A Highland Heist A Contemporary Highland Romance Book Three (13 page)

Had Liam given her a hard time about their relationship-about her spending the night at his place? Conall knew firsthand what it was like, since he was none too happy when his sister started dating and things got serious with the lads she was seeing. He could see Maggie and Liam arguing about it, but wasn’t so sure it’d lead to tears.

In the end, all he could do is be there for her. “It’s nothing. I’m sure it’ll get sorted before long, if it’s even still an issue.”

“Why don’t the two of you come by for dinner someday soon? We’re heading into the weekend and I could do with some company.” Rowan tucked a stray curl behind her ear. “And maybe Maggie’s just feeling cooped up since we’re so far from the city. I’d imagine it could get to a person if they’re not used to being in a place so remote.”

“Aye, it could be that I suppose.” Or not. He should go see her and get this sorted rather than letting it distract him all day.

His cell phone buzzed in his pocket and then chimed the sound he always dreaded hearing. He glanced at his phone, and swiped through several screens of the report his system had transmitted. “Shite. I’ve gotta go.”

Rowan called after him as he hustled out of her shop, dragging Piper behind him. “Ask her about dinner. Don’t forget.”

Conall sped his way back home along the winding seaside roads. Something or someone had tried to break through one of the firewalls he’d setup on Iain’s systems-the ones he’d designed for the Hope. Coupled with the earlier disturbances Maggie had experienced with her own systems, it left him on edge. He dialed Maggie’s cell but it went through to voicemail after several rings.

He pulled down his drive and grabbed Piper, who must have sensed something was wrong and was actually looking subdued. Letting them in, he immediately headed for his computers, and started pulling up screenshots and running diagnostics while trying Maggie again.

This time she picked up. “Maggie-check yer firewalls. My systems detected a disturbance similar to the one ye found with yer systems a few weeks back.”

“I’m sorry, love. That was me.” Maggie cursed under her breath and then continued, her words coming out in a hurry. “I was messing around with the parameters and making some adjustments. I must have bumped against yer walls and triggered them. I hope I didn’t cause ye any problems or worries.”

Conall sat back on the sofa with a long sigh of relief. “Nae, love. Dinnae fash yerself. I’m just glad it wasn’t anything more.”

“Listen…it’s been a long day. I think I’m going to spend the night at the cottage, if that’s all right with you.”

“I can’t say ye won’t be missed.” A wave of worry roiled in his gut, impossible to ignore. He hated having these sorts of conversations over the phone. It left him completely blind to the clues a person’s facial expressions would normally provide. Instead, he was left trying to decipher the inflections in her tone and voice. “Maggie…if there’s something wrong… I’m here for ye, love.”

“I know ye are-and I truly appreciate it.”

Chapter Thirteen

Guilt overwhelmed Maggie as she hung up the phone with Conall. She was desperate to see him, to tell him everything. Yet she couldn’t tell Conall. He’d never let her steal the Hope-not even for her brother-and he’d feel compelled to tell Iain, who would likely get the authorities involved.

Worse still, she’d have to explain her family’s connection to the Flahertys. It was because of her father’s past and his acquaintances that the jewels and her brother were now in jeopardy. And she could only imagine Conall’s reaction if he ever found out that her father had been a thief of some renown, given that he, too, was in the security business and it could ruin his reputation if it got out. It was something she should have told him when they were discussing their pasts and promised to be completely honest with each other. Yet she hadn’t.

Conall had wanted complete and total honesty between them, and instead she was honoring that request with avoidance and deceptions.

It had been harder than she thought to spend time with him when she couldn’t be completely honest with all that was happening. She felt like she was under a magnifying glass, for the man missed nothing, and if she continued to spend time with him, he’d know something was drastically wrong. Keeping her distance was the only way she’d manage to keep her lies to a minimum. It was the least she could do, and maybe, when it was all over and Aidan was home safe, Conall might forgive her.

“Ye’ve got a puss on ye, Maggie.” Liam could never resist teasing her, even if he should know better by now-especially given the circumstances.

“I’m warning ye, I’m in no mood.” She glared at him, but his smile only widened. “I’m glad ye’re able to find the humor in our brother getting kidnapped and my life going to hell.”

His smile quickly faded. “Do ye not think I’m worried? Well, I am-and you know it. But what option do we have? If ye’ve got some grand plan, by all means, I’m listening-’cause I’ve got nothing.”

She pushed past him, needing to get away from the confines of the cramped bus and into the fresh air, grabbing her leather jacket as she took the steps. Digging the keys out of the front pocket of her jeans, she pulled on her helmet, kick-started her bike and tore out onto the road, spraying dirt and gravel. She didn’t know where the hell she was going, but hoped the low rumble of the engine and the open road would help clear her head.

She kept going until she lost track of time, and the sun started to set. Under normal circumstances, she’d be heading to Conall’s. Except that she wasn’t. She couldn’t. Not if she wanted to keep her lies to a minimum and her brother safe.

Eventually, she decided to turn back. Desperate to thaw out from the cold wind that whipped in off the sea, she headed into town for a sorely-needed pint. Walking into the pub, she had to beat back the hope that Conall was there, tucked away in a corner having his dinner. She needed to keep her distance, and yet every cell in her body yearned to go to him. Yearned to have him by her side. Yearned for the comfort of his touch.

“A pint of the black, if ye’d be so kind, Lara.” Maggie slipped onto the stool and propped her head in her hand, elbow to the bar.

Lara started to pour her a Guinness as Maggie watched the brew dance and swirl within the glass, black and tan, the creamy thick head rising to the top. “Rough day?”

Maggie shrugged and slid Lara some money. “Yeah, I guess.”

Lara gave her a kind smile. “Well, I know something that might turn yer day around-a friend of yers is here. And he’s a tall drink of water on a hot summer day.”

She sat up with a bit of a smile, her gaze scanning the crowds. “Conall’s here?”

“Don’t be daft. If I was going to say anything about Conall Stewart, it’d be that he was a cantankerous pain in the arse-though you’ve certainly put him in a better mood as of late.” Lara tilted her head towards one of the high backed booths. “This lad’s from Dublin.”

It couldn’t be her brother, Patrick. He’d have called with all that was happening. However…Maggie felt the blood in her face drain, leaving her skin cold and numb, while her heart beat a deafening staccato in her head. “Did he give his name?”

Lara frowned at her, brows drawn together as she took Maggie in. “Are ye all right?”

“
His name, Lara.
Did he give his name?”

“Aye-said it was Sean. Here he is now.” Lara flicked her chin towards the booths she’d gestured to just moments earlier, though Maggie barely registered any of it.

Rage and hatred mixed into a volatile combination, and the only thing containing it was the fear for her brother’s life. Maggie spun to face him, her eyes locked on his, her body vibrating with the tension it took to keep from murdering the bastard.

“Maggie, love. There ye are.” Sean leaned in and kissed her cheek, before whispering in her ear. “Don’t go making a scene now, love. Would hate it if anything happened to that gobshite brother of yours.”

She ground her teeth to keep the curses from escaping. “If ye’ll excuse us, Lara.”

Lara’s mouth quirked into a bit of a frown. “Aye, but if ye need me for anything, I’m right here.”

Sean steered her towards the booth he’d been sitting in, but she shrugged out of his grasp and took a seat. “What the hell are ye doing here?”

Sean’s smirk had her wanting to reach over and punch it off his face. “Someone’s gotta keep an eye on ye, sweet Maggie. This is our only chance, and I’ll not have it going awry. I know what ye’re like, yeah?”

“You may think ye know me, but it couldn’t be further from the truth.” She got to her feet, ready to go. “So let me make myself clear. Harm a hair on Aidan’s head, and I’ll kill ye myself.”

“I did always like that feistiness. But be careful, yeah? Wouldn’t want ye getting yerself or yer brother into trouble. And be thankful I didn’t make you part of the deal. I could have-and still might.” The corner of his mouth kicked up into a menacing sneer. “Don’t ye remember how fun it was? Except ye thought yerself better than the rest of us. Yer whole family did-the high and almighty Brennans.”

She scoffed at him, fire in her eyes. “High and almighty, indeed. But truth is, anyone would have to fall pretty damn far to stoop down to yer level.”

***

“Yeah. I’ll do my best to avoid him, Da. Don’t go worrying. Just take care of yourselves over there. I’ll let ye know if anything changes. And I swear, Da, we’ll get Aidan back.” Maggie finished her goodbyes and hung up the phone.

“So, what did Sean say?” Liam was watching her, arms crossed in front of his chest as he leaned against the counter in the cottage, but she was in no mood to discuss Sean or what they were going to do about Aidan.

“I’ll deal with him-with this.” Her mind was racing through the details as a plan started to form.

It’d be a huge risk, but truth was she didn’t know if she’d be able to get her hands on the Hope anytime soon. They were still months away from completing the security systems and that meant the jewels were hidden away someplace safe. She didn’t even know where, let alone know how to steal them.

If, however, she managed to create a tracking device small and inconspicuous enough to hide on the necklace itself…then maybe she could use it as an excuse to gain access to the jewels. And if she did manage to steal it, this would at least aid in its safe return.

It had to work. Had to. ’Cause she had nothing else. She’d get her brother back, even if it ruined everything she’d worked so hard for.

There was something else bothering her, though. Clearly, it was no coincidence that she’d run into Sean just now in Dunmuir. But Dublin? At first she’d thought it nothing but rotten luck that they’d seen him while wandering the city. But now? She had to wonder if it was the start of Sean’s plan. Had he been following her, knowing they’d soon snag her brother? Yet the trip to Dublin had been a spur of the moment thing.

The chance of it being sheer coincidence seemed slim. And that meant that Sean somehow knew she was going to Dublin or they’d been keeping tabs on her da’s home. It’d likely be the latter, but it made her wonder if things were as secure as she’d hoped here in Dunmuir. The bus and Conall’s home would be hard to tap or break into, but the cottage was a different story. Had she discussed going to Dublin while at the cottage? The bus? The museum grounds? She couldn’t really remember the details, but it made her leery and suspicious. Like someone had been watching and listening all along.

Her brother pulled her from her thoughts. “Maggie…ye don’t need to do this alone, love. Tell me what I can do to help.”

She reached out and squeezed his hand to keep him from worrying. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to tell him, but if the cabin was bugged, then she didn’t want to risk saying anything. “I could do with some fresh air. Ye mind joining me?”

He nodded, his brows drawn together in worry. “Aye, love. Anything ye want.”

They stepped out into the cold as the wind coming in off the sea whipped around them and the light from the cottage struggled against the inky darkness. She wrapped her arms around herself to try to ward off the bone-numbing chill, and then told her brother of her suspicions.

“The bastards. I wonder how long they’ve been planning this.” He shook his head, the coiled tension pouring off of him as he cursed under his breath. “They must think us gombeens.”

“Until we know how they’re keeping tabs on us, we’ll have to watch what we say and who we say it to. And we’ll need to sweep for bugs-everywhere. The bus, the cottage, the museum. Conall’s place is likely secure, but it might be a good idea to check there also if I can figure out a way to check without him growing suspicious.” At least she’d have an excuse to see him again.

It was a small plus in what felt like a whole lot of minuses. She told herself she should be staying away, yet she couldn’t bear it. It’d been just over twelve hours since she’d last seen him, and it was already killing her, her feelings no doubt amplified by the thought that there’d be no relief to this nightmare anytime soon. She couldn’t possibly stay away until this was resolved, and yet she’d have to try to do just that.

Liam stuffed his hands in his pockets. “How are ye holding up, love?”

She let out a weary and ragged breath, as if his question gave her permission to let down her guard and acknowledge how she felt. “I’m worried, Liam. About so much-about Aidan, the Flahertys, the jewels…”