“What are you doing here, lad? You’re supposed to be with my Maggie.”

Just keep cutting my heart out, why don’t you? I knew better than to come into the pub.

“I didn’t go,” I reply shortly and sip the beer.

The two men are quiet, and then Keegan gets pulled away to help another customer.

“Shall we talk about it, then?” Tom asks simply and climbs onto the stool next to mine.

God, I’ve been dreading this. I’m an idiot. I never should have started something with her. I knew if it fell apart, it’d change everything between the entire fucking family and me. And that hurts almost as much as losing Maggie.

“Are you just going to drink?” Tom asks.

“I don’t honestly know what to say,” I reply at last.

“I’ve always found the best place to start is the beginning.”

After another sip, I tap my fingers on the glass, lift it, and gesture for Tom to join me at one of the booths in the corner, where it’s a bit more private.

Once we’re seated, I take a deep breath.

“Before I tell you any of this, I need you to know that it can never be repeated.”

“You can trust me. Hell, I’m your father in every way that counts, boy.” And by the look on his face, he’s offended that I even have to question his integrity.

“I know.” I swallow hard. “I know it. But I still have to say it because I’m not supposed to say what I’m about to. But, damn it, I need to talk to you. Five years ago, I was brought in on a case at work. One that involved your former son-in-law and the woman I’m in love with. A money laundering case.”

I can’t tell him everything, but I skim through the story.

“Eventually, I had to take myself off the case because it became a conflict of interest for me. How could I do that? How could I investigate people I love more than anything? I couldn’t, so I pulled back. But not before I knew just about everything there was to know. And, of course, because of the nature of my job, I couldn’t talk to Maggie about it. Not back then, not when Joey died, and not now.”

“You told me,” he points out.

“I’ve only barely scratched the surface. I can’t tell you anything else, and I’m sure you have questions, but I can’t answer them.”

“Okay, then.”

Two words, so easily given that it almost takes my breath away.

“Well, the morning we were supposed to go to Ireland, Maggie saw an email on my computer from my former boss, telling me that they need me for more on the Lemon case. It didn’t give any specific information, but she saw enough.”