Page 156 of Sins of Innocence

"With him and her mom out of the way, there was only an old lady," Snacks says, like it's a fully executable extraction plan.

McLaren punches Snacks in the face. "That old lady would tear out your intestines and feed them to you before letting you take one of her grandchildren."

While McLaren takes out some of her frustration on the gangbanger, I text Dagda with instructions to put a full eight-man team on my family. The girls are not to leave the apartment without a four-man team. I want bodyguards outside each of their classrooms for the last four days of school.

I'd pull them out completely, but they've been through enough upheaval as it is. I promised to keep them safe and that is what I will do.

But I'm not putting them in a prison to do it.

I turn back to Snacks. "McLaren."

Breathing hard, she steps back, rage rolling off her in waves.

"You were going to kidnap Sadie and sell her." It's not a question.

But the man who has fried too many braincells with something nods. "Yeah, man. What's the big deal? Bitches gotta learn to put out sooner or later."

Venom's eyes open just as I snap Snacks' neck, the sickening crack jerking is head sideways to see what's happening.

I release my hold on Snacks' jaw. His head flops forward.

I stalk to Venom. He flinches back, but he's got nowhere to go. I flip open my knife and cut a line down his cheek before stabbing him right below his left clavicle. He screams.

Good. The Greek mafia's drug has taken effect.

By the time McLaren and I are done with him, and he and his remaining cohort are dead, we know where Demon lives and what his real name is. We know that he's been in business with some rich dude for the last two years selling women and girls.

We don't know that man's name but I can guess.

Kenneth-fucking-Shaughnessy.

We know where the gang meets and who the other members are. There are only fifteen.

Fifteen men that will be dead before Kara Fitzgerald takes down her Christmas in July decorations.

ON COMMS, UNMUTED

Áine: I noticed there was a security car in front of us and another behind us when I took the girls to school this morning.

Wraith: Yes.

Áine: Care to elaborate?

Wraith: Not particularly.

Áine: Kieran.

Wraith: I'm keeping you safe.

Áine: Keeping us safe didn't require a three-car parade yesterday.

Wraith: The threat level changed.

Áine: In what way?

Wraith: Kenneth hired the men who attacked us.

Áine: l thought they were muggers.