“Is everything definitely secure?”
Even with the two guards outside and the soundproofing, I’m still on edge.
There’s a mole within our ranks, and with each second that passes, information is being leaked to our enemies. I can’t afford to take any risks.
“Triple-checked, and there are no bugs. If anyone’s listening to us now, they’re doing it from hell.”
I nod and take my usual seat at the table across from Brennan. “Good, because we’ve got a problem. A big one.”
Brennan lifts his glass in a mock toast and finishes off his whiskey. “Just one? That’s a relief.”
“Cut the sarcasm. This isn’t a goddamn joke. In the last four days, we’ve had two shipments rerouted, one buyer pull out of a deal mid-contract, and three crews go dark on comms for hours at a time. You know what that tells me?”
Cormac doesn’t miss a beat. “Someone’s stirring shit.”
“More than that. This is coordinated. Whoever’s behind it is organized and patient, and they’re sending a message.”
Kieran glances over his shoulder at me and frowns. “The payoff that led us to Liam Kelly, that was just the beginning, wasn’t it?”
I nod. “Looks like it.”
Brennan leans forward, setting his empty glass down on the table. “We’re bleeding out, and if we don’t plug the hole fast, we’re going to go down.”
“Which is why we need to stop relying on third parties. This stays internal from now on. We need to investigate every person with access to our routes, our numbers, our meetings.Everyone.”
Cormac whistles. “That’s a long list. But I’ll do it. I have contacts I can trust to help.”
I glance at my youngest brother. “I want Brennan on this too. I need you to dig deep into this.”
Brennan’s expression instantly turns into one of quiet determination. “You got it.”
“I want you looking at both old and new alliances. Friends of the family. Even blood. Nobody’s exempt here.”
Kieran smirks. “Even Callum?”
I stiffen.
There it is. The question I’ve been avoiding all morning.
I drag a hand down my jaw as I exhale slowly, leaning back in my chair.
“He’s not behind this, but Ciara told me something that makes me nervous. He said he was planning something before Max’s death.”
Brennan frowns. “What kind of something?”
“She doesn’t know except that he was looking for a way to get her out of her marriage to me.”
Kieran climbs to his feet and brushes his hands over his shorts. “He’s got some fucking nerve. He was the one pushing for it in the first place, and now he wants out?”
“I was the one to propose it, but yes, he jumped at it. Now it seems the payout hasn’t been to his liking.”
Cormac looks at all of us. “If he’s scheming against us, we need to get ahead of it.”
Kieran grabs a fresh bottle of Jameson eighteen-year and two glasses before taking a seat at the table. “We should have justtaken him out when we had the chance. The guy is really starting to be a pain in our asses.”
I shoot him a look. “He’s Ciara’s brother and her only living family.”
He opens the bottle and pours us both a glass before topping up Brennan’s drink. “From what I’ve heard of their relationship, your wife will likely be pleased that he’s gone so she can put the McCarthy name behind her for good.”
