Okay, I need to chill. I sound completely insane right now.
I take a deep breath and turn on the radio.Bloomby The Paper Kites starts to play, slow, soft, and exactly what I need. It fits the mood, the rain, the way my chest feels too tight.
I just need to get home. Take a warm shower. Put something on the TV. Forget the world for a few hours.
Telling Flynn he hurt me… it was unfair. I feel awful about it. I hope he doesn’t think I hate him for it. I just can’t tell him the truth. It’s too much. I barely know him.
Having sex with someone I barely know, a one-night stand, that’s one thing. Losing my virginity is another, but I can’t stop wondering…
Did he believe me?
Chapter Nine
Flynn
“That little liar.” I pace the back office of the hotel. “She fucking lied to my face.”
“Maybe she lied to the Callaghans?” Kaden’s voice is careful as he leans against the wall beside the door.
“Right, because telling two people—especially Declan—that you’re a virgin is the logical thing to do.” I shake my head. “No, she lied.”
I’m fuming. I was already on edge with the little plan she pulled that night, but now, knowing she’s hiding the truth—
“Brady.” Flanaghan walks in, Doyle at his side, followed by the Keeffes.
I nod once and drop onto the couch. Kaden stays alert by the wall, Doyle mirroring him. The rest of the security these three like to drag around remain posted outside.
Since last year’s mess with the Russians, they haven’t stepped out of their homes without a damn battalion shadowing them. Meanwhile, Declan and I barely have anyone when we’re out walking through town.
“The head of the Bratva is arriving in six days. He’ll be staying here; we’re already making arrangements.” Tiernan Keeffe speaks as he hands over the schedule and a list of assigned guards.
I pass it to Kaden. He’ll run background checks on all of them.
After Declan captured Alek and the Irish Consortium held the killing ceremony, the Bratva reached out for negotiations. Apparently, they weren’t too happy with the way Alek handled things.
I still don’t trust them. None of them. So during that week, I’ll make sure we’re ready. If anything goes sideways, we hit first.
“Gentlemen.”
Declan enters with Kian and Connor flanking him, like shadows stitched to his back.
His gaze sweeps the room as they all nod. Then it lands on me. Of course it does.
“Declan.” I give him a nod.
“Flynn.” He returns it with that usual hint of a smirk. The bastard probably knew Autumn was here and said nothing on purpose.
He strolls behind the desk and takes the chair like it belongs to him. This is Keeffe’s office, but Declan is the one they all follow. His will bends the rest, and when it doesn’t, that’s where me, Kian, and Connor step in.
Truth be told, the four of us could run the Irish Consortium without the other two families. They barely lift a finger. They hide in the shadows, waiting for the money to pour in, then stretch their hands out for the same share we get. Founding families or not, they contribute nothing. Still, we honour the past. For now.
Tiernan lays the plans out on the desk, handing Declan the same paperwork he gave me.
“We should kill them all,” Flanaghan says, and the room stills for half a breath.
Declan doesn’t speak. He just looks at him.
“The leader of the Bratva?” Kian raises a brow and chuckles.
