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The road takes us away from Dublin, from the violence, from all the shit that's defined our lives. For the first time in my life, I let myself hope.

CHAPTER17

DECLAN

Sarah's cottage appears as we drive over the hill. I park the Audi in the gravel driveway and cut the engine. My mind races through what we need next - cash, new papers, a way out that no one can trace back to us.

"I can tell you're plotting something," Maeve says, touching my arm.

"I need to line up money, papers, transportation. Nothing that leads back to us."

"How long?" she asks.

"A day. Two at most." I take her hand. "We'll be gone before Cormac or Siobhan realize what we're planning."

The front door opens before we reach it. Finn steps out, face tight.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" I ask, moving in front of Maeve.

"Cormac sent me to watch the kid." He glances at the road behind us. "And to give you this."

He passes me a thick envelope. Inside: a burner phone, cash, and a note from Cormac.

They're moving. Watch your back.

"What's this about?" Maeve reads over my shoulder.

"Russians hit two Donovan businesses an hour ago. Three men dead."

"Petrov's crew?" I ask.

"New boss took over after you killed Petrov." Finn lowers his voice. "Cormac thinks they want payback."

"Where's Conor?" Maeve pushes past us, no patience for this shit.

"With Sarah inside. He's fine."

We walk in. Conor sits at the kitchen table with crayons, drawing while Sarah chops vegetables for dinner. He looks up grinning.

"Dad! Mom! Look what I drew!" He holds up a paper covered in colors.

"That's cool." I touch his hair, then look at Sarah. "We need to talk."

She jerks her head toward the door. "Garden."

Outside, Sarah folds her arms against the wind. "Your thug showed up an hour ago. I nearly shit myself."

"Change of plans," I tell her. "We leave tonight."

"Tonight?" Maeve's voice rises. "You said we had days?—"

"That was before Russians started shooting up Donovan places." I can't stand still. "If they hit family businesses, they know I took out Petrov. They'll want blood."

"You're jumping to conclusions," Maeve says.

"And if I'm right?" I look at Finn. "What exactly did Cormac say?"

"That you need to vanish. Fast." Finn glances at the cottage. "He set up a clean exit. Private plane from an airfield west of here. Takes off at midnight."