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“I need ya to find Dean. When ya find her, sit on her and make sure nothing happens to her, but stay out of her way. Don’t get yerself killed,” I say quickly.

“Excuse me?”

“Just do as I say. Find my woman and watch her back. I’m on my way.” I hang up and call my mother-in-law.

“Hello, Ronan. I didn’t think I would hear from the two of you today.”

I pause to think. I don’t know how much her mother knows about her other life. I want to get to Danika, but I don’t want to cause any panic with her mother.

“Danny had to head home. I thought we could have breakfast together before our flight out. I’d like to get to know my mother-in-law a little more. How does that sound to ya?”

“I love the way that sounds. There’s so much more I wanted to ask you. I’ll be ready in ten.”

“Are ya sure ya don’t need more time?”

“Not at all, honey. I’ll be packed in ten. I’m sure you want to follow after your wife as soon as possible.

“I’m not going to hold us up. I take it you are the safer one to travel with,” she says knowingly.

“Aye. I’ll be to your room to pick ya up in ten.”

She hangs up and I begin to place calls to see if I can learn anything about what’s going on with my wife. This shit will be the death of me. We need to talk; this can’t be the way we do things.

***

“Can I ask you something?”Danika’s mother asks as we sit on the tarmac waiting for clearance for takeoff.

My blood is boiling. We’ve been delayed twice. I should’ve been home hours ago. I keep calling Tadhg, but he says Dean has been home after making a few questionable stops.

I didn’t ask him to elaborate on those. I get that Danny has been working. What’s making it hard to breathe is not knowing what she had to handle or if it could bite back.

I won’t be okay until I have her in my arms and can reassure myself she’s safe. It’s taking all that I am to remain sane in front of her mother. What I want is to flip everything over and demand they pull this fucking plane off.

“Aye, you’re welcome to ask me anything,” I reply.

“Has Danny ever mentioned her sister or told you anything about her?”

I take a moment to think. My anger is clouding my mind. I nod my head.

“Aye, once. I asked if she had siblings, but her response wasn’t too welcoming. It’s not a topic she’s open to talking about.”

“Why the heck is that?” Den’Nisha muses to herself.

“Have you asked her sister about it?”

“I would if the girl would answer my calls. I’m starting to worry. Anika is my difficult child. We bump heads, but she’s always been close to her sister.

“She looks up to Danika. Since the day I brought Anika home, Danny has looked out for her. When Freddie would only take Danny for the weekends, Danny always brought her sister something back.

“For her to have cut her off, something huge must have happened, but Danny won’t tell me what’s going on. My mother’s intuition is starting to scream that I need to find my baby. Something isn’t right.

“Danny might be mad at her, but something isn’t right. I wish Freddie were here. He would find her for me,” she whispers to her lap.

“I’ll do it. When I get back, I’ll find her.”

“Thank you, Ronan. I appreciate it.”

* * *