Page 75 of The Villain

Nowthere’d been activity. Because if the Bianchis were behind what happened to the Bonnams, I was next. And that would severely complicate my life.

Devlin sat up straight. “Do the Russos know Cian is still alive? Do you think they told the Bianchis?”

Hack shook his head. “I don’t know.”

Devlin turned to me, his expression like thunder. “Wehaveto find them.”

“I’ve been working on it since before Rank even talked,” Hack said. “I think I tracked them here.” He spun his computer around and pointed to a spot on the map in South Jersey, near the coast. “They have a safe house here, and they’ve been there since you were shot.”

“We need to hit them before they move or try to kill me again.” I watched the screen while Hack cycled through satellite images of a cabin. “If the Bianchis are behind it, they won’t stop after one failed attempt.”

My shoulder ached, and a headache bloomed between my eyes that felt like a blade in my skull. We wrapped up themeeting so I could get some rest. The threat of war loomed on the horizon.

Up in my apartment, I collapsed onto the bed as I watched Devlin brush his teeth through the open doorway to the bathroom. I liked him in my space. I liked him in my bed. He understood my life better than I did some days.

He turned off the light and padded toward the bed in a pair of boxer briefs. As he slid under the sheets, I immediately pulled him against me, smiling to myself when he let out a little grunt of protest. I liked having him in my arms when his nightmares woke me up, because then I could wake him up. He hadn’t had one in a few days, though. I liked to think I was the reason.

I nuzzled the back of his neck as I curled my body around his. He’d refused to discuss any kind of future with me, so I’d stopped bringing it up—for now. Only until this shit with the Russos was over. I couldn’t let him continue to believe this bond between us was temporary. He belonged here with me, with my crew, and in my life.

I’d even begun to entertain the idea of a different kind of life. A life where I quit all this bullshit with guns and money and secret safes, and just… lived. One where I could work at O’Shea’s and live a quiet life with my best friend, my brother, and my man. I opened my lips on the side of Devlin’s neck to taste his skin, and he gave a contented sigh that perked up my dick.

For so long, I’d thought the path in front of me only went one direction. I’d been raised as the heir to the O’Shea crime family, and my primary focus had been to overtake my father and be a better leader. Then it had been to avenge his death, because that would’ve earned me full control of his crew. But Devlin’s presence in my life had cleared the fog, revealing different paths for my life. Paths where maybe I could keep him safe alongside Jace, Rhys, and my friends.

First, I had to get rid of the fucking bounty on my head.

Then I’d chain Devlin to me and lead him toward something better for both of us.

TWENTY

Devlin

Although I’d never met the Russos, I’d definitely heard of them. And from what I’d been told, they weren’t stupid. But theywerehuman, and humans made mistakes. They likely weren’t ready for Cian’s retaliation.

We drove in three separate cars. Cian and I were in one car, with Jace and Rhys in the back seat. Mads and Hack were in another. And there were six more men in a van. The Russos had been known to run with a whole crew, and from what Hack could tell on the satellite images, there could be up to a dozen men inside the safe house. Which had turned out to be more like a mansion in the woods.

Hack had been able to get us blueprints of the house, but that only told us so much. We didn’t know where the men would be located, or where their weapons were stashed. The place was armed to the teeth with security, and while Hack could disable the alarm system and any cameras, there were still a lot of variables.

This wasn’t just about Cian’s livelihood. The livelihoods of all the O’Shea crew hinged on this, too. The Bonnams were wiped out, either killed or deserted, and Cian wasn’t about to let that happen to his crew.

Whereas I wasn’t going to let anything happen tohim. And maybe a small part of me had also begun to feel attached to some of the others. Namely Rhys and Jace.

Jace had been visiting me more often. We played poker, or watched baseball, or made fun of Cian. Even Rhys had been forced to acknowledge my presence.

It was after midnight when we finally neared the cabin location. Rhys began to speak to Jace in low tones. He wore a gun harness and a belt full of knives, like a video game character, and he practically vibrated in his seat. I’d expressed my worry to Cian about Jace being on this job, but Cian had only snorted, saying Jace was one of the most capable men in his crew. So now I just had to trust that the pretty-boy menace with the diamond stud earrings, pierced tongue, and too-white grin could kill some fuckers.

I was staring out my window as Cian rolled to a stop at a red light, so I wasn’t prepared when fingers gripped my hair and tugged backward. My neck arched, and Cian’s face suddenly filled my vision. He looked mad. Why the fuck was he mad? I hadn’t even said anything for at least an hour.

“Don’t do anything stupid,” he growled at me, like he’d created an entire scenario in his head and was already pissed at me for it. “Do you hear me, devil?”

I swallowed and nodded slowly. His nostrils flared, and he released me with a shove. He stared straight out the front windshield, gripping the steering wheel so hard his leather gloves creaked. Cian drove for another mile before he spoke again, his voice low enough that the two in the backseat wouldn’thear over the roar of the engine. “I want you with me, I just don’t want youhere.”

Cian didn’t like having big feelings, and this was a situation he couldn’t fully control. He was worried about me, so naturally, that pissed him off.

“I’ll be fine,” I said. “This isn’t my first ambush. It’s not even my first time hunting down a pair of contract killers. I’m a good shot, too. You’ll see.”

His jaw worked. My words clearly didn’t appease him. He’d held me so tightly last night, one hand collaring my neck and the other across my hips as we lay on our sides in bed. He hadn’t said much, only burrowed his nose in my hair. If he thought he was going to leave me behind while he fought the Russos and their crew, he was insane.

We parked at the location Hack had directed us to and gathered all our gear, planning to continue on foot. Hack remained in the van with his computer and headphones, while everyone else, including me, wore an earpiece so we could communicate.