Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 101887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
I put a bullet in Niall’s head to shut him the fuck up and then I send a bullet through Donnovan’s open mouth as he screams for his dead brother.
“I want everyone involved dead,” I seethe.
“And the diamonds?”
“Find them. For every day they are missing kill someone he loves,” I say, pointing to the one who has pissed himself in his seat.
CHAPTER 9
Unexpected Find
Ronan
I thought I would go to California and turn around to head back to Ireland. My life is never that easy. Business has called me here to New York.
Dayton Hughes has requested my presence. Normally, I would have made him wait for another time at my convenience. However, I’ve been wanting to meet the new horsemen.
I was introduced to all four men ten years ago, but there have been some changes in their organization. Now that the Alliance is sure to happen, I would like to meet Philips’s replacement.
No one will be able to replace the man whom I came to think of as a friend, but I still would like to know all the men who stand among us. Hughes and Givens kept all their promises from the original agreement, even getting Philips to agree to the partnership and contracts with me and my family.
“Where is this guy?” Carrick asks impatiently as we sit in Dayton’s office.
“Patience, lad. If Hughes is late, it’s not disrespect. Something came up.
“It’s different when yer one of the heads of an organization. More fires to put out and responsibilities,” I say as I stand and move to the bookshelves to look at the photos as we wait.
“This isn’t going to be like the visit in California?”
“Ach, not at all. This is a friendly visit. Ya will learn soon that ya will have to change faces multiple times in a short span.
“Yer doing well, yer da would be proud. I meant to tell ya that. Four years isn’t a long time. Ya’ll be taking my place soon enough.
“I’m ready now. I don’t know why da didn’t tell grand that.”
“Ya need to work on yer a patience, lad. Even here in New York with its fast pace, patience has won every time.
“This meeting will be good for ya to understand what I mean by that. I want ya to listen this time. I’ll explain anything ya don’t understand after.”
“Uncle Ro, I …”
I don’t hear a word he says as I stop to stare at one of the photos on the shelf in front of me. I reach for the frame and take a closer look. I would know that face anywhere.
“Ya have to be fucking kidding me,” I breathe.
She’s a bit younger, with straight red hair that brushes her shoulders, but this is the same woman. She’s smiling back at the camera as four men I know well stand around her, one with his arm around her shoulders as he stands proudly.
“I’m sorry to keep you waiting. Thank you so much for coming, Ronan,” Dayton says as he saunters into the room.
I turn to him with the frame still in my hand. He moves to sit behind his desk. I narrow my eyes at him, trying to see if there is a resemblance.
“Who is this lass in the picture?” I say and walk the frame over to his desk.
His brows pinch in the center of his forehead until I place the photograph before him. A smile comes to the corners of his lips as he looks down at it. I can see a fondness in his gaze.
Quickly, he schools his expression and glances up at me. “Why would you ask about her?”
“She looks like an author I know.”
“Ah, yes, Danika and her writing career.” He shakes his head. “Her books come too close to real life a little too often. She’s talented. Freddie would have much to be proud of.”
“Freddie? Who was she to Freddie?”
“Danika is … This isn’t what I asked you here for. I’ve already said too much. She’s not known to the world as Danika. Danny remains private. She learned well when it comes to keeping her identity a secret.”
“Danny,” I mutter to myself.
Dayton narrows his eyes at me once again. “Ronan, I have come to know you. This is not about her books or her pen name. How do you know Danika?”
“She’s the friend of a friend.”
“That’s rich. The girl doesn’t make friends. She has enough for me to count on one hand.
“My nephew’s girlfriend would be one of them.”
“Ah, Kaye Blaze, a.k.a. Kaye Porter. The preacher’s kid. Now this is rich. Felix Black is your nephew. Why didn’t I put it together sooner? Freddie knew.”
“Knew what?”
“That Danny … nothing. I promised Freddie I would look after her and I plan to keep that promise.”
“I mean the lass no harm. I would never allow anything to happen to her.”