Page 179 of Deceived Wrath

“Tell me Joe’s lying.”

“I could have told you everything days ago. Fiona’s ex-boyfriend, Freddy Walsh, he’s a dangerous son of a bitch, currently doing time for some drug deal gone wrong.”

“And the debt Carly had… Who paid it off?”

Aiden is quiet for a beat.

“I think you know the answer to that question, Cormac.”

“Tell me,” I growl.

“Lorcan.”

My blood turns to ice as the pieces slide into place with horrifying clarity.

Kieran was right. Fiona didn’t stumble into my life by accident. Lorcan planted her there, and I was stupid enough to fall for her.

“How do you know?”

“I have photos to prove it.”

“Photos can be tampered with.”

“You’re welcome to take a look at them for yourself. I can meet you at the usual place in an hour.”

“Fine.”

I hang up the phone to go in search of Brennan.

Accusations in this life are death sentences, and I won’t sign one without certainty. So, until I have concrete evidence to prove Fiona is guilty, I will keep this all to myself before involving my brothers.

I find Brennan leaning against the kitchen counter, his coffee untouched beside him as he scrolls on his phone.

Brennan looks up when I walk in. “Hey. You look like shit.”

I huff out a humorless breath.

He frowns. “Everything okay?”

“Can you do something for me?”

“That depends on what it is.”

“I need you to stay here and watch Scout while I head out. I need your eyes on him at all times.”

I don’t want to tell Brennan my suspicions either, at least not until they’re confirmed, but in order to do that, I need to leave the estate, which also means leaving Scout.

His jaw tightens. “Cormac?—”

“He’s not to be alone. Not for a second.”

Brennan studies me carefully now. “Anyone in particular I should be worried about?”

The question lands heavier than he probably intends it to.

“Yes,” I say after a beat.

That gets his full attention, and I can tell from the look on his face that he can see where the direction of my thoughts is going.