“I want all of you to exhaust your contacts for anyone who might know something—anything. Leave no stone unturned.”
Brennan looks at me with genuine fear in his eyes. “It might not be enough.”
“I know. That’s why I’m going to make some calls and see if I can rustle up some support. Declan’s pissed off a lot of people over the years, and I bet at least a few of them would be happy to help us bring him down.”
Brennan doesn’t question me again, so the four of us settle in and try to come up with allies who could help stop Declan’s plan.
My office turns into a call center as we work through our contacts, calling anyone who might have a grudge against Declan, which turns out to be quite a few.
As expected, a couple of families come through and agree to stand with us. None have intel on Declan’s plans, but at this point, I’m more concerned about the numbers. I could pull all my men to the shipment yard, but that would leave Ciara completely exposed, and that’s not an option.
I would rather lose every penny than risk her life.
I hang up on my last contact. “That’s three families I have on board. Each has agreed to stand with us and will send men and supplies.”
My brothers collectively exhale at the news. We have a long way to go, but these alliances will shift the odds in our favor and could be enough to give my family a fighting chance at survival.
Brennan collapses back against his chair and runs a hand over his face. “This evens the playing field.”
Cormac frowns. “Doesn’t win the game, though.”
“No,” I agree. “But it keeps us in it.”
Kieran gets to his feet and pockets his phone. “I’ll start deploying teams. I’ll have them ready by nightfall.”
“I want hourly updates. I don’t want any mistakes.”
We’re not just fighting to save a shipment. We’re fighting to save everything we’ve built, and I’ll be damned if I let anyone take that from me.
Chapter Eighteen
CIARA
Sinkinginto the enormous jacuzzi tub in Ronan’s ensuite bathroom almost feels like a luxury spa. I poured in too much bubble bath and added essential oils, making the room smell like lavender and vanilla. I even lit enough candles to create a fire hazard.
I lie back, letting the water cover me up to my chin and close my eyes, savoring the silence?—
“Ciara?” Ronan pounds on the door.
Ever since he noticed my morning sickness, though he still has no idea that’s what it is, he became my shadow. And I thought he was overprotective before, but now I can barely go to the bathroom without him needing to know if I’m all right.
When I’m not depleted from this pregnancy, I find it sweet. But at the moment, I just really want to enjoy this bath in silence and peace and by myself.
“Ciara?” Ronan’s voice is laced with worry. “Are you okay? You’ve been in there a while.”
If by a while you mean ten minutes…
I sink lower beneath the water.
Maybe if I don’t answer he’ll take that as his cue to leav?—
“Ciara?”
Guess not.
“I’m fine. I’m just taking a bath like I told you!”
There's a pause, and I wonder if he’s finally leaving me alone.
