Merchants with Evil Intent (13 page)

*
     
*
     
*

      
Declan’s mobile rang as he pulled into
Colleen’s driveway. “Hello?”

      
“Declan! Where are ya?” Colleen
screeched.

      
“I’m outside the house, gel. What’s the
problem?”

      
She slammed the phone down and ran out
the door, pulling him out of the van.

      
“I thought you got lost!” she whimpered
embracing him.

      
 
“Easy, lass.
Tis fine.”

      
She pulled away and eyed him curiously.
“You smell like perfume. Just where have you been?”

      
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
“Let’s go in, aye? I’ll tell you aboot my adventure.”

*
     
*
     
*

      
“Hello, Camryn.”

      
She grimaced. “When does the flight leave
for Ireland?”

      
“Tomorrow.
Have
you had a change of heart?”

      
She hated needing anyone’s help,
especially his.
“Yeah.”

      
“I’ll be right over.”

      
She hung up and started pulling clothes from
her closet to pack. Camryn had never been to Ireland. She was excited, but at
the same time, anxious. She’d never traveled so far on her own and wished she
had someone joining her. Loud banging at the front door jarred her from her
thoughts.

*
     
*
     
*

      
Declan relayed the events of his day over
a bottle of beer.

      
“That’s quite a story, Dec,” Colleen
sighed.

      
“Aye.
She’s full
of spunk, that one.”

      
“Are you going to call her?”

      
Declan sighed running his hand through
his hair. “I’m leavin’ tomorrow. What good would it do?”

      
Colleen slapped the table.
“Jaysus!
Obviously you both like each other! Are you daft?
Call her now!”

      
He shrugged, “I’ll call her when I get
home.”

      
She hissed, “You might be too late then.”

*
     
*
     
*

      
Camryn walked stealthily towards the
front door, with the thirty-eight between her hands.

      
“Get away from my door or I’ll blow your
fucking head off!” she screeched, her voice shaky.

      
A voice boomed back, “Fine way to talk to
your brother!”

      
“Ryan?”

      
“Duh!
Open the
door! I’ve got your suitcase!”

      
She placed the gun on the antique
sideboard and removed the chain from the door.

      
Her hands shook when she opened the door.

      
“Jesus, Cam! You scared the shit out of
me!”

      
“Likewise,” she countered.

      
He wrestled the large suitcase and tote
bag through the door and placed them by the couch. He turned, spotting the gun
on the sideboard. His eyes widened.

      
“Shit! You weren’t kidding.”

      
“Did I sound like I was?”

      
“Well, no, but shit! Could you really use
that thing against someone?”

      
She nodded, “If I or someone I loved was
being threatened? Hell yeah. I wouldn’t bat an eyelash.”

      
He pulled her against him and kissed the
top of her head. “Let’s hope it never comes to that,” he murmured.

*
     
*
     
*

      
Colleen sat on the bed while Declan pack
his belongings. “What time is your flight tomorrow morning?”

      
“Eleven. Are you goin’ to miss me?”

      
“Of course I am, ya silly gobshite! It
seems you just got here and now you’re leaving,” Colleen sighed wistfully.

      
“You’re always welcome at Teaghan’s. I
won’t even charge ya!”

      
She threw a pillow at him. “Why did you
name the bed-and-breakfast after her?”

      
Declan shrugged, “Guilt?”

*
     
*
     
*

      
Ryan sat on the edge of Camryn’s bed and
watched as she packed. “Are you sure you can do this?”

      
“Do what?” she asked.

      
“Take off to another country by
yourself.”

      
Camryn sat next to him and patted his
leg. “I’ll be okay. I need to get away to sort things out and since John
offered, I’m takin’. He owes me.”

      
“Yeah, what a mind
blower, huh?
Now I understand why he felt differently towards you.”

      
“It explains a lot, but I’m not going to
worry about it now. I’ll have plenty of time for that later.”

      
They heard a soft knock at the front
door.

      
“Easy, killer, I’ll get it,” teased Ryan.

*
     
*
     
*

      
“Hey Uncle John.”

      
“Hi Ryan.
Is
Camryn here?”

      
Ryan nodded.
“Yep.
Do you think going by
herself
is a good idea?”

      
John shrugged. “I’m sure she doesn’t want
me to tag along. Besides, she knows how to handle herself.”

      
“That’s right, I do,” Camryn scowled,
walking into the living room.

      
“Here,” John muttered, handing her a
large brown envelope.

      
She eyed him suspiciously and peeked
inside at the contents. Her eyes widened and shot him a reproachful glare. She
withdrew the plane ticket and handed the envelope with the rest of the contents
back to him.

      
“Camryn, take the envelope,” John
growled, shoving the envelope back into her hands.

      
“I don’t want your money,” she hissed.

      
Ryan pulled the envelope from John’s
hands and peeked inside. “Hell, I’ll take it!” They both shot him a dirty look.
Ryan shrugged, “What?”

      
John fought back his irritation,
diverting his attention to Camryn. “You’ll need money for food. Plus there’s an
itinerary and the bed-and-breakfasts that I’ve booked and paid for.”

      
She glowered at him and hesitantly took
the envelope from Ryan.

      
“This is awkward…,” Ryan muttered. “I’m
going to take off.”

      
Simultaneously John and Camryn shouted,
“No.”

      
John held up his hand. “I’ll go, but I’ll
be here tomorrow at seven to take you to the airport, whether you like it or not.”
He shut the door firmly behind him.

      
Ryan puffed out his chest and mimicked,
“Whether you like it or not!”

      
Camryn shot him a slight grin.

*
     
*
     
*

      
“I’m starting to think your husband
doesna like me. I’ve barely seen him since I’ve been here,” Declan muttered as
he cleaned off the dining table.

      
“Don’t be silly. The hospital is
understaffed so he works extra hours,” Colleen stated.

      
“Well, me ugly mug will be outta here
tomorrow and your lives can get back to normal.”

      
“Will your life
get
back to normal as well?” Colleen poked.

      
Declan pondered for a moment. “I expect
as normal can be for me.”

      
Colleen sighed heavily, “I think you’re
makin’ a mistake by not calling her before you go.”

      
“Get off me arse!” Declan growled
stomping out the patio door.

*
     
*
     
*

      
Ryan sprawled lazily across Camryn’s
couch rubbing his belly. “I love pizza,” a contented sigh escaped from his
lips.

      
“Clearly, since you ate most of it,”
Camryn jeered.

      
“Well someone had to since you picked at
yours.”

      
Camryn sat across from him with her legs
folded under her.

      
“Whatcha readin’?”

      
Camryn grimaced and waved the paperwork
in the air.
“John’s itinerary.
I don’t know when he
expected to rest doing all this stuff.”

      
“Are you going to follow it?” Ryan asked.

      
“Nope, I’m going to take things day by
day and forget about my life for a little while.”

      
Ryan sat up, a worried expression on his
face. “You
are
coming back, aren’t
you?”

      
“Well, duh. Besides, what would keep me
there? It rains all the time and you know how I hate rain!”

*
     
*
     
*

      
Declan paced the deck. What good would it
do to call her? Aye, tis true he wanted to hear her voice again, but he was
leavin’ in less than twenty-four bleedin’ hours. “Feck!” he growled pulling her
number and his mobile from his pocket.

*
     
*
     
*

      
Her phone rang. The number wasn’t
familiar, but she answered anyway. “This is Cam.”

      
After a slight hesitation on the other
end she heard, “’Tis Declan.”

      
Her eyes widened and suddenly she was at
a loss for words.
“Gel?
Are you there?” he inquired.

      
She nodded her head, “Yeah. Um, how did
you get my number?”

      
“John gave it to me. I hope
it’s
okay that I call.”

      
She stood as Ryan mouthed the words, “Who
is it?” She waved him off like a pesky fly and walked into the kitchen.

      
“Sure. Are you okay?” she asked
breathlessly.

      
“No gel, I’m not. Ya see, the thing is I
can’t stop thinkin’ aboot you,” Declan murmured.

      
Camryn’s pulse jumped. Oh! He was
thinking about her!

      
“Gel?
Didja hear
what I said?”

      
She cleared her throat. “You took me off
guard. It’s nice to know you’ve been thinking about me.”

      
“I want to apologize for what I said
earlier. I doona think all Yank girls are easy.”

      
Her eyes narrowed. He wasn’t thinking
about her. Just the stupid thing he said. “Well Declan, I don’t care what you
think about Yank girls. If that’s the only reason you called, you needn’t had
worried.”

      
Declan pulled the mobile away from his
ear. Did the girl always have a bug up her arse? She mumbled something and he
lifted the mobile to his ear. “Sorry, I didna catch that.”

      
She hissed, “I said if that’s all you
wanted to say then goodbye.”

      
“Do you have a medical condition? Jaysus,
one minute you’re snoggin’ me socks off and the next you’re gnawing me head
off,” he growled into the phone.

      
“It’s amazing how a sexy guy can be such
an asshole!”

      
A loud click rang in his ear as she
disconnected the call.
 
Dismayed, Declan
stood on the deck, clutching the mobile in his hand.

*
     
*
     
*

      
“Viktor?”
Ryan
asked as he sat up on the couch.

      
Camryn shot him a disgusted look. “No,
Declan.”