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“Me too,” Valentina says politely.

Oh, so she can be polite when she wants to.

“And I'm guessing,” I mutter, “since she's of the female persuasion, you don't need to see her ID?”

My mother looks at Seamus in confusion. Seamus only shakes his head.

“I believe her,” Valentina says. “But can I ask you a question, please, Caitlin?”

“Yes, of course, love. Anything.”

“You do have an honest face,” Valentina says, then pauses. “Can you promise me that your family had nothing to do with my kidnapping?”

“Oh, love,” my mother says, leaning into the screen. “We had no such intention. You were supposed to marry my nephew, Declan, which I'm sure you've heard by now. But it was my family that found you, darling. Didn't we, Seamus?”

Seamus comes on-screen again and eyes Valentina sternly. “She knows.” He frowns. “Now answer this. What made you think the McCarthys had anything to do with your kidnapping?”

“Because they used your names. They made me believe that you were the ones who took me.”

I know she’s processing my family’s information with what she knows.

“It’s irrelevant,” Seamus says coldly, his eyes holding hers. “You’re with Torin, and you’ll do what he tells you.” He leans in. “Do you have any more questions?” His tone implies this conversation is over.

Valentina frowns. She might have been convinced of our innocence by meeting my family, but she doesn’t like being told what to do.

“No, I⁠—”

“Good, since you’re out of time. How far have you gone?”

“Ten fucking meters,” I growl into the phone.

Seamus glares. “And you still have it in your possession? Active? So you’re basically holding up a beacon in the middle of Boston to show them where you are?”

I nod. “Aye.” I hold up the package with the tiny silver tracker.

He shakes his head. “I’m going to text you specific instructions. You’re going to use that tracker. For now, keep it with you. Yes, they’ll still track you, but the point is, they need to see you together. You’ve got the blocker?”

I nod, holding up the black box, as small as a ring box. It’s a simple process and why I paid extra. The tracker will work in any condition, wherever I decide to plant it. But when I slide it into the black box, the tracker becomes untraceable.

“Good. Declan’s got intel. Says there’s a charity event tonight. Your friends will be there.”

Valentina scowls at his sarcasm. Not many people are brave enough to scowl at Seamus.

I like it.

“Keep the tracker on you. Move through Boston—go wide, double back, throw them off. Then get her ready. If any of their people come near you, neutralize them.”

Valentina’s brows rise.

“You're both going to the event.” A smirk. “You've got time between now and then. Hide it when you go in.” He pauses. “Stay safe. Be ready. Understood?”

I nod. “Aye.”

“If it were me,” Seamus says thoughtfully, though the set of his jaw and narrowed eyes get her attention. His voice drops as he leans in, fully aware Valentina is listening. “I’d use that time to make sure she knows exactly what’s expected of her.”

“Trust me,” I tell him with my own slow smile. “I know how we’ll spend that time.”

“Ooooh, I know!” Valentina says, clearly ready to meet sarcasm with sarcasm. If this lass sasses me in front of my brother, the head of the McCarthy family⁠—