Chapter 17 - THE BROTHERS OF CORMAC KAVANAUGH
Renick sat down on a carousel horse.
Belle would remember that forever.
The feared head of the Kavanaugh organization.
A man who commanded rooms with silence.
Sitting on a painted white horse because he had just learned the housekeeper whose son saved his daughter was his sister.
“No.”
Belle almost laughed.
Apparently denial was hereditary.
Eleanor stood opposite him.
“Cormac and I were together briefly.”
Renick stared.
“When?”
“Thirty-four years ago.”
Belle was thirty-three.
The math worked.
She hated that.
“Did my mother know?” Renick asked.
“Yes.”
His expression hardened.
“Of course.”
Declan leaned against the wall.
“Our father turned secrets into a parenting style.”
Renick looked at Belle.
She looked away.
Neither knew what to do with the information.
They had spent days arguing.
Protecting children together.
Digging through dead people’s lies.
Now blood had been added to the equation.
Renick asked Eleanor, “Why was she hidden?”
“Because Cormac loved her.”
Belle laughed bitterly.
“Excellent job.”
Eleanor’s face tightened.
“His sons were already targets.”
Declan said, “And daughters are leverage.”
Renick glared.
“You knew.”
“Since Owen found the trust papers.”
“That’s why you had his photograph.”
Declan nodded.
“I was trying to find Belle before Patrick did.”
“You could have told me.”
Declan laughed.
“You believed Bianca stole from you because Patrick whispered it. You think I trusted you with another secret?”
Renick flinched.
Good.
Maybe he needed to.
Belle said, “Did you lock Brinley on the balcony?”
Declan looked offended.
“No.”
“Your phone was in your room.”
“Planted.”
“You vanished.”
“Because Callum tried to kill me.”
Renick stared.
“Where have you been?”
“Hiding.”
“Very brave.”
“Alive.”
Renick stepped toward him.
Belle moved between them.
“Stop doing this.”
They both looked at her.
“Every man in this family solves confusion by threatening another man.”
Declan almost smiled.
“She’s definitely Cormac’s.”
Belle glared.
“Say that again and I’ll prove it physically.”
Declan actually laughed.
Renick did too.
One short sound.
The absurdity cracked the tension.
Then Naomi entered with agents.
She arrested Declan.
Not for the balcony.
For financial crimes.
Declan did not resist.
Before leaving, he looked at Belle.
“Patrick will come for Micah.”
“He’s in custody.”
Declan shook his head.
“No.”
Renick frowned.
“Patrick was transferred to federal detention.”
Declan looked at Naomi.
“Check.”
Naomi did.
Her face changed.
Transport vehicle attacked forty minutes earlier.
Patrick escaped.
Belle’s blood went cold.
“Micah.”
Renick was already moving.
They returned to the command location.
Micah was safe.
Brinley safe.
Isla safe.
For now.
Renick put all three children in the same protected house.
Belle hated the concentration of targets.
Naomi argued it was easier to defend one location.
Owen agreed.
Eleanor disappeared again.
Belle was furious.
“She just leaves?”
Renick looked tired.
“She apparently does that.”
“Not funny.”
“A little.”
Belle glared.
Then realized something.
“You’re my brother.”
Renick looked equally uncomfortable.
“Apparently.”
“You’re terrible at it.”
“I’ve had twelve minutes.”
Despite herself, Belle smiled.
Then stopped.
“We need Patrick.”
“Yes.”
“How do we find him?”
Owen entered.
“I know.”
He placed a map on the table.
Patrick had one obsession.
Cormac’s original summer house on Cape Cod.
The property where the Kavanaugh children spent summers.
Renick frowned.
“It burned down.”
“The main house.”
Owen pointed to a smaller structure.
“Caretaker cottage survived.”
Renick understood.
Patrick liked origins.
Places with meaning.
They went at night.
Naomi’s team surrounded the property.
Belle stayed near the rear command vehicle.
This time willingly.
She had three children waiting for her.
Inside the cottage, Patrick had built a shrine to Cormac.
Photos.
Newspaper clippings.
Trust documents.
And a wall dedicated to Belle.
Her school photographs.
Wedding.
Micah’s birth.
Patrick had known everything.
They found him in the basement.
He surrendered too easily.
Renick noticed.
“What’s wrong?”
Patrick smiled.
“You think this is about me.”
“Isn’t it?”
“No.”
“Callum?”
Patrick laughed.
“Callum was useful.”
“Then who?”
Patrick looked toward Belle.
“Ask your mother.”
Belle went cold.
Renick grabbed him.
“Enough games.”
Patrick smiled through blood from a split lip.
“Eleanor created the ledger.”
Owen stared.
“What?”
“She wasn’t Cormac’s broker.”
Patrick looked delighted.
“She was his handler.”
Naomi stepped closer.
“For who?”
Patrick’s smile widened.
“The federal government.”
Silence.
Belle whispered, “My mother was an agent?”
Patrick shook his head.
“Better.”
“What does that mean?”
“She was the reason the Kavanaugh organization survived thirty years.”
Renick released him.
Patrick continued.
“She fed Cormac enemies. Cormac fed her information.”
“A partnership,” Owen said.
Patrick nodded.
“Until she decided Cormac had become expendable.”
Renick’s face changed.
“My father’s death.”
Patrick smiled.
“You were told heart attack.”
Renick stared.
Belle felt sick.
May you like
Patrick leaned forward.
“Ask Eleanor who poisoned him.”
