“Donnelly mentioned to you that Kenneth Callahan was working with the mob.”
Her expression shifted, closed off. “Yes.”
Despite what Brock had said about it being handled, not fucking likely, no one would sit back after losing twenty million, and with the added shit with the leak, it was a fucking powder keg, one Brock was right in the middle of and that fucker was in Little Hill.
“He wasn’t working alone, and Donnelly believes Kenneth’s partner is looking for Brock.”
Worry and anger swept her face. “Why?”
“Money, lots of it.”
“Hasn’t he been through enough?” she hissed, then demanded, “Who’s this partner?”
“Dustin Thompson.”
Took her a second. “Fucking Declan’s dad. Never liked Declan.” There was more going on in her head, but she didn’t share. Killian continued, not really wanting to put this on her, but she deserved to know.
“Brock is in an MC.”
“Iron Guardians.” She wasn’t asking.
“He’s the president.”
“So, Donnelly does know where he is.” He heard as well as saw her pain. “That’s who came to see you, isn’t it?”
“Yeah.”
She shifted, her hand coming to rest on Cooper’s head. “He’s an outlaw,” she whispered. “He deserved so much better. Deserved to have his cottage on the beach.” Tears filled her eyes; she lowered her head to hide them.
“Some of his crew is in Little Hill.”
Her head snapped up. “What?” She put it together. “The bar fight.”
“Yeah.”
There was more than hope in her voice when she asked, “Is Brock…”
He was her past, a part of her, but seeing and hearing the evidence that she still loved him twisted Killian up. “Yeah.”
She didn’t react the way he thought she would. “Have you seen him?”
“Yeah.”
He didn’t know what she was thinking, but she reached for his hand and held it. That was all he needed. He held hers tighter.
“How much money are we talking about? It’s been fifteen years.”
He didn’t miss a beat. “Twenty million.”
“Well, fuck.”
Cedar found himlater that day. She’d gotten off the sofa, but when her hands moved around his waist and she pressed her body against his back, he bit back the order to return to it.
She pressed a kiss on his back. “Losing my parents and Brock changed me.”
Killian tensed.
“I used to be so different, so carefree. I moved to the beat of my own drum, and I didn’t care if people joined me or laughed at me. Their loss was a hit, one that knocked me on my ass and left me stumbling for years. I moved here and met you.” She chuckled. “You were the first person to make me feel again. Sure, it was frustration and annoyance, but it was something. I’ve carried a weight in my chest for fifteen years, but being here, being with you, that weight is lifting. I can’t effectively put what I want to say into words, but I’m not stumbling anymore, and if I do, it’s you I want to catch me.”