Page 113

Story: Duncan

“I told you I would follow you wherever you landed.”

“Good to see you again, Jeffrey.”

“Mr. Murphy.” He reached out and shook the hand that Duncan offered. “This is my boss, Braesal O’Malley. Not sure you were properly introduced yesterday.”

“Mr. O’Malley.” Jeffrey shook his hand, and Sal reminded us we had three hours and left, followed by Cian and Mac.

“Jeffrey, this is Duncan’s niece. Colleen Murphy.”

“Nice to meet you, Miss Murphy.”

“You too, Jeffrey.”

“We need to be at the airport in three hours, Jeffrey. I hate to pull Freyja away when you just arrived. But there’s nothing we can do about it, I’m afraid.” Duncan grabbed his phone from the mantle and plugged it into the charger in the kitchen.

“I understand. I can take you to the airport then spend some time in the city looking for a place.”

“Nonsense. There is a small apartment on the ground level that has its own entrance and one that leads into the garage. You are welcome to stay there if it fits your needs. I can quickly show it to you now while Freyja starts packing.”

“I don’t have anything to pack,” I said, remembering that my bag had been left at the airport.

Duncan turned to look at me. “What do you mean?”

“I knew Tyran was there to pick me up at the airport. So, instead of risking my bag getting lost, I never picked it up. I can go to the lost and found when we get to the airport and retrieve it before we leave.”

“Wait, you knew he was kidnapping you? How? And why did you go with him?” Colleen asked.

“Lucille told me. She said I needed to go with him and that everything would work out how it was supposed to.”

“Wait a minute,” Duncan said, as Jeffrey chuckled. “You told me Lucille said you would be safe.”

“I was safe.”

“What exactly did Lucille tell you?”

I sighed heavily and rolled my eyes at Duncan. “We don’t have time for this right now, Duncan.”

“Who is Lucille?” Colleen whispered to Jeffrey, who stood next to her smiling at my interaction with Duncan.

“Lucille Ball,” Jeffrey answered, never taking his eyes from us.

“Who?”

I groaned. “You don’t know who Lucille Ball is? FromI Love Lucy?” Colleen shook her head, and my shoulders slumped. “I have so much to teach you.”

“Freyja,” Duncan growled.

“I will tell you everything on the plane. Show Jeffrey the apartment so we can get to Colleen’s. She does need to pack. I will pack some things for you.”

I grabbed Colleen’s arm and dragged her up the stairs with me, ignoring the rumbling coming from Duncan.

Three hours wasn’t as much time as he thought it was.

If I thought Duncan would forget our conversation about Lucille, I was wrong. Not only did he remember, but once the plane took off, he let the others know. Turned out they were just as mad.

“Lucille never said you would be safe?”

My shoulders fell as I exhaled loudly. Mac stood by my chair thirty thousand feet in the air and glared at me. I turned to scowl at Duncan, who wore a smirk as he shrugged. He had been on his phone, apparently texting the others what I said about Lucille.