Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 79462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
“True, but nobody tries to hurt my wife and survives for long.”
“What a big manly man.” She grins and gets on her toes to kiss me. “So protective.”
“Do you like that?” I press her closer, pushing my palm into the small of her back.
She laughs, struggling to get away. “No, not again, don’t start this. I know where this is going and I am not indulging your needs.”
I reluctantly release her as she skips across the room. I don’t chase, even if I desperately want to. Instead, I nod toward her phone where it sits on the dresser.
“We need to call your brother.”
She’s surprised by that and calms down quickly as she sits on the edge of the bed. “Why? I thought Adler was handling that stuff.”
“I want to talk to him together. I want to see if he’ll tell us something he wouldn’t tell my brother.”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” She tugs at a loose strand of her hair and adjusts her sweatshirt. “I’m worried about what you’re going to say.”
“I can control myself.”
“You sure about that?”
“Make the call, Fallon.”
She rolls her eyes and a bit of that fire comes back. “Go ahead and do it yourself if you’re so damn keen.”
I can’t hide my smile as I grab her phone and pull up her brother’s number. I like it when she’s mouthy with me—gives me a good reason to punish her later.
Rian’s cell rings a few times before he picks up. He sounds tired and harried, and I’m guessing it’s late over there in Dublin.
“Hello?” he asks. “Fallon?”
“Hello, Rian.” I stare down at my wife, and she doesn’t look happy. “I’m here with your sister.”
He clears his throat. “Jayson. Hey. How’s she doing?”
“I’m alright,” Fallon says. “Holding in there despite our family’s best efforts.”
“I’m sorry.” To his credit, he sounds like he means it, though I’m not completely convinced he’s innocent yet. But I keep those doubts to myself. “I didn’t know they’d try to move that fast. Hell, I didn’t know they’d go to such extremes at all.”
“You did warn me there could be trouble.”
“Yes, but I didn’t think that trouble would come to murder.”
“I’m fine. Really, I’m okay. Jayson saved me.”
He’s silent for a moment. “Thank you for that, Jayson. I owe you a debt.”
“How about I cash in right now and you answer some questions,” I say, trying to keep my tone as neutral as I can, even if I despise this man right now. How could anyone put their own sister in this position?
“I already told your brother what I know.”
“Not good enough. This is the no-bullshit conversation. Not that political crap you had with Adler.”
Rian doesn’t sound happy. “What do you want to know?”
“Start with the factions. Who are they and what do they want?”
“I don’t have specific names. We’re rooting them out now, the men who are loyal to the clan and I, but from what I understand it’s what’s left of the pro-war faction. Men who do not, under any circumstances, want to see a ceasefire between our two organizations.”
I glance at Fallon, and though she doesn’t seem happy, she doesn’t contradict him. “What else?”
“There are others in the States. Some of our people, loyal to me. They’re supposed to be watching out for my sister, but if someone got that close—”
“Your loyal soldiers may not be so loyal.” I rub my face with a hand. “How many did you leave behind?”
“Ten. I suspect it’s only nine now.”
“Alright, that’s not too bad. We can handle nine. I need names and photographs.”
“Adler’s going to be unhappy. Leaving men behind was not part of the deal.”
“I don’t give a fuck what Adler thinks,” I say, losing patience. “My wife’s life is in danger, and I will not have a repeat of earlier happen again. Send over the information.”
He’s silent and I can almost hear him thinking. Fallon’s looking at me with a deep frown and I wish I could see inside of her head.
“You really do give a damn about her, don’t you?” Rian sounds surprised, like he can barely believe it. “Adler said you did. I wasn’t so sure.”
“I really do.” I look at Fallon as I say it, and she stares right back. Her ears turn pink, which I’ve come to realize means she’s embarrassed. “Which likely surprises me as much as it surprises you.”
“It’s not a bad thing, I suppose. Fallon, are you alright? Being treated okay?”
“I’m fine,” she says in a small voice. “Really, don’t worry.”
“You nearly got your face blown off, so yeah, I’m gonna worry.” Rian sighs through the line and I hear him adjust something on his end. “Alright, I’ll send names and photographs. All I ask is you don’t kill them until we can figure out if they all turned against me.”
“And if they did?”