Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 91266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
“Stop it!” Sloan screamed, her hands going to the sides of her head as if she could contain the massive headache sprouting there. “I am not staying in Boston. I came back of my own free will. I was not retrieved like some naughty child. Stop acting like I’m not standing right here.” She wasn’t even going to touch Aiden’s comment about Teague informing on the family. That wasn’t why she was here, and it wasn’t her problem. She didn’t want it to be her problem.
Though that explains why Aiden is here so quickly—he’s been watching Teague.
They looked at her like she’d grown a second head. Teague took a cautious step toward her. “You don’t know what you’re saying. I know you think—”
“Don’t you dare.” She backed up, wanting to scream again in frustration. “I am an adult, though I’ve allowed you to treat me like an invalid up until this point. That ends now. When I leave Boston this time, I’m leaving for good. You will stop looking for me. Just…let me go.”
Aiden narrowed his eyes. “You choose this?”
“That’s what I’ve been saying all along.”
Teague spoke over her. “She was targeted by Jude motherfucking MacNamara. He preyed on her and now she thinks she’s in a relationship with him.”
Aiden shook his head, looking disgusted. “When you fuck something up, you really fuck it up, don’t you, Teague? You’re so damn sure you know better than everyone else that you stomp all over what they want.”
Sloan was losing them. “Will you just listen to me?”
“It’s okay. We aren’t judging you for any of this.” Teague took another step closer, approaching like she was a wild animal. “You couldn’t have known.”
“You are not listening to me. You don’t know him.” She realized her mistake as soon as Teague looked at her like he wanted to sedate her and lock her up until she came into her right mind—like she was certifiable. Oh God, I was so wrong to come back here. “I am turning around and walking out of this house. You are going to let me.”
Teague shook his head. “We can’t do that, Sloan.”
“The fuck we can’t. You’re not listening to her. Again.” Aiden’s fists were clenched, and he looked half a second from punching Teague in the face.
“The fuck I can. I don’t answer to you anymore, and you’re standing on Sheridan territory. If you aren’t willing to do what’s right for our sister, then I am.”
Her throat tried to close, but she forced the words out despite that. “You can’t be serious. You’re threatening Aiden. What is wrong with you?” Jude had been right, and she’d been a fool for thinking the best of her brother—for thinking she could reason with Teague. He’d always see her as the sweet little sister who needed to be protected, who couldn’t think for herself.
If Cillian were here…
But it wouldn’t matter. Teague was half of the head of the Sheridan family, and though Aiden now appeared to run the O’Malleys, they weren’t on O’Malley territory. Teague outranked Aiden. He outranked her.
She lifted her chin. “This is your last chance. I’m leaving.” She turned for the door, but Teague stepped in front of her.
“Don’t make me call my men. This doesn’t have to come to violence.”
Behind her, a phone rang. She turned as Aiden took it out of his pocket and answered, his gaze never leaving her. “I’m with her right now. We’re having a…difference of opinion with my brother.”
“Is that fucking MacNamara?” Teague raised his voice. “Tell him to run. If he sets foot on my territory, I’m going to hunt him down like the mad dog he is.”
No.
Sloan marched across the room and shoved Teague. “Teague Patrick O’Malley, I swear to God, if you don’t stop acting like a Neanderthal, I’m going to call your wife. She will listen to me.”
He took a step back and glared at her. “Callie and I are of the same mind when it comes to this.”
“Liar.” She knew Callie, and so she knew better. The woman could be fierce, but she didn’t let Teague steamroll her—and Sloan doubted she’d take too kindly to him doing the same to his sister.
Except there’s Jude to consider.
Aiden cursed. “You should have told me that to begin with.”
Sloan turned, starting to respond, but the words died on her lips. Aiden wasn’t talking to her. He was talking to Jude. From the determined set of his face, he had just discovered that Dmitri Romanov intended to murder Callie and her father. “Aiden—”
He held up a hand and put the phone on speaker. “I have men in the area. You know where he’ll strike from?”
“There’s a small apartment across the street from the restaurant. That’s where I’d hit from.” Jude paused. “But it’s entirely likely that he’ll have a backup location—several.”
“We’ll set up a perimeter. You take the apartment.”