Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 55748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
Killian told me to stay here. “Don’t leave this seat under any circumstances. Always stay in sight of the staff.”
I stroke Clover gently, whispering, “It’s going to be okay, girl.” Killian called the fire department for the bakery, but who knows if they could save it? It probably burned to the ground, along with my apartment, before they got there. And what about Ronan? He had passed out by the time we reached the hospital. I haven’t even got my cellphone to contact Anna.
About fifteen minutes later, Killian returns, looking relieved to see I’m where he left me. He stands over me, ignoring the looks from the other people in the waiting room. He’s got serious manic energy going on.
“I need to get you somewhere safe,” he says.
“Killian, sit down. Lower your voice.”
He grinds his teeth, dropping into the seat next to me.
“What happened with Ronan?” I ask quietly.
“He lost a lot of blood. But he’ll live. I’ve called around to see if anybody knows about this attack. Nobody’s taking responsibility. Frank denied it. He sounded drunk when I talked to him. The fucked-up thing is, I believe him. He’s never been a good liar.”
“You think it’s Owen,” I say. “You think he orchestrated this whole thing?”
Killian sighs. “I don’t want to talk abo—”
“About this with me?” I snap. “Newsflash, Killian. I’m already involved. You keep saying you want to keep me out of this world, but I’m in it. I’ve been in it ever since Shane showed up at my mom’s freaking funeral. They burned down the Crust, my mom’s legacy. They burned down my home. If you think there’s any chance, I’m going to let this go, you’re sorely fucking mistaken.”
He smiles, shaking his head ruefully. “You’re too fierce for your own good.”
“Well, get used to it.”
He sighs. “Yeah, I think Owen sent those assholes. I think he wants me to assume it’s Frank so he can trigger a feud between us. It’s too convenient. The rumors started with his men. Owen’s the only one who confirmed the trafficking. Colm has heard nothing about it, nor has Ronan. Owen’s the one who has contacts who suggest Uncle Frank cut my dad’s brakes… Like I said, convenient. Maybe Owen, before the end, wants to know what it’s like to be the Don.”
“You think he wants to start a feud between you and Frank so he can swoop in and pick up the pieces?”
“Exactly,” he growls. “But I can’t act on this without proof.”
“What has Owen said?”
“He suggested it might have been a random attack, a gang trying to make a name for themselves. It was weak… and obvious he didn’t want to come out and say it was Frank. That would mean overplaying his hand. He thinks he’s too damn clever.”
“Does this mean the ball will still go on?”
Killian looks at me like I’m crazy. “You’re not going to the party now, Lucy. Why would you even want to?”
“To help you,” I say.
“I don’t follow.”
“I can confront Owen. I can get the proof you need.”
Killian looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. “What the hell could you possibly mean by that?” he growls. “Why would you even speak to that prick? If I’m right and he’s the one who burned down the Crust, I want him as far away from you as possible. You’re the last—”
“I’m the last person he’d expect,” I hiss. “If he’s been pulling the strings this entire time, it means he’s in charge of the whole Family, right?”
“Right…” Killian shakes his head as if he’s disappointed in me.
“Just listen,” I snap.
“I’m sorry, a stór. I’ll listen, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to agree to anything.”
“He thinks I’m some weak, naïve, annoying little girl who coughed up the cash to his goon because I was too scared to do anything. Sure, he knows that you’ve been visiting me, but he doesn’t know about our…”
“Relationship,” Killian says fervidly, touching my Claddagh ring, holding my hand. “Let’s call it what it is.”
Despite everything – the pain and the loss bubbling up in me – I smile. It feels easy considering all that’s happened. “Our relationship,” I go on. “He might just think you’re being a Good Samaritan, helping me. But even if he suspects we’re close, he won’t know how close, because…”
He smiles. “Because people rarely get as close as we are in a few days. Because we’re both a little crazy?”
Somehow, I laugh. It feels like a miracle. “Exactly.”
“At the party, I’ll wear a wire. We could probably find one that fits onto the necklace. Technology is crazy these days.”
“But why would he tell you anything?”
“I’ll pretend I’m scared. Well, not pretend.” I laugh humorlessly. “I’ll make out like I want to know what I have to do to rebuild the bakery and not have him burn it down again. I can read people, Killian. I spend all day every day talking with people. I watch them, learn their habits, which topics to avoid, which topics they want to talk about. He’ll never tell you the truth.”