Chapter Twenty-Nine

Liam

The plan was to keep Maggie in the dark so that she was safe. It’s a plan that Detective Chandler and I agreed on at the resort. It’s a shitty plan, actually, because, for one, I didn’t give Maggie the choice and that’s just not cool, and for two, I’m really fucking miserable without her in my life.

That was eight months ago. Eight long, torturous months. But the distance has been necessary. Very necessary.

“Your brother has been moved to solitary,” Detective Chandler says.

This is a courtesy call. We haven’t spoken more than two words since Shawn was arrested.

I had a role to play, and Shawn needed to think I had no involvement in his arrest. I’ve been living in a constant state of anticipation, waiting for the shoe to drop, for someone to find out I was involved. But eight months later, he still has no idea.

“What did he do?”

I was at the prison a month ago to see Shawn. He didn’t look good then. I felt his desperation to find a way out. Those bars, when they close on you, they bring out this instinct to run, to fight, to get the hell out of there in whatever way possible. I know this feeling intimately because I was there not too long ago, because of him.

Yes, I take some satisfaction that he’s getting what he deserves. Not only for what he did to me but for what he did to the women and children who were being trafficked on that Monday so many months ago. His cargo of humans who he brokered a deal on.

“He tried to put a hit on Cormac.”

I grunt. “Of course he did.” The last time I spoke with Shawn, his obsession with teaching Cormac a lesson was borderline manic. He hinted that he wanted me to go after Mac. I told him that a life sentence wasn’t the worst he’d be facing if he did any more plotting like that. “For how long?”

“Right now, he’s in there for a month, but I was talking to the warden, and it’s possible they’ll move him to a separated unit afterward. He’s not playing nice with the others. Instigating shit. Better to isolate him probably.”

That’ll kill him. Solitary alone will drive him over the edge. I have a hard time feeling any sympathy. The women and children he was trafficking were isolated. They were housed in shipping containers for months as they traveled to various destinations. Luckily, none of them were killed in the shoot out that happened when the police descended on Shawn’s deal all those months ago. Two of Shawn’s hired thugs had been killed. Cormac had been hit with ricochet, but it was nothing fatal. Thank fuck.

They’d caught Shawn at the beginning of a budding crime plan. Moving humans had been too tempting of a venture for him to pass up, but he was a small player in that particular game. None of his associates could be linked to him, and there were no other arrests that came out of that take down. Just Shawn, a few of his men, and Cormac. Some bad guys off the streets of Boston. I know Detective Chandler is gunning for bigger fish now.

“Cormac is safe. He checks in once a month with his parole officer. Doing some community service stuff, paying his debt to society. Seems solid.”

I haven’t talked to my brother. That’s part of the deal. No contact between him and the family, but I know he’s okay because he’s been accessing the off-shore account I set up for him. Not spending a ton, although it’s available. He’s living modestly…somewhere. After testifying against Shawn, he was given a new life, new identity, new past, present, and future. I miss him, but I know this is what’s good for him. Out of Shawn’s reach and staying out of trouble. Deep down, Cormac never was a bad guy. He just needed a reset on his life.

“Thanks for letting me know.” I want to ask him about Maggie. I want to know how she’s doing.

“How are things with you?” Chandler asks.

This question catches me off guard, and I hesitate before I answer.

“I’m okay.” And I am okay. I travel between my cottage and the family home, taking care of my father and my brother. Dad is doing better now that I’ve set him up with round-the-clock home care. Ronan has come a long way as well. A lot of that has to do with his nurse, Hailey. She’s tough on him, grueling in the physical therapy she’s making him do, but he needs it. Shawn’s beating gave Ronan brain trauma that makes some things really difficult. Hailey keeps him in line.

There’s silence on the line, and I wonder if the detective hung up.

“That’s good, son. Keeping out of trouble, right?”

I laugh. “Always.”

I’m done with the side of business that toes the line of the law. I’ve made enough money to last a lifetime and then some, and even though I’ve paid my debt to society for the moral crimes I have committed in the past, I feel like there’s things I can do to pay it forward. Maybe invest in some legit companies. Companies that do good for the world in some way. I bet Maggie could help me find some. Like usual, my brain stutters on the thought of her. I want to shove her to the back, forget, move on. But I can’t. No matter how hard I try. She’s invaded every part of me. When I smell vanilla, I think of her. When I touch something soft, I think of her. Some songs, the lyrics, they make me think of things I want to say to her.

I pull off of the highway and head back into the city.

Detective Chandler clears his throat. “Maggie’s doing good. She got a job working for this company who help people with dementia and memory issues. She’s handling their marketing.”

“Really?” I turn down a street. I’ve been avoiding this side of town for the last eight months.

“Yeah, and, uh, she says hi.” He chuckles. “She’s been bugging me for months to let you know that she’s thinking about you.”

I tap the brakes just as I’m about to glide past Hill Street.

His words are short. To the point. And yet so full of possibilities. She says hi, which means she’s not closed to me. She’s not averse to me. She’s not avoiding me. It also means her father isn’t, either. He could shut me out of his family’s life completely. He could warn me away, reminding me to keep clear of his daughter. Instead, he says, “She’s thinking about you.”

A car honks behind me.

I make a left.

“Is she happy?” I don’t want to intrude on her life. I don’t want to make her miserable. But honestly, all I’ve been thinking about is driving down this street. Her loft is on the corner. I made some calls, checking in to make sure that the repairs I asked for were done and Maggie’s taken care of. I’m happy to hear that her landlord put some much-needed work into the place.

“She’s happy.”

“Good.”

“She could be happier.”

There’s a few heartbeats of silence. I slide into a parking spot along the side of the road.

“Sir?”

“She doesn’t need you to make her happy, Liam. But I’m letting you know that I don’t think she would mind if you connected with her. I think she’d like to share some things in her life with you.”

It’s late afternoon. People are coming home from work. As always, I’m scanning for Maggie.

“I won’t bring danger into her life.” I don’t know if I’m saying this like a promise or a fact.

“Your brother is in jail. Whether or not you bring danger into her life is entirely up to you and your actions, nothing else. As far as I’m concerned, you’re as dangerous to her as I am. For fuck’s sake, son, you’re not going to propose to her. You’re going to ask her out on a date.”

His words interrupt my train of thought. He’s right. The only danger I would bring is by my own design, and I’ve decided my life of crime is long past.

“You did your time. You served your debt. Time to move past that and get on with your life.”

I don’t know what to say to that. His words, they’re like the confirmation I needed to hear.

“She’s still working at the Coffee Hut. She should be getting there about now,” he continues.

“Why in the world…”

“She’s paying down her student loans. She likes working there. If I’m going to be honest, I think she’s waiting for you to come in like you used to.”

I nod. Without much thought, I pull my car back onto the road.

“Should I give her a message from you?”

I turn down another street. My heart ramps up. She’s there, walking like she does. Bouncing almost with each step, smiling at people who pass her. It’s so good to see her. Everything about her is the same, but it’s different, too. My heart beats wildly.

I pull off to the side of the road just as she slides into the Coffee Hut.

“Nah, thanks, Detective. I’ll give it to her myself.”

“Very well. I may see you around then.”

“Here’s hoping.” I end the call and turn the car off.

I’m a proper stalker now, right? Sitting outside of her work, hoping to catch a glimpse of her in the window.

I should leave her alone. Let her move on with her life. Forget about me. Meet someone else.

My heart actually feels like it’s twisting at that thought, though.

I get out of the car. I’ve been avoiding this place for so long that it feels weird actually being here. I’ve done everything I can to shove Maggie out of my mind, and yet I keep searching for the sound of her voice, her laugh in particular. I miss her laugh. Her smile. Her arms around me.

I walk toward the Coffee Hut. I can see Maggie inside. She’s behind the counter. There’s a long line of customers. I could leave and she’d never know. I could leave her alone.

I open the door and slip inside.

I hear her laugh first, and I know this is the right decision. My heart kicks into overdrive. I want to see her again. I want to spend time with her. I want to be part of her life.

I get into line.

I don’t owe anything more to Shawn. I’ve done my time. I’ve catered to his needs. Now he’s put himself in a position that is beyond help. It’s time for me to let him go and focus on myself and on Maggie, if she’ll have me.

She’s making iced coffee for a trio of girls who are all giggling and gossiping. She’s smiling to herself. I wonder what she’s thinking about.

The flirty girl at the register sees me, and her eyes go wide. She recovers quickly, though, and smiles, her face lighting up with excitement. I’m one person away from ordering. I lift my finger to my lips. She nods.

“Hey, Maggie, you think you can take the cash for me? I’ve got to run to the back.” Flirty girl winks at me and then walks away.

I step up to the counter just as Maggie whips around. Her mouth drops open.

“Hi, Maggie,” I say, suddenly at a loss for words, not to mention unsure of what to say. It’s so good to see her.

She gapes at me. “What are you…how are you…but…”

I lean on the counter. “I was wondering if you were free this weekend? I need a date. For the weekend. The whole weekend.”

The shock fades from her face as a smile spreads across her lips. “You need a date?”

“I do, and really, you owe me.” I’m smiling like a fool, can’t help myself. I think my cheeks are going to hurt by the end of this day.

“I think that’s something I can do.” She comes around the counter and reaches for my hand. “It’s something I’d love to do. And I do owe you.”

The second our hands touch, I pull her close and wrap my arms around her. She stretches up, her arms around my neck, and kisses me, tender, full of promise.

A piece clicks into place. I feel my heart settle. This is where I need to be. With Maggie in my arms, my life back on track, and a weekend ahead full of fun and games and a little bit—no, scratch that, a lot—of love to share.