“Oh my god, so he wants to take his daughter and her fortune…”
“Rory!”
I raise my hands in apology and wait for him to continue.
“The ONLY stipulation her father made was for her fortune to be transferred to him… the instruction given to him that he has agreed to, is to split up Killian and Bella. He has made it clear to Liam and Michael, once he has her money, he doesn’t care what happens to her. Seems he’s pissed she chose Killian over him years ago.”
I walk back to the sofa and sit before my legs give out. I drop my head in my hands. I can’t keep this from Killian he deserves to know the truth. My head is spinning, I feel sick and confused.
“Do you have any idea when he intends on trying to split them up?”
“Following the death of Marco, they’ve told her father to wait until they have re-established the Russo Mafia. They’ve told him they need a year, or their plan won’t work. He seems more than happy to wait given they are funding his gambling habit”
“I need to figure this shit out sooner, rather than later, I can’t keep this to myself for too long, Kill and Bell’s don’t deserve to be torn apart.”
I watch him typing something out on his laptop before looking back up at me. “I’ve arranged for a couple of men to watch her father, they’ll report any moves he makes the moment he makes them. I do have some other news…the auctions we looked at before you went to Ireland, I have names for almost all of the victims, who were bought and sold. I’m afraid not all of it is good news however…”
He throws a flash drive at me, without warning. I manage to catch it before it hits me in the face, holding it out I raise my eyebrows at Halliwell.
“On that drive you will find the names and dates of births of the ones I have been able to ID, the files also include their family members, any missing persons reports and their current whereabouts. There is also a file of those that we are too late to save.
“I have contacted a team of mercenaries who are in the process of extracting some of the woman and children from those auctions. I have arranged for some friends of mine to take care of them and find them safe places to stay until we can take down those responsible”
My phone rings on the table in front of me, reaching for it I see it’s Nora calling, I can’t help but smile. And then a feeling of guilt washes over me, I can’t be happy when so many people are suffering.
“Don’t, you’re allowed to be happy, even if others aren’t. One thing this job has taught me, enjoy the moments while you can. Because not everyone is guaranteed. Now go, answer your phone and let me do some work.”
I gather up my shit and head to the door, I turn to Halliwell. “Thank you, for everything that you are doing to help me, I appreciate it.”
“You pay me to help you dumbass, now get the hell out.” He faces his laptop, leaving no room for anymore discussion. Shaking my head, I turn and leave him; we both know I’m not paying him enough for what he’s doing for me right now.
Chapter 14
I sit staring at the letters on the table, mine is next in line. Connor read his out to us, but I don’t know if I can do it, I’m not even sure I can read it at all.
I don’t want to know what he’s written, I don’t want to know what words of fucking wisdom he’s left for me.
I glance at Connor and shake my head, I can’t do it, I’m not ready. Getting up I walk out the front room, and head into the garden. I need a minute to breathe.
“Babe,” Bella calls out to me, as she places a hand on my shoulder and squeezes. Lifting my hand, I grab hers and pull it to my mouth, kissing the tops of her knuckles.
She doesn’t move, doesn’t say anything. She just stands to my right, letting me know that’s she’s here for me.
Bell’s is my rock; she has been from the moment I saw her all those years ago.
She may not know it, but she holds me together when I feel like I’m about to break, and right now it’s taking everything in me not to shatter into a million pieces.
I should have pushed, I should have made him tell me what was going on, I should have been able to save him.
I don’t know how long we stay like that for, but the longer we do, the calmer and stronger I feel. I feel like I can take anything on with her by my side.
“Kill?” I turn to see Ronan by the door, I didn’t even hear him come outside, for such a big fucker he sure is quiet. I don’t say anything, I just watch and wait.
“I get it, believe me I get it…but you should at the very least come back inside. I know you may not want to share your letter or even read it, neither do Finn and I, but we’re going to. Because it’s what the little shit would have wanted.” I see the ghost of a smile on his face, and it makes me snort out a small laugh.
I rise and stand in front of Ronan, and it’s only then that I realise how much harder it must be for him. Pulling him in for a hug, I’m surprised as shit when he lets me and even more so when his arms wrap around me.
Another few seconds and we pull away. I go to reach my hand out for Bell’s but she’s already there, lacing her fingers into mine.
