Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 86629 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86629 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Rowan’s lying on the bed. She’s got earbuds in, her feet up on the wall, head toward the door, hair splayed around her. I think she’s still in the same clothes from the day before. I move into the room until she can see me. She scowls and doesn’t take out the buds.
“Hey, I want to talk.”
She says nothing.
“I know you’re having a rough time—“
She rolls her eyes and looks at the ceiling.
At another time, a younger version of me might’ve gotten mad at that. Instead, I crouch beside the bed and touch her wrist. She flinches away.
“When you’re ready, come talk to me or Angelina. I know you’re struggling. We’re here when you need us.”
She chews her lip and turns her head. “Thanks.”
That one word sends a shiver of relief down my spine. Rowan goes back to studying the ceiling and ignoring me, but at least she heard.
I back out of the room and pause in the hall. It’s cool and dim. I hear Dad and Danielle talking a few doors down and the sound of Dawn’s television on too loud. I lean a hand against the wall to steady myself.
All this teetered. Everything I worked for, all my blood and sweat, everything I care about, nearly gone. Deck almost took her. Deck almost stole my heart.
God damn him, fucking Deck.
My fingers curl as rage pulses in my core.
We grew up together. I looked at him like a mentor when I was younger. I know he struggled when I took over the family, but over time I managed to win him over.
When did he turn? When did he decide family meant less than dirt?
My phone buzzes. I hesitate, slipping it out, and check the screen before raising it to my ear. “I was wondering when you’d call.”
“Finding time hasn’t been easy.” Sinead’s voice is strained. She sounds almost as stressed as I feel. “I need you to know that I couldn’t stop it.”
“I find that hard to believe. You know, I’ve been asking myself. Did you call that meeting to make sure I wasn’t in the house?”
“The opposite. When I realized what was happening, I canceled so you’d go back. I’m sorry for your family, Connor.”
“I’m not sorry for what I did to your brother.”
Her voice lowers and there’s a sharp note. “I didn’t expect you to be. I’m not a fool. I understand the risks we take in this life. Fergus did what he did and now he’s gone. I won’t ever forgive you.”
“Good. I hope not.”
“But he went behind my family’s back. Him and your cousin. They’ve been working together for years, haven’t they?”
“I think so. All those payments. You know who really figured it out? My wife.”
“I’m glad you married well.” She doesn’t sound like it at all. “We need to talk about the future.”
“What can you possibly say?”
“That I can save your miserable life and spare the rest of my family in the process. Meet with me in an hour at Central Park. I’ll text you the exact location. Somewhere busy and public. Come alone.”
“Why would I trust you?”
“Because we have aligned incentives.”
She hangs up before I can question it. I linger in the quiet after and look up sharply when there’s movement nearby.
Angie’s standing a few feet away. “That was Sinead, wasn’t it?”
I think about telling her not to worry but confirm with a nod instead. “She wants to meet.”
“Are you going?”
“I don’t think there’s much of a choice.”
“How bad are things, Connor?” She comes to my side and touches my arm gently. “Tell me the truth.”
I steady myself with a breath before tugging her closer. I can’t help it. Whenever she’s near, it’s like I have to remind myself that she’s safe.
“Marcus is fighting rolling battles on the street. I’m helping where I can, but we’re barely holding onto our territory. The cops are getting involved and that means political pressure is next. This fight can’t go on for much longer. Someone’s going to break.”
She looks like she wants to ask the obvious, but instead she gets on her toes and kisses me. “If anyone can fix this, it’s going to be you.”
“Can I trust her? After what I did to her brother?”
“I don’t know, but you should hear her out.”
I breathe Angie’s smell and drop to my knees. I pull her belly to my lips and kiss her, turning to listen. I imagine I can hear my baby moving around, kicking, laughing, crying, living. I hold her tight as her fingers curl through my hair.
“Whatever it takes,” I whisper, heart thudding rapidly. “I’ll kill them all if I have to.”
“Try a conversation first.”
“You are my light. You are my future.”
“Connor—“
“I love you, Angie. I love this baby you’re carrying. It breaks me, thinking I might lose you, thinking I came this close to finally having you after all this time only to ruin it now. I won’t let it happen.”