He nods. “Of course, miss.”
I wait until I’m inside my classroom before texting Liam.
Me: Spying on me?
The answer comes right away.
Liam: Admiring you from afar.
I grin. Idiot.
Me: I prefer you closer.
Three dots bounce, stop, bounce again.
Liam: You’ve done it now. When I get you alone, you’ll see how close I can get.
I bite my bottom lip. Rub my thighs together. I’m in some sort of danger and I’m getting turned on by my husband’s stalkerish tendencies. Fantastic.
Me: Can we meet for lunch? I want to talk more about how I can help.
My professor strides to the front of the room, and I hide my phone under my desk. Ugh. I need to put it away, but his answer is important. We never finished our conversation about how I could lure out our enemies.
Liam: My father is on his way here to discuss things. I’ll text you after that conversation. Stay on campus in the meantime, okay?
“Miss Walsh? Why don’t you answer this one?”
Shit. I grit my teeth at being caught not paying attention. I clear my throat. “It’s McGuiness.”
“I beg your pardon?” Dr. Burke asks me tersely.
“My name. I’m no longer Miss Walsh.” I’m buying time, but that doesn’t mean I don’t feel the need to correct him. Bonkers. I don’t miss the low whispers from my classmates.
My professor cocks his head to the side. “I see. Well, then,Mrs. McGuiness. Can you please share with the class your thoughts on how power and legitimacy differ in modern political systems, and if a government can maintain one without the other?”
Thank God he repeated the question. I turn my phone over and launch into my thoughts on the topic. Fortunately, the rest of class is uneventful, and I manage to take a few notes on our next assignment. When I finally glance back at my text messages an hour later, I’m surprised by what I find.
Liam: I’m going to assume this means you’re paying attention to your political science professor and not intentionally ignoring me. I’ll be in touch soon!
I smile at how he knows exactly what class I’m in. Stalker. I continue reading my texts. There is one from my sister, asking about borrowing my ski pants for a class trip, and then:
Unknown: Mrs. McGuiness. This is Tim. There’s been a change of plans. Rowan wants you to wait for me at the east gate after class. We’re moving you off campus until things settle. Don’t tell anyone. It’s for your safety.
I frown at my phone. I don’t want to be paranoid, but Liam told me to stay on campus. Wouldn’t he have told me directly if plans changed? Yet, Timmy was introduced to me by Gráinne. She obviously trusts him.
I leave the classroom and stop just shy of the east gate. No. This doesn’t make sense. I reach for my phone.
LIAM
I don’t knock when I approach my old house. Neither does Da. He walks in like the place is his—and I guess, technically, it is. Ryan’s on the couch, laptop on his knees, twitchy as hell. He’s tapping his middle finger against his thumb in a quick, rhythmic stutter. Shit. The speed of the motion indicates a pending panic attack. Which makes sense, considering the most feared man in our organization just showed up to check his math.
“Ryan.” I use the voice I reserve for skittish animals and my baby brother. Calm. Low. Steady. He doesn’t answer, but the tapping slows.
“I’m here.” I sit down on the coffee table across from him, blocking his line of sight to Da. “You’ve got this.”
He breathes out a shaky exhale and finally glances up. Just for a second. “Did you tell him I’m not stupid?” The words are low. Hoarse. My heart clenches with them.
For the millionth time in my life, I want to punch my father in the face. Instead, I smile. “Hey.” Ryan meets my eyes again. Briefly. “You’ll show him.”
