Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 90211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Finn though, we know each other. We trust each other. I’ve gone to war for him and I’m sure I’ll do it again before this whole show’s done with.
“Alright. I can accept that. From you, at least. Anyone else and I’d be cutting them to ribbons.” He flashes teeth like that’s a joke, but based on Kieren’s state, he’s not kidding. “What’s the plan then?”
“I have some ideas. Both Kieren and my source insist that the old Baranov boss doesn’t trust electronics and keeps everything in hard copy. They both think the dossier is in that house. Which means the house is everything.”
“That’s good for us. A single point of failure. But if it’s so important, it’ll be guarded.”
“I have some thoughts on that. I’ll need resources though.”
Finn waves a hand. “You have them.”
“And Cormac.”
That gets a surprised laugh. “I don’t exactly give orders to him.”
“Who does?”
“Declan, in theory, but really nobody.”
“Let’s see if he’ll help anyway. My plan is dangerous and I’ll feel a lot better if he’s involved.”
Finn exhales and stretches his legs. He folds his paper and adjusts his hair, running a hand along his scalp. “It’s the girl, right? She’s why you’re not telling me anything? Which means her brother is your source, which means her brother helped our friend Kieren in the basement steal that blackmail material. Am I getting it right?”
My jaw aches from clenching. I nod though, because to do otherwise would be to lie to him.
He shuts his eyes and rubs his nose. “What a shit sandwich.”
“I’m eating it, not you.”
“You love her, then?” His gaze is hard. No smile, no mask. “You’re not asking me to go along with this for anything less?”
“I love her,” I confirm, the easiest thing I’ve said all day.
“That’s good. You’ll find loving a person fucks you up in a good way. Changes things, shifts your priorities around. Makes you grow.”
“I know what you mean.”
“Good. I’ll talk to Cormac.”
“Thanks, Finn.”
“You’ve saved my ass so many times over the years, I more than owe you some leeway. But Liam—“
“I know.”
“The brother—“
“I know.”
“Yeah.” He lifts his coffee to his lips. “I’m sorry for her. But you know.”
I push myself to my feet with a groan. “I need a damn shower. Got to wash all this blood off.”
“Shit stains, it’s annoying.”
“You’d think we would’ve figured it out by now, but do you have any idea how many shirts I’ve ruined thanks to this stuff?”
“You got to talk to my laundry lady. She’s fucking fantastic. I’ll send you her number.”
“Speaking of laundry, I’m going to need that sack of shit in the basement alive.”
Finn makes a face. “You sure? I was going to get rid of him later today.”
“Hold off for me. I’ve got some ideas.”
“Alright, this is your show then.”
“I won’t fuck it up.”
“I know that. You think I’d go along with anyone else? Absolutely fucking not.”
Appreciation floods me. It’s oddly warm, all this talk of killing, but mostly because I know Finn has my back, despite the gap between us. He’ll always be a Whelan, always be my boss, but I feel like something is shifting between us. We’re figuring our relationship out, and we’re not exactly becoming equals, but something closer.
I leave the Whelan house. Now all I need to do is get the dossier back or destroy it, which should be easy. It’s only in one of the most heavily guarded houses in the state.
Lucky for me, I’ve got something in mind.
CHAPTER 31
REGAN
Tires crunch over gravel as the Escalade rolls down a quiet road. There’s not much around here except fields, trees, and hills. Cormac Whelan sits behind the wheel, eyes fixed on the road like there isn’t a thought in his head or a worry in his heart. While in the back seat, Kieren lays slumped to the side, a gag between his teeth, his wrists and feet bound together. Like the pig he is.
This has been one of the weirdest drives of my life.
Cormac’s not much of a talker. He's got a reputation in the family. He’s their killer, their ghostman. I guess he’s some kind of fancy assassin. When Liam explained this part of the plan, he made it clear that the only reason I’m involved is because Cormac agreed to keep me safe. That’s saying something.
“Almost here,” Cormac grunts. I flinch in surprise. It’s the first time I’ve heard him talk since he picked me up.
“Where are we exactly?”
He doesn’t answer. That was probably expecting too much from him.
The car rolls over a rise and Cormac slows. Several Jeeps follow us, all of them holding Whelan soldiers. We pull into the front yard of what looks like an old farmhouse. Woods press up against the half-cleared area, and the structure itself looms like an owl, the windows like multi-faceted eyes. I shiver, scanning the trees, trying to figure what the hell we’re doing here. All I know is what Liam told me, and that wasn’t much.