My handler. My supervisor. The man who assigned me to infiltrate the Kavanaghs.
I sit back, mind reeling. If Byrne works for them, this entire operation is compromised. Every report I've filed, every piece of intelligence—all filtered through a corrupt agent.
But why assign me to investigate his own benefactors? What's his real game?
I photograph the corruption evidence with trembling hands. This changes everything about my mission, my safety, who I can trust.
"Planning to steal those?"
Eamon's voice freezes my blood. I turn to find him in the doorway, pale but alert, gun trained on me.
"Looking for more medical supplies," I say, closing the box.
"In a hidden compartment?" He steps closer, weapon steady despite his injury. "Try again."
"I heard something. Thought someone might be?—"
"Cut the shit." His voice turns deadly calm. "Professional movements. Professional search technique. Who the fuck are you?"
My mind races. "I told you?—"
"Bartenders don't move like federal agents. Bartenders don't know how to find hidden compartments." He kicks my purse across the floor.
Contents spill everywhere—makeup, keys, phone, and my emergency FBI badge.
Eamon goes white as he picks up the badge. "Special Agent Sorcha Quinn."
The words hang between us like a death sentence.
"You can explain this," he says, voice dangerously quiet.
"Eamon—"
"You're federal." He reads the badge again. "You've been investigating my family while I protected you. While I..."
His voice trails off, realization hitting.
"While you what?" I ask.
"While I fell for you." The admission sounds like it costs him. "While I told you things I've never told anyone."
"My feelings are real."
"Your feelings?" He laughs bitterly. "Your job was to fuck the information out of me."
"That's not?—"
"How much did you record? The fever confessions? Me telling you about Thomas Nolan?"
I don't answer, which tells him everything.
"Of course." He shakes his head. "Every vulnerable moment. Every time I trusted you."
"The corruption evidence changes things. Byrne?—"
"I don't give a shit about corruption." He advances on me, gun lowered but fury radiating from every line of his body. "You let me fall for you while building a case against my family."
"It wasn't supposed to happen."
