Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79046 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79046 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
My stomach rolled at his words and his implied threat. Then he sat back. “But I never would.”
His words should have calmed me, but the fact that he’d uttered them frightened me.
“I asked Finn to let you go,” I whispered.
“And he did. But you didn’t ask him to forgive the loan. Or to make sure it was known I wasn’t to be touched. That only applies to you, doesn’t it, sister dear? I guess you need to suck his cock for protection.” He stood. “At least I haven’t lowered myself to that. Sleeping with the man who killed our dad.”
His words and the hatred with which he spewed them shocked me.
“Dad was doing his job. He took that bullet out of loyalty.”
“And got nothing for it but pissing and shitting himself until he died,” he snarled. “Finn did nothing.”
I stood, angry now too. “He paid all the medical bills. The mortgage. For nursing care. He made sure Dad never went without. He looked after him.”
“And what about me?” he roared, his whiskey-soaked breath hitting my face. “I should have been promoted. Given special treatment to make up for it.”
I gaped at him. “Oh my God, that’s what you think? Dad got hurt, so you should have it easy? What makes you think you should be entitled that way?”
He grasped my arms, shaking me. “Finn O’Reilly owes me.”
“No,” I gasped. “He doesn’t. You owe him.”
His grip tightened to the point of pain. Then with a snarl, he pushed me away. I fell to the floor, hitting my hip, staring up at him with new eyes.
“He is going to pay. He thinks this is over, but it’s not. One day, he will bow to me.” He grinned, an evil, twisted grin I had never seen on him before. “And I’ll show him the same mercy he showed me.” He picked up his whiskey and drained it, throwing the glass against the wall. Then he picked up the envelope. “You know what? Ask Finn for your money. You’re his whore now. I’m going to take this and enjoy myself. See you around, sister.”
He left, slamming the door behind him. It took me a moment before I got off the floor and raced to the door, throwing the dead bolt.
Whoever that person was who had left in such anger wasn’t my brother. I didn’t recognize that man.
I covered my face as I sobbed.
Finn had been right all along.
But it might be too late for me to tell him.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
FINN
I scrubbed my hand over my face, cursing inwardly. I studied the picture Roman put in front of me and shook my head.
“That isn’t Brian Murphy.”
Roman frowned. “Are you sure?”
“You’ve seen him. His hair is red, and he has so many freckles his face almost looks the same color at times.” I tapped the grainy picture. “This guy’s hair is too dark, and his skin is clear. Not Brian.”
I sat down, feeling relief. I still had to deal with him, but I didn’t have to kill him—yet.
“The guy on the crew swore it was him. Said it sounded just like him.”
“I have lots of men with a trace of an accent. Brian picked it up from his dad and hanging with the crew. The guy heard someone who sounded like Murphy during a panicked arson attack. He could have been mistaken.” I looked at the grainy picture. “This guy is clean-shaven. Murphy isn’t. He’s always sporting a beard. Or what might pass as one.”
Roman grunted.
“Are there any other pictures?”
“No, the camera was knocked out of place. In both cases, which makes me think it’s someone who knows your business.”
“Murphy wasn’t up on all the details. Especially lately since I had him doing grunt work.”
“You’ve got men looking for him?”
“Yeah.”
I looked out the window, feeling weary. I hadn’t stopped since I’d stepped back into the hotel. The arson and the gang attacks were my priority. Without Niall, I was burning the candle at both ends, and I hadn’t been to my suite except for a quick shower that morning.
And I hadn’t talked to or seen Una. By the time I could call her last night, it was too late, and I assumed she’d be sleeping. I didn’t want to text her, thinking I would see her in the hotel and we’d be able to talk for a moment, but that hadn’t happened. Another business was raided and a lot of damage done, and I’d been there with my men since three a.m. trying to figure out what was happening and why.
As soon as I was done with Roman, I planned on calling her. Except my phone rang, and the last words I expected to hear were uttered.
“Brian Murphy is at the warehouse, and he’s asking for you.”
“I’m on my way.”
I stood, pulling down my sleeves. “This should be interesting.”