Fix You (The Irish Rogues #3)

Chapter Twenty-Seven Raphael

T wo Weeks Later

While I was personally the happiest I’d ever been in my life, my professional life had gone up in flames in more ways than one.

The fire at Inferno hadn’t been a total surprise. That night after I’d come home from dinner with Maeve, I realized that Edoardo was going to strike at me or more specifically at Inferno. The realization came after I’d found a matchbook from the club stuck in the door of my penthouse. How the hell someone had gotten not only into my building, but in my private elevator was disturbing on so many levels.

Finding the matchbook was why I hadn’t gone to bed when Maeve asked me to. I went to my home office and started making calls for added protection. Apparently, the bomb was set earlier in the evening, and the added men didn’t help. Regretfully, I’d lost a bouncer in the explosion as well as the damage to the employee entrance.

Due to the location, we didn’t have to close for more than two days. I paid extra to have crews working around the clock to fix the charred employee area. I beefed up on security as well including bomb sniffing dogs. The new protection sent a direct hit to my profit margins.

Caruso had remained eerily silent. But he still found ways to fuck with me. The engagement party had been unceremoniously postponed. Not canceled, but postponed.

Regardless of the stunt he’d pulled at the club, I wasn’t backing down or accepting defeat. I would marry Maeve just as soon as her semester was over.

Speaking of my red-haired beauty, I’d just sat down at my desk when a call came from Maeve. Because of her classes, she’d had to leave two days after the bombing. I missed her even more now. I’d sent two bodyguards with her back to Dublin. Technically, since she was still a Kavanaugh, she should’ve had security through her brothers, but I was more than happy to ensure her safety.

“Good morning, amore,” I purred into the phone.

A contented sigh came over the phone. “Good morning.”

“Are you just calling to hear my voice?” I teased.

“No, I wanted to thank you.”

“For what?”

“The gorgeous roses.”

Furrowing my brows, I leaned forward in my seat. “What roses?”

“The ones at my door.”

Absolute panic ricocheted over me. “Maeve, get away from the door and the roses.”

“Why?”

“I didn’t send them.”

“But the card says they’re from you.”

“Did you hear me? Get Pauly and Aldo to get you the hell away from there.”

“Just let me get Murphy,” she said as I heard the jingling of her keys.

“No, don’t wait! Get out!”

At her scream, I shot out of my chair. “Maeve? Maeve, what’s wrong?” I demanded.

There came a muffled thump as if she had dropped the phone. My heart accelerated to the point it threatened to beat out of my chest. “MAEVE?”I screamed in desperation.

“Sir, it’s me, Pauly.”

“What the fuck is going on?”

“She’s okay, but–” His voice cut off as he gagged.

“What?!” I shouted, gripping the phone.

“The dog’s….been mutilated.”

I sank down into my chair. Caruso had sent someone to break into her apartment and kill Murphy. He was showing me regardless of where she was in the world, he could get to her in my absence.

“Get Aldo to take her out of there. Then pack her shit up and get her to the Shelborne until I can come get her.”

“Yes, sir.”

Maeve’s agonized sobs staked through my chest to pierce my heart. “Can she talk to me?”

“I’m afraid she’s inconsolable. Aldo is picking her up now and taking her to the car.”

As soon as I hung up, I tossed my phone on the table. With the myriad of emotions coursing through me, I threw my head back and screamed until my throat ran dry.

I was so thoroughly fucked.