OoO (Josie) OoO

I was crushed. I lost the respect of Riker's parents, not that I blamed them. Their child was missing because of me. Deciding I wasn't welcomed anymore I turned to leave.

"Where's our brother?" Rydel asked quietly.

I faced the others slowly. "My sister has kidnapped him as a bargaining chip for the possession of our family inheritance. She is determined to take it for herself any means necessary."

"Is this inheritance really worth Ryland life?" Ross asked.

"Well it's just over 2 billion dollars plus whatever lies at the end of a map left."

Ross and Ratliff made a choking sound.

"Great. You know Ryland is going to hang that over our heads," Rocky joked, attempting to lighten the mood, "he's going to be so cocky when he finds out his ransom is so high."

Despite the situation we all laughed knowing that's exactly how Ryland would react.

"Who was in the bag?" Ratliff asked.

*sigh* "It was Connor. It looks as if he'd been thrown from a ten story roof. His neck and several bones were broken. I had to elude the police in order to give us room to take care of Chloé and Declan without them breathing down our necks. It was just our luck Connor had his ID and won't be classified as a John Doe. I'm not allow to leave Ireland until the case on his death is closed. But in retrospect it's better to deal with Chloé on home turf."

"What do you mean deal with her," asked Rydel.

"I might have been able to forgive her for shooting me in the back but she interfered with your lives. As far as I'm concerned my sister died in arms in a pub in Boston. I don't recognize this Chloé, we weren't raised to turn a gun on each other especially over something like money, no matter the amount."

"You're going to…to kill her?"Rydel asked bewildered.

"She'll leave me no choice but I'm hoping it won't come to that point."

"Ok. So what do we do now?" Riker asked.

"We? No, no, no. There is no 'we'." I started.

"The hell there isn't. Josie that's my brother my family. You don't get to keep me from this. Not this time." Riker said sternly.

I glanced over to his parents. Stormie was mortified and Mark stood proud.

"Riker this isn't a joke. Chloé is out of her damn mind."

"I already know how she is. Especially from our little chat this morning."

"Your little ch- what?! Why didn't you tell me you seen her?"

"I was getting to it."

"Oh well if you were getting to it." I scoffed through my hands up.

"Hey don't get bitchy with me."

"You don't keep something like that to yourself!"

"You're one to talk, but I didn't know how to tell you. What was I supposed to say 'Oh good evening sweetheart just so you know I shared an uncomfortable cup of coffee with your deranged sister'?!"

"Yes! Maybe then I would've been paying closer attention to you all instead of distracted by my own damn thoughts!"

"Well!..now I know for next time."

"Next time he says."

"Ok! Enough bitching you two," Milo called stepping between us. "We need to get a plan in gear for Ryland's sake. You two will have plenty of time later to bicker at one another."

I folded my arms over my chest huffing in annoyance. Milo was right, fighting with Riker was wasting time.

"You're right. When do you fly back," I asked turning to the rest of the room.

"Uh well in the morning actually. We have a month break now," Ross explained.

"Ok. I'll call Murphy and have a team waiting for when you land back home. I'll even have guys at new York for your layover."

"I'm staying here." Riker stated firmly.

"Fine." I sighed. "But you better listen to whatever I tell you and be where I need you. I'll die before I let you get in harm's way."

Riker nodded solemnly.

"Aye I have some phone calls to make. I'll meet you all in Shannon."

About two hours later I had Logan and Milo walking through the door with me. The house was filled with the scent of home cooked food and strained silence. We walked in to find everyone seated at the table. Logan gave a small greeting while we stood awkwardly outside the dining room. Mrs. Lynch ignored our presence, Mr. Lynch gave us an apologetic look. I nodded once and left to the office with Milo and Logan in tow. Once the door closed Logan studied me carefully.

"Well Lynnie that was damned uncomfortable," he chuckled. "Never thought I'd ever walk into the cold realms of hell but Mrs. Lynch sure changed that."

"That was nothing," Milo chimed. "You should've seen the way she slapped the shit out of Josie at the Vicar earlier."

"Really?"

I rolled my eyes at them while searching for a stack of old maps. "It's well deserved. I'm the reason why her baby boy is gone. I'm honestly surprised I haven't been her enemy all along considering the shit I've put Riker through."

"Awe darling she seems understanding. It hasn't been that bad."

"It hasn't been that bad? Do we need a recap of the past couple years."

*sigh* "No. But I'm sure it will all pan out."

"Yeah maybe."

I cleared the clutter from the desk and unrolled a recent map of County Down along with the rabbit pelt map from the security box. I grabbed a high lighter from the drawer and began to trace the secret path on to the new map.

"Huh."

"What did you find Lynnie?" Logan peered over my shoulder. "Huh looks like there's a hidden cove there." He pointed to a dead spot on the map where the pelt showed a room.

"Whatever is there has to be what Chloé is after." I said studying the map.

"Looks like we're going on a hike huh?" Milo suggested apprehensive.

"How are you with climbing?"

OoO (Riker) OoO

"How are you with climbing?" I heard Josie ask Milo.

"Climbing what," I asked opening and walking through the office door.

"Oh! Uh a hidden cove." Josie explained caught off guard by my entrance. "Seems to be part of a smuggler's path my ancestors forged."

"Really?" I asked intrigued. "That's pretty rad."

I joined Josie's side at the desk and looked over the map rolled out on top.

"Logan," Josie prompted glancing to her right towards him. "You have any shams that could assist us in gear?"

"Um…yeah I might know a few lads. Give me 'til morning aye?"

"Aye a'right."

Logan gave Josie a side hug and made his leave. Josie stared across the desk to where Milo lounged in a leather chair. Milo toyed with the brass tacks donned across the chair arm. I looked from Milo to Josie. A hint of a bruise was forming on her cheekbone.

"We need to get back to the pub. I have a few things I need to check on," Josie explained.

Milo nodded and stood up. I reached out and lightly traced the bruise. Josie winced and shied away from my touch, looking at me.

"Sorry," I whispered.

"I'll uh just give you two a moment," Milo uttered walking out, the door clicking shut behind him.

"Did…did mom do that?" I asked hesitantly gesturing to her cheek.

"Heh aye. Your mam packs one hell of a wallop," Josie chuckled rubbing her cheek.

"Josie I'm so s-."

"Don't Riker. Don't apologize for her. She has every right to act and feel the way she does. I'd feel the same if I was in her position. Taking a child away from a mother is liking taking a piece of her heart from her chest. I can only hope I can bring Ryland back for her sake. I'm not one bit upset at her, I only feel guilt for all of this."

Josie glanced down a tear trailed her cheek as she avoided my gaze. She huffed out a breath and wiped the rogue tear away. She busied herself with rolling up the maps before looking at me again.

*ahem* "I need to go. I'll be back in the morning if…if you still plan on staying."

"W-why are you leaving?"

"I've done enough damage tonight love."

She stretched up on her tiptoes and left a lingering kiss on my lips.

"I've love you réalta rac." She whispered before she was gone.