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)
“We need to take him out.”
Roman nodded. “We need to plan this carefully. There are a lot of people’s lives at stake if we’re right.”
“I’m getting more drones over it today. And tonight. With cameras.”
We discussed ideas, plans. Luca joined in via video, offering his counsel, as horrified as we were to discover who Lopez was.
“We need him taken down,” he growled. “Fast.”
My phone rang, and I saw I was Una. I walked to the corner, answering.
“Mo chroí. Is everything all right?”
Her gasping breaths let me know it wasn’t.
I held up my hand, effectively silencing the men behind me and switching to speaker.
“Una,” I said, keeping my voice calm. “What is it?”
Niall was on his feet, his phone to his ear. He stepped in the hallway, and I knew he was calling Tom.
All I heard was her panicked breathing. I could feel her terror.
“Una,” I repeated.
Niall walked in, shaking his head furiously. My heart dropped. I pointed to the door, and he nodded, knowing what I needed.
Backup at Una’s.
Now.
Then I heard it. A low, ugly laugh. Then a voice I recognized even with his over-the-top accent as he mocked me.
“Top o’ the morning to ya, Finn.”
I shut my eyes, reining in my fear and my anger. “Brian.”
“Isn’t this cozy?” he said, his words fast and hard. “Me, my little sister, and your dead guard.”
I heard Una whimper.
“Don’t hurt her, Brian. Jesus, man, you know how much she loves you.”
His laugh was bitter. “To a point, sure. But did she use you for what I needed? No. She got her cushy job. Her fucking place to sing. A nice place to live.”
“She worked for all that,” I said, not wanting to argue with him and make him angrier, but needing him to stay on the line. I needed time to get to her.
“I fucking worked too. Did I get the recognition? The bump up the ladder? No, it was always ‘fuck Brian.’ You think I don’t know that?”
“I’m sorry,” I lied. “I’ll come there, and we’ll talk it through.”
“Yes.” Una spoke, her voice shaky. “Finn will help you. I told you that. He’ll figure out what to do with the drugs you have hidden here, help get you clean, and we can forget all this!”
Drugs he had hidden?
I ground my teeth as I heard the sound of a slap and a pained gasp from Una.
“Brian,” I warned.
“Brian,” he mimicked. “I’m done listening to either of you. I want to just shoot her.”
My blood ran cold. “You can’t kill her. Your dad would be horrified. That’s not what he taught you. And I would hunt you down, Brian. I swear to God—”
He interrupted me. “Ah, don’t worry, Finn. I ain’t gonna kill her. She’s worth far too much alive for me to do that.”
“What?”
“She’s my ticket to the good life.” He sniggered. “Finally good for something.”
Niall walked in, pantomiming with his hands. Men were on the way. I nodded. Roman looked up with a jerk of his chin. He had some on the way as well.
“But you aren’t getting her back. I sold her.”
I grabbed the back of the chair in front of me.
“What the fuck did you just say?”
“You heard me.” He paused. “Remember the other day, Finn? I said one day you’d ask for my help and I’d say fuck you.”
Una was sobbing somewhere behind him, the sound sending rage through me. I struggled to remain in control. I wasn’t above begging. Not for her. Anything for her.
“You sold her. Your sister.”
“Well, traded, really. My life for hers. Plus, a bunch of cash.”
“Don’t do this.” I swallowed. “I’ll give you anything you want. More money. Anything.”
There was a beat of silence.
“Fuck you.”
And he hung up.
I lost it. I picked up a mug close at hand, hurling it at the wall, cursing.
He had her. He had sold her.
Sold her. Like an inanimate object with no feelings.
And I knew who he had sold her to.
I turned, staring at the three men in my office.
“Fuck the casualties. This is war.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
UNA
We pulled up to my apartment, and I looked at Tom in the front seat. “I don’t suppose I can convince you to stay here or go for coffee while I run upstairs? There’s a great little café around the corner.”
He chuckled and shook his head. Tom got out of the car and opened my door, looking around before he did.
We entered the building, the superintendent meeting us. “I put the new lock on as soon as you called, Una. Mr. O’Reilly had someone sweep the apartment to make sure it was safe. Here’s the key.”
“Thanks.”
“Sad to think you won’t be living here anymore.”
I kept my expression carefully neutral. “Why would you say that?”
“Mr. O’Reilly told me you were moving out soon.”
I lifted my eyebrows but kept my mouth shut. In the elevator, I glanced at Tom, who was trying to hide his grin. He met my gaze with a shrug. “The boss,” was all he said.