leather briefcase. He
elegantly placed it on the table in front of Irving.
Reaching towards the latches with
tremor-ridden hands, Irving tried to open the case.
Liam glanced at Amanda, and she could see
that he had not expected the famous Irving Shea to be so weak.
Amanda brushed her hands on her cream linen
napkin, preparing to push back her chair and help Irving with this
fine motor skill, one of the types they had been working hard on
during his daily rehab.
But Liam beat her to it, leaning forward and
flipping the latches open with one hand, covering Irving’s cold,
shaky hand with the other.
“Thank you, my boy,” Irving said
approvingly.
Amanda knew Irving well enough to know he had
just given Liam a test, one the younger man had passed.
Liam nodded and looked at Amanda.
She
realized she wore a slight, fond smile, and hastily wiped it away.
No point in letting Liam think she was fond of him .
Liam
turned back to the briefcase. He opened it. He stared at the stacks
of twenties and fifties and hundreds. Wow . Although his lips moved, no sound came out. He stared
some more.
Irving broke through his reverie. “So, are
you convinced I can provide you with a payday that will make your
efforts worthwhile?”
Liam picked up his fork. Carefully he cut a
marinated mushroom filled with whipped feta and took a bite.
Amanda clasped her hands in her lap so hard
that her knuckles turned white. The tension made her feel ill, but
she whispered enticingly, “Can you smell the lavender in the
fields? Can you hear the wind in the grapes? See the rolling hills
of Tuscany from the desk of your villa?”
Liam glanced at her, then concentrated on his
plate.
Irving weighed in, but not with enticement.
With a truth that made Amanda shrivel in despair. He said, “Mr.
Gallagher, we, of all people, realize that the decision you’re
making is difficult. We have dealt with your boss for years, and
Osgood has won many battles against us. He has found abandoned
children before we could get to them. He has turned the site of the
Gypsy Travel Agency’s headquarters into a monstrosity, a building
filled with awful weapons and innocent people who have no idea
they’re in danger. In this small but vitally important battle, we
ask for your help. For your expertise.”
Liam stopped eating. He watched Irving
intently, clearly assessing his current situation and the outcome
of his decision. It was like the choose-your-own-adventure books,
except now her life and Sophia’s life — and his life — in
balance.
“I know what you have been through, Mr.
Gallagher.” Irving folded his hands in front of his Meissen plate.
“I know how you were treated at that orphanage and how the Others
offered you a way out – a home and a job.”
Amanda stared at Irving in confusion. Liam
had never shared this part of his personal history with her. When
they were dating, he had merely said his parents had passed away.
How did Irving know?
Irving closed the briefcase, pulling Liam’s
gaze from its contents. “Only with your help can Miss Reed hope to
infiltrate the Sculptor’s studio. Only with your protection will I
send her there to retrieve her sister. So it’s time to choose.
Loyalty or money.”
“Not loyalty or money. Almost certain death …
or money,” Liam said.
“If it wasn’t dangerous, I wouldn’t pay you.”
Irving pulled himself up in his chair and looked at Liam intently,
his dark eyes snapping. “So, I ask again. Will you change into my
form and get her inside the studio? Will you help her?”
The Chosen gave up all pretense of casual
interest. The room was silent, waiting for Liam’s reply.
Amanda watched, as though in slow motion,
Liam nodded and said, “All right, what’s the plan?”
CHAPTER TEN
AMANDA
ALMOST — almost — jumped
up and hugged Liam, and kissed him, and hugged him
again.
Instead she sat on her hands and tried to
calm the wild beating of her heart.
This was what she had dreamed of, hoped
elegantly placed it on the table in front of Irving.
Reaching towards the latches with
tremor-ridden hands, Irving tried to open the case.
Liam glanced at Amanda, and she could see
that he had not expected the famous Irving Shea to be so weak.
Amanda brushed her hands on her cream linen
napkin, preparing to push back her chair and help Irving with this
fine motor skill, one of the types they had been working hard on
during his daily rehab.
But Liam beat her to it, leaning forward and
flipping the latches open with one hand, covering Irving’s cold,
shaky hand with the other.
“Thank you, my boy,” Irving said
approvingly.
Amanda knew Irving well enough to know he had
just given Liam a test, one the younger man had passed.
Liam nodded and looked at Amanda.
She
realized she wore a slight, fond smile, and hastily wiped it away.
No point in letting Liam think she was fond of him .
Liam
turned back to the briefcase. He opened it. He stared at the stacks
of twenties and fifties and hundreds. Wow . Although his lips moved, no sound came out. He stared
some more.
Irving broke through his reverie. “So, are
you convinced I can provide you with a payday that will make your
efforts worthwhile?”
Liam picked up his fork. Carefully he cut a
marinated mushroom filled with whipped feta and took a bite.
Amanda clasped her hands in her lap so hard
that her knuckles turned white. The tension made her feel ill, but
she whispered enticingly, “Can you smell the lavender in the
fields? Can you hear the wind in the grapes? See the rolling hills
of Tuscany from the desk of your villa?”
Liam glanced at her, then concentrated on his
plate.
Irving weighed in, but not with enticement.
With a truth that made Amanda shrivel in despair. He said, “Mr.
Gallagher, we, of all people, realize that the decision you’re
making is difficult. We have dealt with your boss for years, and
Osgood has won many battles against us. He has found abandoned
children before we could get to them. He has turned the site of the
Gypsy Travel Agency’s headquarters into a monstrosity, a building
filled with awful weapons and innocent people who have no idea
they’re in danger. In this small but vitally important battle, we
ask for your help. For your expertise.”
Liam stopped eating. He watched Irving
intently, clearly assessing his current situation and the outcome
of his decision. It was like the choose-your-own-adventure books,
except now her life and Sophia’s life — and his life — in
balance.
“I know what you have been through, Mr.
Gallagher.” Irving folded his hands in front of his Meissen plate.
“I know how you were treated at that orphanage and how the Others
offered you a way out – a home and a job.”
Amanda stared at Irving in confusion. Liam
had never shared this part of his personal history with her. When
they were dating, he had merely said his parents had passed away.
How did Irving know?
Irving closed the briefcase, pulling Liam’s
gaze from its contents. “Only with your help can Miss Reed hope to
infiltrate the Sculptor’s studio. Only with your protection will I
send her there to retrieve her sister. So it’s time to choose.
Loyalty or money.”
“Not loyalty or money. Almost certain death …
or money,” Liam said.
“If it wasn’t dangerous, I wouldn’t pay you.”
Irving pulled himself up in his chair and looked at Liam intently,
his dark eyes snapping. “So, I ask again. Will you change into my
form and get her inside the studio? Will you help her?”
The Chosen gave up all pretense of casual
interest. The room was silent, waiting for Liam’s reply.
Amanda watched, as though in slow motion,
Liam nodded and said, “All right, what’s the plan?”
CHAPTER TEN
AMANDA
ALMOST — almost — jumped
up and hugged Liam, and kissed him, and hugged him
again.
Instead she sat on her hands and tried to
calm the wild beating of her heart.
This was what she had dreamed of, hoped
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