Page 63

Bishop

I was wrapped up in my own thoughts most of the drive back to my house. Key information Knight had brought to light was making me view my initial meeting with Eden in a different way.

We were meant to cross paths, one way or another. But why? Why had Susannah gone to all the trouble of putting her on my radar. Had Eden just been a random pawn in whatever game Susannah was playing, or had she been chosen specifically.

The only way I could find out would be to speak to the woman herself, which made me wonder if that was the sole reason she’d done it in the first place. But then she had to believe that I’d find out she was behind it. And she’d gone to a lot of trouble to hide who she was.

And that didn’t account for the fact her husband had somehow discovered what was happening and added his own agenda to the situation.

Four people—Susannah, David, Dulvaney and Eden. One outcome—me taking the job. A scenario that wouldn’t have come about if I hadn’t needed her to play a role for me.

“Who’s that?” Eden’s voice broke the silence, and I glanced over at her. “There’s a man sitting on the steps.” She pointed to the steps leading to the front door.

Dark haired, in jeans and a t-shirt, he had his forearms resting on his knees as he watched my car approach. When I parked, he rose to his feet and padded down to meet us.

“That’s Deacon.” I looked around when I climbed out. “Where’s Gemma?”

“She’s gone home. Cormac wanted her to do something for him. Dulvaney is holed up in a hotel in town.”

“Already?”

“He’s eager to get the girl back. He took a trip to the local hardware store and bought supplies.”

I paused in the process of opening the passenger door and looked at him. “Supplies?”

Deacon shrugged. “The usual. Duct tape, rope. Nothing too suspicious.”

“His plan is to grab her, then. That makes our next move easier.”

“No.” Deacon rested his hand against the door, stopping me from opening it. “He doesn’t plan to grab her, Bishop. He plans to kill her.” His voice was low. “This isn’t some low-level stalking in the hopes of getting back together. This is, in Gemma’s words, Misery-level shit. If he can’t have her, no one can.” He stepped back, and I opened the door for Eden. “Funny thing is, though, there was a woman waiting for him in town when he got here. She paid for his room and bought him dinner.”

“A woman? Describe her.” I took Eden’s hand as she climbed out to steady her and looked at Deacon.

“Dominant, conniving, smelled rich and rotten.”

I frowned. “That’s not a helpful description.”

He huffed out a breath. “Gemma said the same thing. She told me to take a photograph and show it to you.” He pulled a cell phone out of his back pocket, tapped on the screen then turned it to face me.

A familiar blonde filled the screen.

“Wait. Isn’t that Susannah?” Eden said.

“Susannah?” Deacon pocketed his cell.

“Married to David Fletcher. Gangster who works out of Baltimore,” I explained.

“Now why would she be meeting with a low-level detective from New York?”

I tipped back my head and looked up at the sky. “It’s a long and, apparently, complicated story, but the short answer is I have no fucking idea. Let’s go inside and I’ll fill you in.”

***

“Why me?” Eden asked when I finished explaining everything I knew to both of them.

“We have to assume you were just a random choice. We had no connection prior to meeting. The real question is why was she looking to put someone in my path?”

Eden toyed with the sleeve of her top, plucking at a loose thread. “She told me you’d helped a friend of hers in a similar situation.”

“I haven’t. That was a lie to make her look more believable and convince you to contact me. She must have been looking for someone who was desperate enough to take the word of a stranger.”

“And now you have a photograph of her meeting with Chester. When was that taken?”

“Earlier today,” Deacon replied.

Eden paled. “They’re both here ?”

I reached out to cover her hand with mine. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”

“You can’t promise that.”

I held her gaze. “You know that I can. That’s why you sought me out in the first place, remember. That hasn’t changed, Eden. No matter what happens between us over the next three weeks, I will still protect you from him.”

Deacon’s eyes shifted from me to her and back again. “You’re just like your brother. He ended up involved with his client, and now you are.”

“It’s not the same.”

Deacon snorted. “You keep telling yourself that.” He stood and stretched. “I’m heading back into town. I’ll take a look around your property before I leave, just to make sure there’s no one sniffing around.”

“I don’t think he’ll try anything tonight. He’ll want to check the lay of the land first.”

“I agree, but there is no harm in being cautious. I have a room at the same hotel as him, so I’ll keep you updated on his movements.”

We walked to the front door. “Thanks, Deacon.”

He patted my shoulder. “Anytime, Brother.”

When I returned to the kitchen, I found Eden on her feet, pacing the room. I moved into her path, blocking her way. She stopped in front of me, hands twisting together.

“He’s never going to stop, is he?”

“No.” There was no point in lying.

“I don’t know what to do.”

I looped my arms around her waist and tugged her against my chest. “You don’t have to do anything. I’ll deal with it.”

And, for the first time since we met, she didn’t argue with me.