“I asked you the question,” I said, standing slowly and planting my knuckles on the table. “The next time you speak to her, I’ll cut your tongue out of your mouth.”
I hear Maeve's breath catch. Everyone else shifts in their seats. I let the tension simmer, enjoying Liam’s discomfort, letting him realize what a threat I am to him.
“Is that any way to speak to your elder, son?” Liam says, shooting up from his seat after a few moments’ hesitation.
I laugh, but it’s far from amusing. In one fluid motion, I flip my jacket aside and reach to my waistband, pulling my pistol and pointing it straight at his chest. My grin grows wider as I stare down the barrel at his panicked expression.
Everyone in the room gasps. My father, Cormac, Eoin, and Cian stand quickly, trying to talk me down, but my ears are ringing. The blood rushing through my veins feels like molten lava, but outwardly, I’m calm and steady. My arm doesn’t tremble. My aim is dead-on.
“Whoa, son. What the hell is this about?” Liam says shakily, his hands up in surrender.
“Call me son one more fucking time. I dare you.” I pull the hammer, watching Liam’s face pale as the click echoes in the room like a lightning strike. “I suggest you address your answers tome. If you evenlookin her direction, I’ll be sure to put a hole in you that can’t be fixed. Now, answer my question. Where is Nessa?”
“I just said I didn’t know,” he trembles, looking around the room for help. Ronan leans back in his chair casually, making himself comfortable.
“Callum, care to fill us in?” My father’s voice is stern, demanding.
“This piece of shit doesn’t deserve to breathe,” I say levelly, still pointing the gun at Liam. “He’s lucky I haven’t already pulled the trigger, but,” I say, trailing off thoughtfully, “that would be too merciful.”
“What are you talking about, Callum?”
“That’s a conversation for later on. Right now, we need to know where Nessa is before she makes it too far.”
“Liam, where is she?” Cormac speaks this time, his disdain for this uncivil turn in the proceedings evident.
“I don’t know,” Liam doubles down, but he’s too fidgety. He knows more than he is letting on.
“Give me his phone,” I demand. Ronan wastes no time reaching into Liam’s suit pocket to retrieve it. He protests as Ronan tosses it to me.
I tap the screen, and the password prompt appears.
“Password,” I demand.
“I’m not giv—” Liam’s retort is cut short as Ronan pulls his own pistol from his waistband, cocking the hammer as he places the barrel to Liam’s temple.
“Two, four, one, three,” Liam says, voice trembling.
I punch the numbers in and search for his message thread with Nessa. After I find it, I lock eyes with him. I toss the phone back to Ronan.
“Take him downstairs, now!” Ronan growls after glancing at the screen, seeing what I’d just seen. Nessa is at home.
Lying piece of shit.
I have a feeling our driver might be there as well.
Only one way to find out.
Chapter 28
Maeve
Mereing (n) the act of establishing a boundary or limit
The whole room erupts into utter chaos. Several footmen storm into the room and take hold of Liam, who is flailing wildly as Ronan and Lorcan try to restrain him. I remain seated, savoring the panic in his eyes. He knows. He knows where he’s heading and what happens in those rooms downstairs. Of course, I’m not supposed to know about all of that. But my father hasn’t been able to keep everything about this life from me. I’d heard the screams. I’d explored. I’d seen the ropes, the chains, the blood spatter on the walls. I know what goes on in the basements of our homes. And now, knowing that this is what awaits Liam, I’m filled with savage satisfaction. The men drag him toward the door by his arms while he screams wildly.
“Get your fucking hands off me! I swear to god I’ll kill every last one of you! Get the fuck off!” His heels are dragging on the polished wood floor, and the men maneuver him easily despite his resistance. Liam’s screams continue down the hall, down the stairs, until we can no longer hear them. I smile in spite of myself, and everyone around the table is looking at me with undisguised shock.
I stand, deciding to break the silence that has fallen over the room.Here we go. Now or never.
