“Deal.”
“Give me a place.” She snaps her fingers at Killian and he takes out his phone, texting away to someone.
“Do you remember the last time we met as kids?” he asks wistfully.
“You mean, when I broke your nose and your jaw?” She smiles.
He scoffs. “I distinctly remember my knife in your side.”
“What of it?”
“Be there in thirty minutes. Otherwise,” he drawls, “Hayes will never see sunlight again and I have a line of his old customers who have missed him.”
The line goes dead and she throws it at the wall in her rage. Pieces rain down to mix into the tarry mud.
Killian sighs. “Now you need a new phone.”
“I’ll order it later.” She crosses her arms, jerking her chin to his hands. “Anything?”
“Briar has the cameras,” he answers, showing us the video. Briar?Our brother is helping them?
Never mind that the guy hasn’t been seen in years, but he talks to Killian? To Maeve? He doesn’t do more than send me a quick birthday text or a Christmas card but he’ll talk to them?
One thing at a time.
“I assume they’ve got the place surrounded.” She opens the magazine, checking her ammunition. “With eyes above.”
“Of course.” He clicks the screen, showing Hayes at a far back corner, with Roman and another man watching over his slumped form. I can’t make it out, but I’m sure that’s Finley.
My blood pressure skyrockets. I want him—all of them. Under my foot.Dead.
“Good.” She takes his phone, sending off a text. “Briar will alert everyone in the area to assist. Meg is on standby if more are needed.”
Turning toward me, they stall, debating. This is what they know—this is their life. They rush into danger, guns blazing, knowing the risks. I’ve never been a part of it—only knowing what my family does for power and greed.
This is my sister’s world. Not mine.
Maeve taps my arm. “I’ll need you to come with us. To heal him in case his injuries are too extensive.”
But for Hayes?I’ll do anything.
“Okay,” I agree.
“It won’t be a safe place, Collins.” Her eyes plead with me to understand. “You’ll be at risk. You could be killed. If I fail?—”
“You won’t.”
I’ve been mad at her, angry for never being allowed in, but I’m slowly understanding why. This world isn’t safe—it’s harsh and dangerous. And she never wanted me exposed to it, nomatter what Pops planned for me. No matter what he did to make me this way.
But now I’m risking everything to help Hayes.He’d do it for me.
“You won’t fail,” I say again. “You kept me home when you went after Sloane. You’re not keeping back now. Not with the man I love.”
Nodding, Maeve looks at Killian. “Call Lex. We’ll need him too.”
“Already ahead of you, Princess.”
43
