Kelly Clan 02 - Connor (9 page)

The closer they got, the brighter the lights seemed to get. It wasn’t until they were nearly on her that she realized they were driving in the center of the road. Claire hit the horn a few times.

“Get out of the way,” she shouted.

Claire swerved to the side as the car barely missed her.

“Asshole,” she yelled at the passing SUV.

Her hands shook as she righted the car back onto the road, and she could only hope that hopping the curb hadn’t done some sort of permanent damage.

She gulped in deep breaths to try and calm her nerves.

“Yet another reason why the suburbs suck,” she said and glared in the mirror behind her.

She watched as two bright headlights whipped around and came racing back in her direction.

Claire turned down the first street she could and then made a quick left. She pressed the gas and hoped her little car could make it to the next turn before they hit the street. Tires squealed behind her, and she knew they were gaining fast.

“Fuck.” She hit the steering wheel.

There had to be another option. She considered the police, but there was someone she trusted more than the police.

She pulled her phone out and hit Finn’s name.

“Claire?” Alyssa said sleepily into the phone.

“Get Finn,” Claire nearly shouted into the phone.

She took another turn and then quickly one more.

In her ear, she could hear Alyssa breathing hard. Claire could only guess that he was downstairs somewhere.

“What’s going on?” Finn’s clear voice set her at ease a little, but the bright lights popped up in her mirror again.

“Fuck,” she mumbled and made another quick turn.

“Claire,” Finn’s voice rang in her ear. “Tell me what’s going on, so I can help.”

“SUV is on my tail,” she said. The words shook as she spoke them. “Came at me and then made a U-turn.”

“Where are you?”

She glanced at a housing development sign. “Willowbrook.”

“Fuck,” he said. “They still on you?”

Claire made another turn. Each time the headlights gained some ground.

“They are getting closer, Finn,” she cried out.

“Shit,” Finn mumbled. She could hear him take a deep breath over the phone. “Listen to me. You’re going to hang up and call Conor.”

“What?” she shouted. “How the hell is that going to help?”

Claire made another turn and pressed the gas. She needed to go faster, or they were going to be knocking at her door.

“He’s the closest one to you.”

“How would you even know?”

“Jesus Claire, just do what I’m telling you.” He shouted, and she heard the click of the line going dead.

Still racing down the street, she pulled up the number Conor had called her from the other night.

“Please don’t be a temp,” she pleaded.

“Hello?”

“Oh, thank God,” she nearly wept.

“What’s going on, Claire?” Conor was clear and alert as he spoke.

“I’m being chased in Willowbrook. Finn said you’d be able to help.”

She took a sharp turn and gripped the steering wheel hard as it shook.

“What streets?” He sounded like he was on the move.

Claire glanced over to the streets. “Evans and Murphy.”

“Make a right,” he said, his voice clear and firm. “Can you drive with the lights off?”

She glanced behind her. The lights were still there, but she’d been able to get some distance between them at least.

“Yes,” she said and flipped them off. “Done.”

“Good. Now, turn right at Woods. Can you make it?”

“To Woods, yes, but they keep gaining on me,” she said quietly. “I can’t hold out for long.”

“You’re close, baby. Just keep your eyes out,” he soothed.

Without her lights, it made it more difficult to see the signs. It wasn’t until she was right on Woods that she saw it. Another sharp turn followed.

“On Woods,” she said.

“Good,” he nearly shouted. “Now take the first left and then another left into the alleyway.”

Claire turned quickly on to the road and then again into the alley.

“This could be a really bad idea,” she groaned.

“Just trust me,” he said. “I got you.”

Claire bumped along the alley road. The lights were no longer in her mirror, but that didn’t mean that they hadn’t gone dark like her.

“Perfect,” he said. “Now pull in to the right and find a spot.”

Claire did as he instructed and waited. No cars came by. It was like nothing had been happening all night.

She jumped when something tapped on her window. Although she shouldn’t have been, Claire was happy to see Conor.

“I’m not seeing anything, but you should get inside,” he said.

Without another word, she raced into the door he held open for her.

Chapter Nine

His house was the one place Conor didn’t want Claire, and yet, there she was. At least he didn’t have to hear it from Teagan. She was already sleeping hard, and he knew there wasn’t much of anything that would wake her up.

“Do you think they gave up?” She peeked out the window.

Conor gritted his teeth. “Something like that.”

More than likely that bastard Boris was sending him a message. Well, he had a message of his own. Conor just needed a few minutes alone with him.

“Maybe you should call Finn,” he said after a few moments had passed.

Claire nodded and pulled out her phone.

“I’m safe,” she said into the phone. She glanced up to him. “He’s here.”

Claire pulled the phone from her ear and held it out to him. “He’d like to talk to you.”

Conor took the phone and swallowed. It was the first time he’d had any contact with Finn since joining Ennis.

“Yeah.”

“Thanks,” Finn said. His relieved voice said more about what he thought might happen. “I couldn’t have made it.”

“So, I guess this means you know where I live now?” Conor asked and glanced over to Claire.

“Yes,” Finn said. “I’m not your enemy unless you make me one.”

Conor chewed over what his old boss meant.

“And don’t make Claire cry,” Finn said as almost an afterthought. “I might not be your enemy, but I have no problem breaking your nose.”

Conor glanced over at Claire. She seemed so small and frail. The thought that he’d made her cry cut him in a way he didn’t expect.

“Got it,” he said and handed over the phone.

“Yeah, I’ll call you tomorrow,” she said quietly. “Thanks again.”

Claire switched off her phone and placed it back in her pocket.

“So, you can stay here tonight,” he said. “I don’t know if they followed you, but I’m pretty sure that if they did, they know where you live.”

She shivered in the chair she was sitting on.

“I’ll stay.” She looked over to him. “If you don’t mind, that is.”

He shook his head and felt like more an ass than he already did.

“Do you want a drink?” he asked.

Claire shook her head. Her black hair fell softly around her face, and he was reminded of how she looked as he worked into her.

“I just want to go to sleep.” She sighed. “It’s been a very long day.”

Conor nodded and walked to the hall. Worn out, Claire followed behind him.

His room surprised her. In her mind, she always pictured Conor as a messy guy, but his room was in perfect order. He even made his bed and picked up his clothes.

He walked over to the dresser.

“It’s going to be big, but it’s better than sleeping in your clothes.” Conor held out a shirt for her.

“Thanks,” she said and made her way to his bathroom.

Once inside she locked the door and sighed. This was so not how she pictured this day going. There were too many things to even start processing. The best thing she could do was get changed and go to sleep.

Claire slipped on the shirt and opted to go without a bra. She didn’t want it to seem like she was desperate, but there was a part of her that hoped she was so tempting he wouldn’t be able to resist.

She finger-brushed her teeth and things seemed to be a little better. At least she wouldn’t have to go to bed with bad breath.

When she returned to the bedroom, she was surprised to find Conor putting some blankets on the floor. For the first time, she realized that he was only wearing his boxer briefs. He must have been getting ready for bed when she called.

“I’ll take the floor. You can have the bed,” he said.

She sighed. “Sleep in the bed with me, Conor.”

He froze.

“It would just be sleeping, and after tonight, I could use a warm body next to me.” She stepped forward. “Please.”

Conor groaned and swiped his pillow from the floor and tossed it onto the bed.

Claire snuggled under the covers, while he flicked the lights off. As much as it should have felt wrong, being there with him was the most right thing she’d had all day. She rolled to her side and tried to find the sleep to end the day. When his side of the bed dipped, she felt the worry from earlier slip away.

The longer she lay there, the more her heart ached for what this night should have been like. She tossed back and forth and sighed. This wasn’t right.

“Just come here,” Conor said. “Or neither of us will get any sleep.”

Claire moved across the wide bed to where he was. She gasped when his arm shot out and pulled her tight against him.

“There,” he said. “Now get some sleep.”

Wedged into his arm, Claire moved her head closer to his chest. She could hear every breath he took and his steady heartbeat. In silence, she listened to his sounds.

“Conor,” she whispered.

“What?” he murmured.

“I feel safe with you,” she said. He stirred slightly, and she only hoped that it had the effect she wanted.

“I’m glad,” he said after a moment. His words were tight, but he pulled her closer to his body.

She closed her eyes and within moments was out.

* * *

Claire woke to the warmth of the morning sun on her face. She opened her eyes, hoping to see a sleeping Conor but found he had already gotten up. The TV was on full volume in the living room. Still slightly groggy from the night before, Claire made her way to the bathroom. Maybe a splash of cold water would do her some good.

She came out feeling far more refreshed than earlier. All she needed was her toothbrush, and things would be perfect.

Peeking out into the hall, she debated putting on her clothes from yesterday but stopped at the mention of a name she was all too familiar with: Harriet Slone.

She opened the door and followed the news.

Claire stopped just inside the door.

“Harriet Slone, ex-council woman, was found dead early this morning,” the TV blared.

“What?” she stepped in quickly and sat on the couch. “How did this even happen?”

The news went on to explain that Harriet hadn’t been getting out much lately. An acquaintance suggested that after the recent trial date, it almost didn’t seem worth it to her.

The previous day the neighbors called the police after enduring hours of loud music. When the police arrived, they found the door ajar and her body sprawled out on the floor. Though the authorities had yet to release all details, they said it was almost certain she had committed suicide.

“That’s not what she would have done,” Claire whispered. Of all things, Harriet valued her life. Self-preservation meant everything to her. She'd throw an orphan in front of a bus if it meant saving her own skin.

“She didn’t,” Conor said from beside her. “They are reporting what they want because it’s easier.”

She snorted. “I suppose this has something to do with your lot?”

Conor turned, a surprised look on his face.

“You don’t think it would benefit Finn at all?” he tossed at her.

She looked at the pictures on the screen of Harriet.

“Maybe, but he didn’t,” she said.

Conor raised a brow. “And you’re sure on that?”

She looked him dead in the eye. “Yes,” she said. “Tell me you have that sort of conviction with Ennis.”

He closed his mouth. She smiled.

“Well,” she said, turning to him. “I had better get dressed. I have a feeling that there’s going to be an increase in interviews today.”

She stood and started to walk into the bedroom when Conor stopped her.

“Are you going to your house?” he asked.

She nodded. “Have to at some point.”

He shuffled his feet a bit, and she wondered if he was nervous. “Have one of Finn’s men meet you there, just in case.”

She debated even telling him. If he was a true spy for Ennis, this would be crucial information. Claire sighed. She refused to believe a man she felt such a connection to would truly commit himself to a man like Ennis.

“Finn doesn’t have men to spare for that,” she said carefully.

Conor put his hand on the door. “Where are all his men?”

She looked up to him and was surprised to find anger there.

“More left than he’s letting on,” she said. “If you were to start a war, Finn would be in a bad way.”

Conor stepped forward, pinning her to the wall. She had expected him to be upset, but this was more.

“Why are you telling me this?” He leaned down. His hot breath stirred the hair at her neck.

“Because you are a good man,” she whispered. “I know you are.”

Fired burned in his eyes, and for one moment, she wished that all the outside crap would just go away.

Conor shook his head and stepped back.

“I’m not the man you think I am,” he said.

Claire stared for a moment and then turned to the room.

“You aren’t the man you think you are either,” she said and shut the door.

Conor stood, slightly stunned. Information like this could put him in a whole new position with Ennis. That was just the problem. He’d only be improving himself in Ennis’s eyes. He really wasn’t sure that was something to pat himself on the back over. The more Ennis worked with Boris, the less he liked the terms of their contract.

This business with Harriet had to be Boris. After the shit he pulled the previous night, it would make sense. He was glad she hadn’t been in the room to hear it, but only a few blocks separated his house from Harriet's.