Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 99191 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 496(@200wpm)___ 397(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99191 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 496(@200wpm)___ 397(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
So what the hell was she going to do until the next thing Aiden needed her for?
Charlie showered and got dressed, then pulled on a pair of her favorite jeans and a shirt that she’d owned before Aiden came into her life. The way things were going, she was in danger of forgetting who she was—what she was. She might not be a cop anymore—or ever again—but that didn’t alter where she’d come from.
Fancy clothes and money couldn’t change that.
Going with Keira to the gym had been good for both of them. She pulled her hair to the side and braided it loosely. Keira didn’t know yet that Aiden had given her training a thumbs-up, but it would do them both a world of good to get out of the house—especially since Seamus O’Malley was back. Charlie knew she’d have to face him down eventually, but she wasn’t looking forward to it.
She found Keira exactly where she expected to—holed up in her room, though at least the customary cloud of smoke wasn’t present. Keira looked her up and down from mascara-smudged eyes. “You look way too spunky this morning. I’m going back to bed.”
“No, you aren’t.” Charlie dropped into the same chair she’d taken the last time she was in the room. “I’m bored.”
“That sounds like a personal problem.”
She poked the pile of laundry with her toe. “I think you’re bored, too. You had fun yesterday.”
Keira yawned. “What’s your point?”
“My point is that we should get out of here for the day again. There’s got to be something we could do.” She hadn’t spent much time in Boston, despite living relatively close, but the touristy thing didn’t appeal—and she doubted that would be enough to tempt Keira out of the room. “Don’t you have something you need to do that you haven’t been doing because of all this?” Charlie waved her hand.
“It’s too early to party. My coke dealer never answers his phone before three.” Keira saw the look on her face and burst out laughing. “Fuck, Charlie, I’m kidding. That bastard stopped calling me back months ago. I’m pretty sure Aiden threatened his life if he didn’t eighty-six me.”
She chose not to comment on that. “Well?”
“Oh, fine.” Keira dug her phone out from beneath a pile of pillows and thumbed through it. “You’re not going to like this.” Before Charlie could ask what she meant, she had the phone to her ear. “Carrigan?…Yeah, I know, it’s been way too long. What are you doing for lunch?…Perfect.” Her hazel eyes lit on Charlie. “Oh, and I’m bringing our brother’s gold-digging fiancée with me…No, don’t be a bitch. I like her.”
Charlie pressed her lips together, wondering if she’d just made a mistake. It was one thing to run around the city with Keira, pretending they were just friends who happened to like the same things—like punching a bag until their arms felt like limp noodles. Going to lunch with Carrigan was something else altogether. That woman was formidable, and it was readily apparent that she had no problem getting her hands dirty. She hadn’t done anything to confirm that, but Charlie couldn’t shake the feeling.
Then again, I told Aiden it was time to start reaching out to his family. Maybe it’s time I learned what that really entails.
Liam didn’t look happy when they told him where they were going, but he assigned them a security detail, saying he would call ahead to the Hallorans and ensure that things were covered on their end as well.
It wasn’t until they were in the backseat of yet another town car that Keira slouched in her seat and expelled a long breath. “God. It’s always a gamble if they’re going to let me out of the house. With my father back, I thought someone might throw a bitchfit—especially since we’re going to see Carrigan, and she’s supposed to be dead to the family.”
It took a few seconds for the pieces to click into place. Carrigan was with James Halloran. It didn’t seem to bother Aiden all that much. After all, he’d invited her to the dinner he’d put together, but if their father didn’t agree with his stance…that would complicate things.
“Dead to the family?”
“Ridiculous, isn’t it? I mean, we all have mixed feelings about the whole Halloran thing, but James isn’t that bad, and he obviously worships the ground Carrigan walks on.” Something like longing flickered over Keira’s face. “Could be worse.”
“Could definitely be worse.” She sent a quick text to Aiden, wincing when she realized she should have done it before she left. Going to see Carrigan.
Her phone vibrated almost instantly. I know.
Of course he knew. Liam would have told him before they drove out of the building. Problem?
No. Be careful.
She started to set her phone aside, but it buzzed again. Have dinner with me tonight. Just us, no plotting.