Page 68 of Twilight of Embers
“Tell me,” I clipped.
“There are about a dozen Corbetts in the club. I just spotted three. Sean’s clocking more.”
Gaelic curses spewed from my mouth. “Secure Hayden, now. Bring her to my office.”
If the Corbetts scented her, there would be war for sure. And how the hell had they made it onto the premises? While the club was neutral territory, they were not welcome, and my bouncers would’ve never let them in.
“Understood—”
James’s words cut off. There was a grunt and a gurgle and then nothing at all.
“James,” I barked.
Nothing.
“James,” I yelled again.
Then a sound came over the line. A dark chuckle. “I’m sorry. James can’t come to the phone right now.”
And my blood turned to ice.
34
HAYDEN
I tried to remember my vow of attempting a night of normality, but it was basically useless. Delaney’s words kept echoing in my ears. “I’ve heard if people cross Cillian McCarthy, they tend to disappear.”
That meant drug dealer, right? It had to. That, or some gang.
The contents of my stomach churned and rolled. What did it say about me that, as worried as I was, I couldn’t get myself to decide to walk away? Whatever they were mixed up in, it couldn’t be good.
“Earth to Hayden,” Maggie singsonged, tipping over against Bella.
I shook myself out of my spiraling thoughts. “Sorry. What’d you say?”
She grinned. “I asked if you got a feel for Cillian’s dick. I heard it’s a monster.”
My cheeks heated at the insinuation.
Bella let out a strangled laugh. “Jesus, Maggie. Get ahold of yourself. You’re ready to throw Hayden to the wolves just to get some info about Cillian’s cock?”
Maggie shrugged. “Sacrifices must be made. I’d sacrifice myself for—”
“Shut up,” Delaney snapped.
I bit the inside of my cheek as I studied her. Her pissed-off state hadn’t lessened, but she was the only one who seemed to have details I desperately needed about the guys. So, I took a deep breath and asked, “What do you know about him?”
Delaney’s annoyed gaze turned to me, and it was as if she were trying to decide whether to tell me.
“It seems like you know them pretty well,” I added quickly, hoping that a stroke to her ego would be the ticket.
I was right. Delaney couldn’t help herself if it would let her circle know she was so much more in the know than the rest of us. She straightened her shoulders. “Cillian runs Ember Hollow.”
I frowned. “He’s the mayor or something?”
Delaney laughed. “Hardly. He runs things behind the scenes. I’ve heard that he started making money when he was fighting in the underground circuit.”
My stomach pitched. I knew she was right about that. Cillian had told me as much.
