Heat rushes up my back and my heart thuds.I stand to cut off his wild plan.“This is beyond our limits.Stealing files quietly is one thing.Confronting them and trying to force a confession is another.We don’t have the capacity or the guarantees for safety, especially Fenella.She’s the one inside their world.Alone.It’s too dangerous.”
“There’s nothing too dangerous.We’ll attach a voice recorder to Fenella’s necklace, like before.A clear confession, on tape, is something Peter’s lawyers can’t spin away.She gets them talking, we record admission that the money’s illegal, and boom—you become the heroes,” Golden says, confident.
“This isn’t about heroics.It’s about her life,” I growl, meeting his cold stare.
He rises from the sofa, meeting my glare head-on.“The FBI will mobilize teams.We can’t lose this chance.No one could get this close in such a short time except her.We’re so close!”Golden says, dragging his words, fists on air.
“No.Your team can’t protect her from Alan, Amy, or Peter.They’re dangerous.Irish mob, for God’s sake,” I shoot back, my tone just as sharp.
“I’ll do it,” Fenella says.Her voice slices through the room.Everyone turns.She’s already looking at me, steady and resolved.
My eyes widen when I see her.For a second, I can’t process everything, but the look in her eyes tells me she’s not joking.“What?Wait.No.”I stammer in disbelief.
“Ah, finally, someone’s got some guts,” Golden hums, a hint of melody in his voice.
“You shut your damn mouth.”I warn, throwing every killing stare I have at him, holding back every ounce of patience not to strangle him right there.He gets the message and sinks back into the sofa.
“Let’s talk upstairs,” Fenella says, standing and motioning for me to follow her.
29
All For Us
Fenella
“Fenella, please don’t do this.Alan’s dangerous enough for us.Going after Peter is a bigger risk than we can imagine.That bossy old man just wants to hide behind us and throw us out as sacrifices,” Laird says, referring to Golden.
“But, Laird, you’re the one who said we needed to lock them up.We want him out of our lives.So we should do it all the way.”
He cups my face.His voice drops low, his emerald eyes locked on mine.“But it’s dangerous.We don’t have to get dragged into his do-or-die mess.”His thumb strokes my cheek like he’s shielding me from the air itself.
“But I’m tired of being the helpless, foolish girl,” I say.
“You’ve done more than enough.”Each word lands heavy.
“Please.I just want to end all of this once and for all,” I insist.
“I just want to protect you,” he whispers, desperate, squeezing both my hands.
“I know.You always do.In the end, you always jump into the fire with me.Since school, you’ve always shown up.”I chuckle softly.“It’s amazing, you know, having a backup army always ready to fight for me.I can’t thank you enough, but this time, only I can do it.”I shake my head, still a little in disbelief, and run my hand along his cheek, smiling wide.
“What are you trying so hard to protect?”he asks.
“You.Us.”
I study every line of Laird’s face.The light stubble along his jaw, the faint crease on his forehead, the strong tip of his nose, the thick brown lips stained from smoking.I even know how the corner of his right lip tilts slightly when he smiles unevenly.
“I don’t want to be separated from you.As long as Alan, Amy, and Peter are free, we’ll never know what they’ll do to tear us apart,” I say, pausing to steady my voice.“And my mom.I can’t let Amy keep exploiting the state foundation funds while Mom works her ass off selling second-hand stuff at bazaars, freezing in the cold, baking cakes and making eggnogs for donations.”I squeeze his hand.
“And the kids at the hospital who wait for volunteers like me to cheer them up.They deserve those funds, not to have them stolen for someone’s personal gain.”I shake my head.
“And Jessy.He’s an easy target for Alan.How many times has Alan used his weakness against him?I don’t want Jessy to be forced into becoming his accomplice.”
Laird watches me quietly.Our breathing evens out in my room as we take in everything I just said, making sure we’re both ready for what comes next.
“Not to mention all the people who still don’t know Peter’s been embezzling their money,” he finally says.“Everyone’s been fooled.”
“Exactly.You see it too.We need to stop them.”I nod quickly, a small smile breaking through.
