Page 17 of A Temptation Too Great (Knights of Purgatory Syndicate #3)

Chapter Twelve

Moira

I scream and cry, my body thrashing against the hands holding me back. Brody is being framed, I know it. But I also know I’m his alibi for the last three hours. If my father was killed before that, he has none.

I finally collapse in Aidan’s arms, and he passes me to Carson, who carries me into the house as they take Brody away.

I’m terrified. Once he’s behind bars, he’ll be on his own, forced to fight for himself, and that could land him in even more trouble.

They didn’t waste a second to take him away the moment he asked for a solicitor.

Fiona sits with me while I stay curled in the fetal position.

Police officers search our home without care, dropping and breaking things.

Rory, Brody’s younger brother, follows them, taking pictures of the damage.

When an officer tells him to back off, Rory replies that his solicitor advised him to do this.

Lex walks into the chaos, and Aidan quickly fills him in on what happened.

I just watch, not caring about anything around me.

I know I need to figure things out, but in a matter of a few hours, I’ve confirmed who murdered my mam, and now my da is dead too.

I have no family left except my brother, who is responsible for my mam’s death. Did he kill our father too?

“Moira, I need to talk to you.” Lex squats down beside the sofa.

I finally focus on something and look up into his eyes.

His blue-green eyes remind me of sea glass.

And his hair— I never noticed the hints of red in it before.

He’s quite handsome, but he’s not my Brody.

That thought nearly brings more tears to my eyes.

If Brody had never fallen for me, he wouldn’t be going through this right now.

“Moira, snap out of it,” Lex bites out sharper, and I sit up, stretching my spine and neck. “That’s better. Come on.”

He grabs my hand and leads me out the door off the kitchen into the storage area. Then he steps into a utility room with a sink and plenty of cabinets and shelves. He clicks a few buttons on the wall, and a low buzzing starts.

“What’s going? What is that sound?”

“It’s to prevent any bugs from listening in. I’ve also locked everyone out and soundproofed the room.”

For a moment, I feel vulnerable. But I know Brody would never leave us with anyone he doesn’t trust explicitly.

“Your mam only had one child,” he says, dropping a bomb. I shake my head, trying to process what he just said. “Her name is on Eoin’s birth certificate, but she didn’t give birth to your brother.”

“That doesn’t make sense. How can her name be on it if he’s not hers?”

“The original birth certificate listed no mother. He was adopted by your mom.” I notice for the first time he switches between “mam” and “mom,” just like his odd accent changes at times. “He’s your father’s son, though.”

“Are you saying my father had an affair? That he got a woman pregnant, and that’s how my brother came to be?”

“Yes, exactly. Your mam filed for divorce, but then she changed her mind. When you came along, she thought things would be fine. But Eoin has always had a strange fixation on you. Your mom tried to keep him away. She found out how bad it was when she walked into his room and saw his little shrine to you.”

“His what?”

“He’s been taking pictures of you without your knowledge for years. I suspect that’s why your dad was killed. Eoin finally slipped up and told him how he plans to marry you and get you pregnant.”

“I’m going to be sick.” I turn toward the sink and throw up everything I just ate. Lex pats my back awkwardly and then hands me a towel when I’m done.

“There’s more,” he says.

“What more can there be? He’s already destroyed my whole family.”

“He’s the serial killer. I’ve sent proof to the police, along with video footage of him leaving your father’s house right after the attack, covered in blood.”

“I don’t want to be sick again.” I press a hand to my stomach and cover my mouth.

“I have a plan.”

I look at him and realize why it’s just the two of us in this room.

“You want to use me as bait?”

“Yeah. I’ll have the guys back off a bit, and when that fucker comes onto the compound, he’s ours.”

I hesitate. “I don’t think that’s a very good idea right now.” I want to do it, but I won’t risk my baby. “I’m pregnant.”

“Fuck. Never mind. Brody would kill me. Okay, let me let the others in, and we’ll come up with something.”

I lean against the counter as he fiddles with some buttons. I hear an ominous click, and the door opens, letting the others step inside. Niall walks over to me, then glances back at the door.

“Get a chair for her.”

Breeze runs out and returns with a chair. He sets it down as the door clicks shut and the buzzing starts up once more. Lex tells everyone everything he just told me, including his idea to use me as bait. He makes it clear he won’t go through with that plan.

“I’d kill you for Brody if you did that,” Carson says with a bite in his voice. “I know what it’s like to lose the love of your life and future.” The guys all look at him in shock.

When he leans against the counter next to me, I reach for his hand and squeeze. “I’m sorry.”

“It was a long time ago. Doesn’t mean the pain isn’t still there. It’s just not as bad as when it happened.”

“I’m still sorry for your loss.”

He nods and then folds his arms over his massive chest.

I listen for a bit but feel my eyes growing heavy. Before I know it, I’m being carried upstairs to our room and laid on the bed. I drift in and out, worried about Brody, until I hear the doorbell ringing.

I slip out of bed and make my way to the water closet, then to the dressing room where I change into a pair of sweatpants and a tank top. Quietly, I head to the stairwell to overhear who’s at the door.

“I’m here to take Ms. Kelly in. She’s being requested for questioning.”

“No,” Carson says firmly.

“I can get a warrant if I must,” the peeler responds.

A warrant for what?

“Is she under arrest for something?” Aidan asks.

I come down the stairs and see Niall on his phone. I’m sure he’s calling the solicitor who’s supposed to be helping Brody.

“She’s not leaving here. If you want to question her, you can wait for her solicitor, then ask her whatever you want,” Niall says as soon as he gets off the phone.

“I’m not leaving without her,” the peeler says. I recognize him. He’s friends with Eoin. “I’m staying here until the solicitor arrives.”

“Then you’ll wait in your car.” Aidan opens the door and directs him out.

The peeler turns to look at me. “If you try to escape, I will arrest you. You’re being questioned regarding your father’s death now too. Your shag buddy threw you under the bus.”

As soon as the door closes, Niall is at my side.

“He would never.”

I look up at him, then over at the other brothers and men in the room. “I know that. He was just trying to get a reaction out of me. It’s not going to work. I know where Brody was. Neither of us did it.”

“Good girl.” Niall wraps an arm around my shoulders as he leads me to the kitchen and directs me to sit.

Fiona is cooking, and the food smells good. My stomach growls. After throwing up everything earlier, I’m starving.

I look out the window and realize it’s almost a new day. Brody still isn’t here. The sun, far off on the horizon, is getting ready to rise.

Brody

They’ve been questioning me for hours, but my solicitor and I mostly sit in silence.

Eoin isn’t here, and I wonder if he’s watching me from behind the glass.

One of the peeler’s mobiles vibrates, and he glances at it before turning toward the window and shaking his head. Yep, the arsehole is back there.

The peeler turns back around. “Mr. Tiernan, are you covering for Ms. Kelly? Because we’ve been made aware she doesn’t have an alibi for the time of her father’s murder.

Maybe she killed him so she could be with you.

Do you require an initiation? Maybe that’s what it was.

” He pauses, watching me as my jaw locks.

I grind my teeth, itching to tell this arsehole where he can go.

“Well?” the other officer asks.

I glance at my solicitor, who just nods.

“That line of questioning is just trying to get a rise out of my client. If you’re done, we’re leaving.”

“We aren’t done.”

They continue to question me, and my frustration grows.

I need to be home. I know Eoin’s going to do something to my girl while I’m stuck here.

The only comfort I had until a few moments ago was knowing he was here too.

But now, I don’t feel him watching me anymore.

That’s when I decide to push the issue. I lean toward my solicitor, whisper my request, and wait for his response.

“Mr. Tiernan has a suggestion. Bring in the witness for me to question, or we’re leaving,” my solicitor says.

Both peelers exchange a look before one sends a text. While he waits for a reply, I get my confirmation. The witness is Eoin, and he’s now gone.

I lean over again. “I need out of here. Now. He’s going after Moira.”

“We’re done here. You can’t formally charge him.” My solicitor stands.

I rise too, but the peelers push back.

“We have a warrant.”

“That was issued under false pretenses. We are leaving,” my solicitor says.

We try to move past them, but one slams me against the wall before I can reach the door. I want to fight, but I don’t. That’s exactly the reaction they want from me.

I find myself back in a cell. My solicitor’s voice echoes down the corridor as he yells, threatening to wake every official in the city. In my gut, I know it will be too late. I just pray my men and family can protect my girl and unborn child.

I pace the cramped space, intimidating the other people in here so they don’t bother me.