Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 137144 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 686(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137144 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 686(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
“Be a shame to lose that skill. You should try again. Practice makes perfect.”
“Indeed it does,” Harvey agreed. “Here it is again. I know what you did to Lily. I’m not just talking about the drugs. I’m talking about the way that you treated her. The way you talked to her. Hell. I’ve heard the way you talk to Clem. It’s disgusting. You’re a disgusting human being, and you are going to pay. Going to jail isn’t going to be enough. I want you to suffer. And the only way to make things easier for yourself right now is to tell me why you did it.”
For a moment, he thought she was going to cave. Her mouth was trembling, and he could see that she was breathing quickly.
Unfortunately, she rallied. “Get out now.” She pointed to the door, her finger shaking, and he wished he could pressure her into talking, but they’d taken it as far as they could at the moment.
So, he just smiled and nodded. “We’re going, but you can be assured that we will be back.”
Paddy was whistling as he followed him out, and they headed toward their cars.
“What did you think?” he asked Paddy.
“Desperate, isn’t she?”
“Yes, that’s what I thought too. Her messages to Lily have become increasingly irate and desperate.”
“I think she’s nervous as hell because she’s guilty. Everything that came out of her mouth was a lie. She definitely knew about the drugs that were given to Lily.”
That’s exactly what he’d thought too.
Unfortunately, though, they still didn’t have any straight answers from her or the doctor.
“Who are you going to talk to next? Rick the Dick?” Paddy asked.
That was the logical choice.
“Yeah, and I think I know where to find him at this time of day.”
They entered the country club. The man at the front desk nodded at Harvey.
“Mr. Harvey Gallagher, Mr. Paddy Gallagher, good to see you again. If you’re looking for your brother, I can track him down for you.”
Shit.
Ronan was here?
Not ideal, but they’d just have to do their best to avoid him.
“No thanks, Jeremy. We’re just going to go get a bite to eat. Tell me, have you seen Rick Sampson?” Harvey asked.
Jeremy’s face grew blank, a sure sign that he was trying to hide what he really thought of Rick. “Certainly. I think Mr. Sampson is on the terrace, enjoying lunch.”
“Thanks, Jeremy,” Harvey said, handing him a few bills while Paddy gave him a two-fingered salute.
They headed out to the terrace, walking out to find Rick with several of his friends. He said something to the waitress, and she shied back while he laughed loudly.
This prick, as his grandfather would say.
Rick didn’t even look their way. Could he not sense them walking toward him? The menace that they felt for him? This guy really had no sense of self-preservation, did he?
He had no idea that he was teetering close to the edge of total destruction.
And that all he needed was a slight push to fall over that cliff.
And Harvey was just dying to be the one to give him a big shove.
“You.” Rick finally spotted him. He stood up and glared at Harvey.
Hmm, interesting. Harvey would have placed money that he’d have turned and run like the coward that he was. Seemed Rick was braver than he thought, or maybe he just believed he was safe here.
“Look who it is, Harvey Gallagher. My so-called friend, who’s actually a backstabbing bastard.”
Everyone at the table grew silent. The guy next to Rick reached up and grabbed his wrist, tugging at his arm. “Rick, you might want to cool it down a bit.”
“I’m not going to cool it down. You’re a backstabbing bastard, aren’t you, Gallagher?” Rick snarled. “How long have you wanted her? How long have you been fucking her behind my back?”
That same guy, who he recognized as Danny O’Bourke, tugged at Rick more forcefully. “Shut up, Rick!”
“He stole my fiancée.” Rick pointed straight at him as he said that, gazing around wildly as though expecting people to support him.
A look of satisfaction filled his face as people around them gasped and stared. But he really was stupid if he was forgetting who Harvey was.
“I didn’t steal your fiancée, Rick. She was happy to come with me. And before you argue that point, there were witnesses who could attest to the fact that she didn’t put up one ounce of fight. And you know why, Rick? It’s because you’re a limp-dicked little asshole. All you did was deceive and cheat on her, and now she’s with a better person, me. Someone who will take care of her, look after her, and ensure that anyone who harms her pays.”
“Are you threatening me? You all heard him. He just threatened me!” Rick cried.
“He only said that anyone that hurts her will pay,” Paddy piped up. Leaning down, he picked up a piece of garlic bread from a woman’s plate. As she opened her mouth to protest, he just winked at her, and she blushed.