I grabbed my purse, cell phone, and keys to this penthouse before exiting the unit with my daughter. Sometimes, he would have men here, but on this particular day, there was no one around. That was for the best. I hated the feeling of being watched. While he said it was to provide a sense of safety and security, I had programmed my mind to have it be a red flag instead.
Over the years, I’d grappled with paranoia and assumed every time someone turned their gaze on me that it was one of the Branningtons who had found me. Once or twice, it had almost convinced me to move, but by then, I’d spent every spare cent I had on building a life in New York City and was living paycheck to paycheck, so I had no means to up and leave to Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, or anywhere else.
What I had done then was simply avoid a particular route at a certain time of day. Sometimes, I would also dress differently orlay low for several days. The worry would eventually pass until the next time. After a while, my nerves would settle as they had recently, and my worst fear had come to life.
“You’re shivening, Mommy,” Ciara said, and I smiled at her attempt at shivering.
“I’m fine, baby. It’s going to be dark soon, so we don’t have long to play.”
“Okey dokey,” she said as she practically skipped in front of me.
I quickened my steps before taking her hand. Soon, we reached the playground, and I released her from my grip so she could grab the empty swing. There were several other families here, and like most of the other parents or caregivers, I took a seat on an empty bench to watch her. Even back in New York, Ciara had always been one to make a friend out of anyone, and nothing had changed here in Ireland. A new continent, but the same sweet, social girl.
I really did miss being back home. Cillian’s penthouse was nicer than anything I ever could’ve provided for Ciara and me, but all that luxury came with him and his crew of security. Most I had come to know on a first name basis, but no one I would consider a friend. Not even Esther, who came by frequently, especially as she followed through with all the designing that Ciara had picked out that very first day. I really missed my own friend, and as if she knew I was now thinking about her, my cell phone rang. Looking down at the call display, I quickly answered it.
“Hey, Monica.”
“Girl, you hardly ever call me anymore.”
“I know,” I said as I glanced over at Ciara. She had moved from the swings to the slide, but otherwise appeared to be fine, so I turned back to my call. “Life here has been crazy, and with the time difference...I didn’t want to disturb you.”
“You could never disturb me. I miss our late night talks with the ice cream and wine. I’m sure now that you’re with your ex that there are all kinds of sordid stories you could tell me.”
“Not really,” I replied with a small laugh. “Cillian hates me. Spending time with him is like pulling teeth. In fact, I would rather have a root canal with no anesthesia than spend a few hours with him.”
“But, he’s so hot. And yes, before you ask...I did find one of his social media profiles. Girl, I’d ride him like he was a stallion.”
I shook my head. Monica had never been one to mince words. “Been there, done that, and all I got was?—”
“My beautiful goddaughter is who. Where is Ciara? I’d love to say hello to her.”
“She’s right...” I paused as I looked toward the slides and swing sets, and did not see her at all. I quickly bolted to my feet, then frantically started to scan the horizon for her. “Ciara,” I called out as I rushed toward the play structure. “Ciara!”
“Rowan, what’s wrong? Where’s Ciara?” my friend said through the line, but I couldn’t focus on that right now. “Rowan!”
“Ciara,” I cried out even louder.
“Here I is, Mommy,” I heard come from behind me, and I nearly fell to my knees in relief. “Daddy’s here.”
Two of the worst case scenarios had now come true. I’d lost my daughter, and I had gotten busted by Cillian as well. Slowly turning, I could see the fury in his thunderous gaze, and the tension in his jaw as it tightened to stone. My pulse quickened, and I forced myself to turn away from him, and I knelt down to my daughter’s height.
“Why did you run off? You know that I’ve always said to tell me when?—”
“I did, Mommy, but you were talking on the phone. I saw Daddy and wanted him to see me slide down the big slide like a big girl.”
“I didn’t hear?—”
“Of course, you didn’t. Anything could have happened to her out here,” Cillian said before he softened his expression as he looked down at our daughter. “It’s pizza night tonight. We should get home so it doesn’t get cold.”
“Okey dokey,” she said, and I rose back to my feet as she pulled away from me.
“What’s going on, Rowan?” I heard, and remembering Monica, I cleared my throat.
“Let me call you back later,” I said to her, then disconnected the call before she could even respond.
Cillian now had Ciara’s hand and was walking away from me. I quickly caught up to them, and not a word was said to me by either of them as we returned the block back to the penthouse.
The moment Leon let me know that Reagan and Ciara had left the penthouse on foot, I’d ordered him to follow them, but not give away his presence. I had wanted to know where they were going, and more importantly why. Over the course of the last few weeks, I’d stressed to my ex how important it was to lay low, and not go anywhere alone. Any number of things could’ve happened to them, and it would weigh even more heavily upon me than her supposed death had all those years ago.
