I nod, feeling a bit faint.
We head back to the main dining hall, but this time we’re looking for the headmaster, no one else. But he isn’t there.
I eat a large, hearty bowl of chicken curry and rice, and drink two full cups of hot, strong tea.
“Where the bloody hell is he?” Tiernan mutters.
He signals to his brothers and points to his phone. He lets me see as he types.
Need to meet with you after dinner. My room.
They nod, one by one.
Back in his room, Tiernan’s sober as he delivers the news.
“Bloody hell,” Lachlan says. “Never liked the son of a bitch. Y’alright, Ais?”
“Of course.” I shrug. “Tiernan wouldn’t let me get hurt.”
Tully grins, just as Keenan joins us, as well as Cormac. Most of the inner circle of the Clan’s right here in this room. They make themselves at home around the small room, arms and legs hanging off chairs, sitting on the little sofa and the bed. Tiernan stands in the middle of the room, his arms crossed on his chest.
“Fill us in, please,” Keenan says. Tiernan tells them everything.
“We should use her as bait,” Cormac says, looking at me apologetically. “So sorry, Aisling.”
I snort. “Don’t be. I want this all over as soon as possible, just like the lot of you.”
Nods all around.
“I want her safe,” Tiernan says. “I’m not comfortable putting her in any compromising position at all.”
“Of course not,” Keenan says. “We’ll be sure of it. We just have to make sure she isn’t alone, at any time.”
I nod. “Aye. I can agree to that.” I sigh.
Tiernan drapes his arm around me. “You’ve done well, lass. Soon, this will be behind us.”
The others leave, and Tiernan lays me out on the bed. He kisses me until my back arches and I reach for him, and we make slow, languid love until my worries have fled for the time being.
Tiernan’s phone rings. We both look at it in surprise.
“Guess you have service?”
He answers, and a moment later, frowns. “It’s for you.”
I take the phone.
“Hello?”
“Oh, Aisling, thank God,” says a familiar voice.
I sit up straighter.
“Y’alright, babe? My God I was worried!”
“I’m fine. How did you get this number?” I ask.
“Fiona!”
“Ah, Fiona.”
Tiernan rolls his eyes.
“Karla, how are you?”
“I’m good. Just worried about you. I heard you’re with one of the McCarthys now?”
“Aye. How did you hear that?” I look to Tiernan and feel my brows draw together. How does she know this?
“Vivian told me.”
“Vivian told you… what?”
Vivian? Tiernan’s lips thin and he gets that look on his face that scares me a little. I mute the phone. “Will you stop looking like you’re going to murder someone with your bare hands?” I unmute the phone and he only narrows his eyes on me.
“That you were with the McCarthys and that they were keeping you safe.”
“Oh, aye,” she says with a sigh. “That’s why they ransacked our place.”
Jesus.
My head is spinning. Who knows what? There are people in Ballyhock who know I’m with the McCarthys. There are people right here at the school that know my identity as well.
I hate that I’ve brought more trouble to these good people. I hate it.
“I have to go, Karla,” I tell her. “I’m so sorry but I can’t talk right now. Thanks for calling.”
“Aye, I understand. Stay in touch, love, will you?”
I nod. “Will do,” I whisper. My throat is tight, and my nose is all tingly. Tiernan takes the phone from my hand and stares at the screen, swipes, and glares at me.
“What are you looking at me like that for?”
“I don’t like Fiona giving my number to your mates.”
“‘Tisn’t mates. It was one mate, and she was worried.”
The truth is, though, I hate that I’ve brought trouble here to the McCarthy Clan, I need to ensure I don’t do so again. I get to my feet and pace the room.
“We need to do something, Tiernan. Keenan said that he wanted me to bait the headmaster.”
Tiernan scowls. “I hate that idea. There has to be another way.”
I shake my head. “I won’t let him actually touch or hurt me, for real. But we need to know. Who knows what? Who’s after us? Keenan doesn’t want us leaving until we’ve found some answers, for real. So let’s find him. Let’s bait him. And let’s find out some answers for real.”
Tiernan nods. “Fine, but under one condition.” I turn to look at him.
“You do exactly what I say, Aisling.”
“Of course, of course, I know that—” he crosses the room, picks me straight up in the air, then sits heavily on a chair and pulls me onto his lap so I’m straddling him.
“This is no joking matter, lass.”
His uncompromising gaze meets mine. He holds my chin in his hand. “You have to do what I tell you.”
I blow out a breath. “Fine, Tiernan. I will, okay?”