my daughter?” O’Brien spat.
“I’m not so sure she’s eager to see you.”
“You will regret this.”
Drex smirked. “Somehow, I think you have that backward. You’re the one who’ll have the regrets.”
We loaded the men into one of the other SUVs and drove them down to the local FBI office in Denver. With Sinead’s testimony, Aiden would be locked up for a very long time.
Chapter Forty-Four
Raiden
We were incredulous when Scottie relayed the news of Aiden’s arrest. None of us expected him to show up at the cabin, least of all Sinead.
“Does this mean we can finally go home?” Mom asked, drawing out the word, finally.
“Not quite yet,” Isla answered. “We need to take care of some details, but we are getting closer.”
“Thank God. I think I’ll go cook now.”
That had been her way of coping. We’d hired cooks, but she and Liv kicked them out of the kitchen. They enjoyed creating delicious meals for the family too much.
It was late when the group returned. The FBI questioned them for hours. They released them after they passed over the information accumulated on O’Brien. The FBI agreed to call in the US Marshalls to protect Sinead and Aisling so she would consider it safe to give up information on her father.
Both agencies agreed to place them in WITSEC and would pick them up the following day.
Cruze was in a local hospital, but he would be fine. He suffered many bruises, lacerations, and three fractured ribs. They’d tried to beat the location of his daughter and grandchild out of him, but he wouldn’t give in. Turned out to be a good thing we’d kept that a secret from the staff we hired. The housekeeper lured him outside, on the ruse she needed help with carrying in a case of wine, of all things. He fell for it, and when he walked outside, he was drugged and carried off. When he woke up, they’d tied him to a chair where Drex had found him. He was released from the hospital the following morning.
As he was gingerly walking into the house, Drex and Gemini were leaving, with Sinead, Aisling, and Isla.
“Where are you going?” Cruze asked Sinead.
She glanced at Isla and asked, “You didn’t tell him?”
“Honestly, we didn’t have time.”
Sinead bowed her head and said, “I’m going to the FBI.” Isla walked Aisling away, while Sinead told Cruze what her plans were.
“Do you think that’s a good idea?”
“I’m the only one who has the information on his organization to stop him. I have to do this.”
Cruze sat on a stool at the counter. “But what about your safety? Your daughter’s safety?”
I moved in and said, “Cruze, they’re going in the witness protection program so they can be safe. They’ll both have a new start, with new identities and a new place to live.”
“So you’re leaving then?”
“I have to. My daughter is the most important thing to me, and I want her to grow up and live the rest of her life normally. Not the way I did, and not with my father. I should thank all of you for what you’ve done, though at the time I didn’t think it would turn out this way.”
“I understand, and for what it’s worth, I’m glad we could help. Best of luck to you, Sinead.” I grasped her hand and shook it.
“Thank you.” She walked away, but Cruze gaped at her as she left.
“What’s wrong with you?” I asked.
“I, uh, nothing. I’m going upstairs.”
“Need some help?”
“Nope, I’ve got this.”
He limped his way out of the room. His behavior was odd, almost as though he would miss her. But how could he? They barely knew each other.
I mentioned Cruze’s behavior later to Scottie. “What do you make of it?”
“It is strange, but maybe he’s attracted to her. She’s beautiful.”
“But how could he expect to have any kind of relationship with someone like her?”
“Maybe he didn’t think that far ahead, Raiden.”
Scottie may have been right. He might have been thinking about the here and now. Whatever, it was over because they would never reveal her identity to anyone from her past.
“So now what?” I asked.
“Aiden is in jail and they’re working on indicting his entire corporation, for lack of a better word.”
“I imagine with all the information Sinead will provide, the indictments will take a while.”
“Actually, I think they want to do this fast so none of the soldiers or underbosses go into hiding or leave the country. Then extradition comes into play and that’s another mountain to climb.”
I pulled Scottie against