Page 178 of Broken Lies
“How the hell does this keep happening? We’re going to be a complete laughingstock if we don’t get a handle on this.”
“Don’t you think I know that?” Ronan retorts. “Whoever it was must have known about the contract you drew up.”
“You think?”
“Finn has been in our possession for months, but the second he’s about to hand over information, he gets his throat cut? Yeah, that’s not just a coincidence. Whoever it was wanted to make damn sure that Finn wouldn’t talk.”
“Fuck.”
“Who else knows about the contract other than us, Brennan, and Cormac?”
“Jackson and Riley.”
“Well, we can rule the pair of them out.”
“What about Lorcan?”
“He doesn’t know. Besides, he wouldn’t kill his own stepson.”
Ronan exhales sharply down the line, and I glance back at Finn.
I was counting on the information he had, and now that it’s gone, I’m not sure what our next move is.
“Are you sure that the safehouse is still secure?”
“As of a few minutes ago, I’m not sure of anything anymore,” Ronan mutters.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean? Has something happened to Riley? I swear to God, Ronan?—”
“Nothing has happened to Riley. But just before you called, I got word that a document was leaked, and the information on it is spreading fast.”
“What kind of information?”
“A list of every one of our safehouses, along with details of each occupier. People are already pulling away. Allies won’t touch us. We’re on our own.”
My blood turns cold. “You’re telling me that every safehouse is blown, but that Riley is completely safe? You’re full of shit!”
“I’m getting the girls out now. Do you really think I would leave them there when their current location is likely in the hands of Sean O’Keefe right about now?”
This has just gone from bad to worse.
“No. If Riley is in danger, I’m going myself. I’ll bring her back.”
“I’m closer.Think, Kieran. You can’t afford to be reckless, not when whoever killed Finn could be waiting nearby to ambush you.”
I’m barely listening to a word he’s saying as I storm back out of the cell and head through the warehouse to where my car is waiting.
“She’smine,Ronan! I won’t sit here while she’s exposed?—”
“You think I don’t get that? You think I don’t care?” The strain in his voice is clear as day. “Ciara’s out there too. Mywife.My kids. I’m telling you the truth. You can’t reach them faster than I can. Let me handle it.”
I rake a hand through my hair, breathing hard.
Everything in me is wired to fight, to get behind the wheel and put distance between myself and Finn’s corpse until Riley’s safe at my side. The thought of her without me, of someone else touching what’s mine, makes me see red.
“Call me the second you’ve got her,” I say through clenched teeth. “Not a minute later. I need to hear her voice, Ronan.”
“You will. She’ll be fine. I promise.”
