“Yeah, that and finding more dirt on this slimy old bastard,” I comment without even thinking, though I’m certain we’ll find something.
Luca turns to face me and has an impassive expression across his face. “Is there more about this guy than I know, or do you just not like him?”
“He’s Delilah’s father, but you know that already. Fuck, if anyone knows almost anything about him, I’d bet it’s you. Liam has you doing all his dirty work, doesn’t he, Luca?”
He cracks a smile and shrugs. “I wouldn’t call it dirty work, but yes. I’m his right-hand man of sorts, the same way Aleksei is to Aleksandr.” Aleksei is my cousin, Sloane’s, husband. Aleksandr is ironically enough married to her sister, Greer. I’ve heard rumors about the two Russians and how they’re an iconic duo, that their brotherhood has met no bounds, but I haven’t yet had the opportunity to meet either of them.
“I see.”
“Have you chosen your right-hand man yet?” At Luca’s question, my mind immediately drifts to my brother, Eamon. He’s the one person I’ve always been able to trust throughout my entire life. He’s the first one I told about any of this. Hell, he might’ve even been the first person I told I was dating Delilah.
“Not yet, but I will.” I have no intention of telling Luca all of my business. I know it sounds odd because the man’s family, but I’ve never been the type of man who gives my trust away freely.
A muffled sound comes from below us, and for a moment, I think I’m hearing things. Only, I know that isn’t right. Luca glances below us and looks at me. A look of uncertainty crosses his face, and he begins walking through the house. I do the same, and we both begin opening doors, ruffling through cabinets, drawers, and pretty much anything we can get our hands on.
After a while we manage to get into Cormac’s office, and the fact everything is so out and in the open is alarming. He doesn’t have a safe within sight, there’s a watch that must cost thousands of euros on his desk, though that isn’t what alarms me. A few crimson spots are on the floor. They’re obviously dried based on the crackling going through them. The unsettling feeling I’ve had since I walked in here intensifies by three times the amount while Luca and I share a grave glance.
“I don’t like this shite,” I comment, and Luca nods in agreement from a few feet away. Luca might’ve nodded, but he’s heading behind Cormac’s desk and pulls out a flash drive from the pocket of his pants. He sits down on his desk chair, turns on the computer, and within a couple minutes, he’s typing away. I round the desk, and he has a black screen with white text coming up, telling me he must be the guy who Liam has hack into shit. Bloody hell, now it all makes sense.
Luca inserts the flash drive into the computer and continues typing. Suddenly, the black screen with white text disappears and what I can assume is Cormac’s home page comes up. “Piece of cake,” Luca snickers while he keeps doing his thing, and I walk around Cormac’s office. For a man of his age, the office isn’t as traditional as one would think. It’s bright, filled with off-white colors, and the couch is colorful. Ferns and flowers cover the upholstery, and golden buttons line the couch while chestnut feet hold it up. This shite just doesn’t seem right.
Again, I hear the muffled sound coming from below me, and I look back to Luca. “Tell me you heard it this time.”
“I did. Give me five more minutes to access his bank records, and we can go check it out.” I do as Luca says and wait for him to finish. As he’s finishing up, a disturbing thought crosses my mind. I look over at Luca, who cocks a brow in response as he types. “What’s on your mind?”
“The photographs you showed me . . . have you thought Cormac might have some here?”
“I wouldn’t put it past him, but if he does, we’ll get them out. It took me a lot of money to get those photographs, so he’s deeply rooted in the criminal enterprises. Far more than any of us thought. Liam wasn’t even aware Cormac had a reputation, or that he dealt in the dark web.” The dark web? No shite. I didn’t realize he was on the dark web. I want to know more, so I ask Luca for more information.
“How so?”
Luca’s eyes lock with mine as he pulls out the flash drive and sticks it in his pocket. “Sorry, I thought Liam relayed that to you.”
“No, he didn’t, but you can fill me in on what I’m missing.”
Luca licks his lips lightly before clearing his throat. “He purchased them. That’s what I found. His trail was light, and I’m sure he thought he wouldn’t be traced . . . but that’s how I got the photographs. I needed to know if it was fraudulent or legitimate. Unfortunately, we’ve seen the photos and we know what he does. He’s disgusting . . . and the fact he raised his daughter sickens me. Her mother should’ve had her. I have no doubts she would’ve been safer there.” Luca pauses for a moment before he speaks again. “It’s not any of my business, but has Delilah ever spoken as if she was . . . harmed, like the ones in the photos?” Harmed. He chose an interesting word, but I understand why. It’s because talking about this isn’t easy, and he’s right. It’s not easy, not by a long shot.
I think long and hard before I answer Luca, but nothing points to what he’s suggesting. “No. Not in the slightest.” It’s very possible she’s hiding it from me, though I doubt it. Delilah’s always been honest with me, and if she had endured something like this, I feel as though she’d tell me.
“Good. No one deserves that.”
The distinctive sound of a door opening and closing causes both Luca and my alert to go up. The two of us hide on both sides of the door that lead into the office, and we wait. We wait until thethunkof expensive Oxfords grows closer, and sure enough, the door to the office opens. I reach behind my back and pull out my gun, sure to aim it right at Cormac’s head the second he looks my way.
He stares down the barrel and scoffs, as if this isn’t going to be the worst and last day of his life. “Who do you think you are, some tough guy? It’s pathetic, really.” Cormac continues walking, so I aim and pull the trigger, shooting him in the left foot. He screams and hobbles on his right foot, likely in shock as he reaches to touch his left one. “Y-you shot me!”
“No shite, Sherlock.” Luca cackles, amused by what’s about to go down.
“Who in the bloody hell have you brought into my house, Gallagher?”
“His name doesn’t matter, considering you’ll be dead before midnight.” I doubt he realizes the seriousness lacing my voice, but Luca does. Based on the smirk dragging across his face, he’s praying I draw this out.
“You can’t be serious,” Cormac sneers.
“Do I look like I’m fucking around with you, old man?” I snarl. “I saw what you did, you pathetic, sick, disgusting pig. Those were teenage girls. They weren’t adults! They werechildren!”
* * *
You aren’t a smart man, are you?” Luca loses it on Cormac, and I can’t blame him. The man’s tried and failed miserably to get out of this, and he won’t. There’s nothing he can say or do to get himself out of what I have planned.
