his hotel suite.
It took seconds to locate his belongings, along with the garment bag draped across his bed with his other suit. With a flick of his hand, he could send the garment bag to his apartment in Paris, but it was quite a bit away from Zagreb and the suit might inadvertently get ruined in all the conjuring. He’d have to take it with him.
Everything in hand, Fionn sent a quick text to Bran telling him to check him out of the suite since it was no longer safe for Fionn to do so himself. Then, in a blink of an eye, he was back in the coffee shop restroom.
Rose was still at the table where he’d left her. To his satisfaction, her expression softened with relief when she caught sight of him.
Good. She was starting to trust him.
That’s what happened when you were desperate. You trusted where you shouldn’t.
There was that inconvenient niggle again.
Rose’s gaze dropped to his garment bag and then lifted to meet eyes. “Really? You needed to grab clothing?”
He scowled. “One, it’s a $3,000 suit. Two, witches and warlocks can use personal items in spells against you.”
Rose startled in panic. “My apartment.”
Fionn waved off her concern. He’d already texted Bran to take care of it. “I have someone clearing your place as we speak.”
“You are efficient, aren’t you?”
“No time for chitchat, Rose. We need to leave. Now.”
“Are we still going to Barcelona? Why?”
“You want to know who you are? Who you really are and where you’re from? Do you want me to teach you how to use and control your abilities?”
“Yes to all the above.”
“Then I’m taking you to Ireland. But first we need to make a stop in Barcelona. Someone took something from me. Something important. And I need it back.”
His phone buzzed in his pocket and he switched the garment bag to his other arm as they strode out of the coffee shop.
It was from Bran.
Apartment is swept clean.
Another text came in.
There was a street address, along with the car model, color, and license plate.
Keys are beneath front passenger wheel.
Fionn almost grinned. The boy could chat for Ireland, but fuck, he was useful.
8
Fionn was what Rose called a “viber.” She wondered if he even realized how much he manipulated the vibe of the surrounding space. The tension in the car was so thick as they drove through the city in the silver car Rose’s chest was tight.
His guy, this Bran person, certainly was a resourceful dude if he could whip up a car within minutes.
Rose sat in the passenger seat stewing, her own worries magnified by the tension Fionn emitted. The thing was, he didn’t look tense. He was relaxed in his seat, and he wasn’t constantly checking his mirrors as though someone was pursuing them. Yet Rose’s pulse was racing fast and hard and her palms felt clammy, and she instinctually felt he was the cause. Beneath his cool facade, he was worried. She was certain of it.
Ridiculous, right?
That’s what she thought … until they hit the E70 highway, leaving the city behind, and Rose felt an immediate lightening of pressure on her breast. Her pulse began to slow.
Shooting an incredulous look at Fionn, she noted no change in his outward appearance or body language. But why else would she be feeling emotions that, without a doubt, felt forced upon her?
As far as she was concerned, nothing seemed unlikely anymore.
“How long will it take to get to Venice airport?” She finally felt like it was a good time to ask.
“Around four hours. If you have questions, now is a good time to ask.”
She smirked at the offer. “Something tells me you’re not the chatty type.”
“You would be correct. But you have questions and I have answers, so I’ll deal with the discomfort of conversation.”
Miraculously, Rose chuckled despite the madness that had descended upon her with incredible abruptness. Fionn flicked her a curious look.
“So … what are your questions, Rose O’Connor?”
Her scowl was immediate.
Having overheard his entire conversation with the faceless Bran, it deeply hurt Rose to discover that her mom and dad had continued to lie about who she was. Who they all were. How had they hidden that they were from a magical family all this time? With her cell gone, it would worry them when she didn’t check in, but that wasn’t a priority for her now. Yesterday it would have been.
Despite Fionn’s subtle prodding for her to ask about the O’Connors, the first question that came to mind was