Ronan leads us all into the lounge, where he settles Ciara on the couch with a plethora of pillows behind her before perching on the arm.
“Sit by me, Riley.” She taps the space beside her.
Ronan places a protective hand on Ciara’s shoulder. “What’s all this about, Kieran?”
I take a seat in the chair closest to Riley. “The evidence Riley found in Declan’s office was fake.”
Ronan curses, and I catch Riley flinching out of the corner of my eye.
I shoot Ronan a warning look.
“I’m so sorry, I had no idea?—”
“Don’t be sorry,” Ciara assures her. “How were you to know?”
“My first thought was that the evidence was planted for Declan to find,” I say, and Ronan nods.
“That makes the most sense.” His expression darkens.
“Unless my father was the one to plant it for me to find,” Riley adds, and Ronan’s mouth snaps shut.
The room falls quiet as her words linger in the air, and my chest tightens at the look of guilt on Riley’s face.
“Even if that’s the case, this isn’t your fault, dove.”
“But—”
“But nothing.”
Riley’s eyes shimmer with tears, and I can see how hard she’s trying to hold them back.
“If anyone is to blame here, it’s your father, and Ronan already made sure he paid the price for what he’s done.”
Ronan nods before turning to me. “The girls need to go somewhere safer. Whoever is behind this is ahead of us.”
“I agree.”
Ciara lifts one hand as she shakes her head. “Hold up. I’m not going anywhere.”
Ronan closes his eyes for a moment, likely trying to keep a hold on his temper.
“I love you, Tine Bhaeg, I really do. But right now, I need you to stop arguing with me just this once. Can you do that?”
“You’re an ass, Ronan Sullivan.”
“I know.” He presses a kiss to her temple, then turns back to me. “I’ll take the girls to a safehouse, and you go and get the truth from Finn. Take my car.”
He reaches into his pocket and tosses me the keys.
I snatch them out of the air and meet Ronan’s eyes as I pocket them, a silent agreement passing between us.
This isn’t even close to being over, but we’re not going to stop until it is.
I get to my feet. “Please, keep Riley locked down tight, Ronan. I’m not losing her over this.”
“You won’t. Now go.”
