“I prefer when I dealt with old man. He was old bastard, but he understood long game. Your boss is only after name for himself.
“He doesn’t understand what my family is owed. What we have lost and sacrificed. I want girl die as much as he does.
“I need her to die to get to my goal. Lynch was my mistake, waste of time. Did not get job done, but answered questions for me.
“Bitch I want isn’t going to come out of hiding for threat, little bitch can handle herself. He wants Alliance stopped, he has to be patient, da,” she says, giving me that cold look of hers.
“He’s growing tired of the excuses.”
“I would take her out myself, but gets me nothing. Besides, I can’t reveal myself yet. My family has more invested here than your boss. Let him play in his shadows, I don’t fear him.”
“That’s easy for you to say. He’s growing suspicious of us. We might need to cool things off.”
She rises from the bed and strolls over to where I’m sitting. Straddling me as I sit here, she then takes my cigarette and takes a drag. I frown as she blows the smoke in my face.
“He give you trouble, you stay with me. Tell me, what is in this for you? Why you do this for him?”
I look away. I can’t tell her that this all started because I wanted Deja Walsh for myself. My boss was meant to kill me that night.
Instead, he saw a use for me and my cousin took my place. I only had to keep my mouth shut for a few days and then disappear as the rest of my family was killed on Oland’s orders. In return, I was promised delivery on all the promises Oland made.
However, here we are. Oland is long dead, and I’ve received nothing promised. I’m the last in my bloodline still breathing.
Deja has a price on her head and I’m no closer to having her or the wealth I was promised by Archie McDougal. I have nothing if I walk, but there’s still a chance the boss could deliver if I stay.
“Da, you have secret to keep. Does boss know secret, or do you keep from only me?”
“I have my reasons. I’ve lost too much to turn back.”
“So have I. You stay with me, and we make work. You don’t have to be pet. You partner, help with counteralliance. I treat you with respect, da.”
Before I can answer, she reaches to stroke me to life and seats herself for another round. I’m going to regret this. I know I am.
Deja
I sitat the bar in the O’Brien Manor in Dublin with my feet up. Knowing who this place used to belong to doesn’t really leave me wanting to be too respectful. I was a little surprised when Brooklyn told me he was bringing me along for the trip.
Logan has been released from the clinker. However, something bigger is happening here. There have been a ton of people in and out all day.
“You don’t really believe the words on your skin, do you?”
I turn to find an older man looking at my back. Given the fact he has read the Japanese written on my back, I assume he’s Japanese. He tilts his head to the side as he regards me.
“I don’t believe I still do. I once did.”
“Words are powerful. You should think over those and decide how to go about removing them.”
With that, he nods and turns to leave. It is then that I notice Cole standing in the doorway, watching me. I have never wanted to cover my back more.
With his face clouded over, Cole turns and storms off. He’s been having a hard day with how angry Logan has been. I don’t think his brother has said a word to him since he arrived.
Feeling like I should at least explain why I chose the words, I stand and go to follow after him. However, Logan appears and stands in front of me.
“We should talk.”
“Why? Ya don’t like me?” I blurt out.
He sighs and purses his lips. “When have I ever said I don’t like ya?”
