But I can't hide from it anymore.
Not when he's here helping me raise five children.
Not when he looks at me like I'm something precious.
Not when being around him feels like coming home.
I'm in love with Ronan ‘Hades’ Blackwood, and for the first time in my adult life, I'm ready to stop running from what I want.
CHAPTERNINE
hades
Eddie Walsh'soffice hasn't improved since our last visit.If anything, it looks worse.The bourbon bottle on his desk is nearly empty, and the man himself looks like he hasn't slept in days.
"You boys are back sooner than I expected," he says, not bothering to get up from behind his desk.
"New information came to light," I tell him, settling into the cracked leather chair across from him.Tempest takes position by the door, watching the street through dirty venetian blinds.
"What kind of new information?"
I slide a photo across his desk.It's one from Rogue's old files, a picture of Ivy Bennett that he kept from when he was searching for Willow.Young, blonde, with the kind of smile that doesn't reach her eyes.
Walsh studies the photo for a long moment then reaches for his bourbon."Where'd you get this?"
"It's connected to another case.One of our brothers was looking for someone's missing sister.Why?You recognize her?"
"What's her name?"
"Ivy Bennett."
Walsh goes completely still, his glass halfway to his lips."Ivy Bennett.Jesus fucking Christ."
"You know that name?"
"Know it?I've been tracking that name for weeks."He sets his glass down with shaking hands."I found a whole lot of interesting connections to Ethan Morrison.Information I never got the chance to share with your sister before she was killed."
My blood turns cold."What kind of connections?"
"The kind that explains why Morrison had your sister murdered."Walsh opens his desk drawer and pulls out a thick manila folder."After Calla died, I kept digging.Professional curiosity, you could say.That's when I discovered Morrison's connection to Ivy Bennett."
"What connection?"
"Money.Lots of it."He slides bank statements across the desk."Morrison was paying Ivy Bennett five thousand dollars a month for three years.The payments stopped about five years ago, when she disappeared."
Tempest leans forward."Five grand for what?"
"Information.Ivy was selling intelligence about MC activities to Morrison.Names, movements, business dealings, law enforcement schedules.Everything he needed to keep his money laundering operation running smooth."
"She was dating Lochlann," I say, the pieces clicking together."The Shadow Hawks’ president's son.She had access to their business."
"More than just the Shadow Hawks.The girl was entrepreneurial.She was selling information on your club too, along with a few other organizations."Walsh flips through more documents."That intel kept him one step ahead; dodging heat, crushing competition, growing his empire."
"And you're saying my sister found out about this?"
"Your sister didn't know anything about Ivy Bennett.She just knew Morrison's finances didn't add up.Couldn't figure out how a financial consultant was living like a millionaire."Walsh's expression darkens."That's why she hired me.She had suspicions, but no proof."
"So you found more proof."
