Page 9 of Ruined Wrath
Kieran nods. “Yes. But we have to be smart. Rushing in blind gets him killed.”
That word lands like a gunshot.
Ronan narrows his eyes at our brother. “Kieran…”
“I’m not saying it will happen. I’m saying we act like it could if we make the wrong move. It will make us even more careful.”
I slam my fist into the desk, sending a bunch of papers falling to the floor. “The time for being careful has come and gone. This is my kid we’re talking about here.”
Ronan sounds just as fierce. “I know. Which is why we don’t let our emotions dictate our strategy.”
Silence falls between us again, thick and suffocating.
Then Brennan exhales sharply. “What about Fiona?”
The sound of her name makes me stiffen. “I’m not discussing her right now.”
Kieran’s gaze sharpens. “Cormac.”
“I said notnow. My son is missing.”
Kieran throws his arms up. “And Fiona may be connected to the people who took him.”
The words hit harder because they echo the thought I’ve been trying to crush all night.
Ronan’s expression turns thunderous. “Would someone like to fill me in on what the hell you’re talking about?”
“I don’t have any proof that she’s linked to Smirnov.” I am careful not to mention Lorcan because that is a can of worms I don’t want to open.
I want Scout to be everyone’s priority right now, and once he is found, then I can deal with Fiona.
Ronan stares at me. “But you suspect her?”
I don’t answer, but that’s enough for him.
He nods. “We don’t act on suspicion. But we don’t ignore it either.”
I know what that means. It means keeping our distance while also maintaining a sense of control.
“She stays here,” I say immediately. “Where I can see her.”
Ronan nods. “Agreed.”
Kieran hesitates for a fraction of a second, then nods too. “We move at first light. I’ll start tracing Adrian’s movements, and you…” He pauses, meeting my eyes. “You need to be ready to make choices you won’t like.”
As my brothers leave the office, I stalk around the desk and sink into Ronan’s chair, letting my head drop into my hands.
The room spins. Every instinct in me is screaming to tear the world apart until my son is back in my arms.
The once-familiar space that was becoming a sort of second home feels foreign now, like the walls are closing in, without the sound of his laughter echoing in the halls.
What if I never hear Scout’s laugh again?
I bend over the side of the chair and retch, but nothing comes up.
“Cormac?”
I wipe my mouth on the back of my hand and look up to find Fiona hovering in the doorway, her eyes wide and her face pale.
