never stop to think or ask me how I feel. It’s like you still think I’m six years old and in need of protecting. God, do you know how selfish that is? I’m an adult, I make my own decisions. Decisions that have nothing to do with you.”
Each word is like a lash and I take them, fists knotted at my side, feet glued to the floor. I deserve this for going behind her back. Marrying O’Connor and for being there the night Mom died. I let her spew her venom and don’t say a word.
“A’right, that’s enough,” Tadhg says, and grips me by the arm. “Mrs. O’Connor is needed elsewhere.”
Elizabeth’s protests follow, but I barely hear them. Tadhg pulls me from the crowd and deposits me near the bar. “Thanks,” I say, tilting my head up to his face. He’s the older of the two, with a bushy dark red beard and close-shaved head. “Maybe you guys aren’t so bad to have around.”
Tadhg grunts. Which I suppose in bodyguard-speak is his way of showing gratitude.
“I have three sisters myself. That could have been way worse.” Bren is younger, and of all the men I’ve met from O’Connor’s organization, he’s been my favorite so far. Doesn’t seem as hardened or dangerous as the rest. If I weren’t so pissed off about being followed all the time, I might consider him like a younger brother.
Blowing out a breath, I claw my emotions back into place. I don’t have the time or the luxury to indulge in a world-class breakdown right now. I can do that after I find and interrogate Devin. After I know O’Connor is safe. After I learn the truth about my mother.
“Thanks for having my back, guys.”
Bren smiles, and Tadhg crosses his arms, which I take to mean he’s my eternal servant. Most of the guests, herefor whatever charity The O’Connor Foundation supports, have finished their sit-down meal and are now mingling and dancing in the center of the room. If Elizabeth is here, that means Father can’t be far behind, and wherever he goes, Devin goes. This may be my only chance to interrogate him again.
As though in answer to my prayers, a swarm of people surges to the front doors, and there they are. Senator Gallagher and his entourage. Devin Franklin takes up the rear. I study them from across the distance, wondering if they really have the capacity to murder someone in cold blood. Devin has been with my father for as long as I can remember. Former Secret Service, he was hired the moment my father took office to make Senator Gallagher feel safe, when in reality, I think he wanted to feel important. Or maybe there were legitimate threats to his life I never considered. After all, I had no idea he had a gambling problem or that he was mixed up with organized crime.
“Alright, gentlemen,” I say, turning to my ever-present shadows. “There’s something I need to do, and you can either come with me, or I’ll do it without your help. Which will it be?”
Tadhg jerks his chin. “Franklin already knows you’re here. If you want, I’ll follow him and keep him company so you can have your conversation.”
“I—” That wasn’t what I was expecting. “I—yes, that would be great. Thank you.”
Bren squeezes my shoulder. “We’re a lot more helpful when you’re not trying to run away.”
Mirth bubbles up. “Right.”
“I’ll stay with her. Shoot me a message when you’ve got him,” Bren says to Tadhg.
Between one heartbeat and the next, Tadhg disappears into the crowd. Bren holds out an arm to escort me around the room as we wait.
“I didn’t expect that you’d help me,” I admit.
“It’s easier to keep watch of you this way. Otherwise, you could get yourself into real trouble, and then O’Connor would really have our hides.” It doesn’t take long for Bren’s watch to ping with a notification. “By the elevator. Tadhg will follow him up, and then we can follow.”
At his words, I cast an eye around to find Devin. There—right by the elevators with Tadhg at his back, just like he said. Devin glances around, hands in his pockets. The elevators glide open and he steps inside.
I must start moving toward him, because Bren lays a hand on my shoulder. “Wait. He’s not going anywhere. We don’t want to draw too much attention. Tadhg will keep him for us.”
Impatience sizzles beneath my skin. I’m so close. All I need is for Devin to break his composure. Just once. For him to give me something I can use to nail him to the wall.
After an eternity passes where I don’t look away from the elevator or breathe, Bren shoots me a wide-mouthed grin. “Let’s go.”
Oxygen surges back into my lungs as he tugs me across the room. Luckily, no one stops us along the way. I force myself to calm, to slow my heart rate. This may be my last chance to get Devin alone. I can’t waste it.
A bell dings with each floor. First. Second. And then it stops at the third. The doors glide open, and there’s Tadhg with Devin in a headlock. My nerves disappear, and I hide a smile. A good lawyer, someone who respects the law, should hate the use of violence against another person. But as a woman who has spent so many years under the thumb of men, it’s satisfying to have one at my mercy instead.
I shoot a glance around me, but the hallway is empty. We could find a room, but I don’t want to linger, and I’m too eager to get answers to wait.
Devin tries to laugh, but it comes out more like he’s choking against Tadhg’s muscular bicep. “Mrs. O’Connor.” He struggles, and Tadhg tightens his arm around Devin’s throat until I gesture for him to stop. The rush of power is so heady, I shake my head to hear his next words. “I should have known you’d stoop to sending your stooges after me. Is O’Connor rubbing off on you already?”
