"I wouldn't." His eyes are on mine, and I've never seen him look at me like this before. Like I'm the enemy. "You pull that weapon, and you're dead before you clear the holster."
Slowly, carefully, I move my hand away from my jacket. "Ronan, listen to me?—"
"No. You fucking listen." He's close enough now that I can see the sleepless nights written on his face too, the strain andworry that's been eating at him. "I've been tearing this city apart looking for Annie. Following every lead, chasing every rumor, losing my goddamn mind thinking about what whoever has her might be doing to her. And the whole time, you've been by my side. Helping me search. Offering suggestions. Acting like you fucking care."
"I do?—”
"Shut up." The rage in his voice makes me flinch. "This ends now, Elio. I know you know more than you’re telling me. You’re fucking hiding something. Maybe not Annie, butsomething. And I’m going to fucking find out what it is.”
My throat goes dry. "Ronan, you don't understand?—"
"Make me understand." He's in my face now, close enough that I can feel the heat of his breath. "Make me understand why my most trusted man, the brother I chose, has been lying to me while I've been going out of my mind with worry.”
I could tell him now. I could tell him everything. But I think that ends with me dead before the last word leaves my mouth. Whatever comes next isn’t going to be pretty—hell, Ronan might plan to question me, and that won’t be easy to get through. But I can try to think of a way to convince him. Try to think of a way out of this that doesn’t end with me dead.
“This isn’t what you think, Ronan. I’ve been trying to help you. I want her back, too. This isn’t—” I suck in a breath, trying to calm myself. “You’re making a mistake.”
For a moment, I think he might actually kill me himself. His hand goes to the gun at his hip, and I see the muscle in his jaw working as he fights for control.
"Sir?" One of the guards speaks up. "What do you want us to do?"
Ronan's eyes never leave mine. "Take him."
The guards move fast, grabbing my arms before I can react. I don't fight them—there's no point. I'm outnumbered and outgunned, and fighting would only make this worse.
"Ronan, don't do this," I say as they pull my arms behind my back. "We need to focus on finding who did this. Annie is still in danger?—"
“I have a feeling she’ll be in less danger now.” His voice is ice cold. “Search him.”
The guards pull my gun from its holster, then pat me down for weapons, finding the knife I keep on me, as well. The weapons are tossed onto a nearby table as Ronan watches me impassively.
"Search every safe house that belonged to De Luca before Elio took over," Ronan orders. "Every property, every apartment, every warehouse. I want to know exactly where Annie is, and I want her brought to me immediately."
My heart stops. I’m terrified he might lead Desmond straight to her. "Ronan?—"
He nods to the guards, and they start dragging me toward the door.
"Ronan, please." I'm begging now, and I don't care. "Don't do this. We need to work together?—"
"We're done working together." He turns away, back to the window, dismissing me. "You're going to be held in a secure location until I decide what to do with you. And pray that when I find Annie, she tells me a very different story than the one I'm imagining. Because if I find out you hurt her, if I find out you coerced her in any way, I will kill you myself. Brother or not."
"I would never hurt her?—"
He doesn't turn around. "Get him out of my sight."
They drag me out of the office, down the hallway, out to the courtyard, past shocked staff and a wide-eyed Leila on the stairs.There's a black SUV waiting, engine running, and they shove me into the back seat.
One of the guards gets in beside me, gun drawn and pointed at my ribs. "Don't try anything stupid."
I don't respond. There's nothing left to say.
As we pull out of the garage and into the city traffic, I watch the buildings slide past and think about Annie. About how the last things we said to each other were in an argument. How I might never get to tell her that I love her.
About how I've destroyed everything—my brotherhood with Ronan, my relationship with Annie, the fragile trust I've spent years building.
All because I couldn't keep my hands off the one woman in the world I should have protected from myself.
The SUV turns down a familiar street, and I realize where they're taking me. One of the O'Malley warehouses on the waterfront. I've been there before, on the other side of the equation. I know exactly what happens in that building.
