My eyes narrow on him. “That bullet still has your name on it, Walsh.”
“I told you to keep your mouth shut,” Ronan mutters.
“I’ll call Sean and agree to hand myself over in exchange for Riley, but my condition is that the exchange needs to be on mutual soil.”
Oscar scoffs. “You’re going to give him conditions? Seriously, Sullivan, you don’t have the upper hand here. This guy has my sister locked up; I suggest you give him whatever he wants.”
“And whose fault is that? The only reason Sean thinks he has rights to Riley is because of you.”
Oscar stays quiet, which tells me I’ve finally hit the nail on the head.
His guilt must be eating him alive, but I don’t feel even an ounce of sympathy for him. After all, this never would have happened if he hadn’t betrothed Riley to Sean in the first place.
“If Sean agrees, what then?” Ronan asks.
“I will tell him that you’ll be there to ensure Sean keeps his end of the bargain and hands Riley over. Then, when he thinks he’s won, Brennan and the rest of the guys can move in.”
“So, we give him a false victory to distract him long enough to strike?”
“Exactly.”
“It’s risky as hell.”
“Sure, but ultimately it comes down to a simple equation. A life for a life.”
“And if it goes wrong?”
“As long as Riley gets out, that’s all that matters.”
It takes us almost an hour to arrive at the location Lorcan sent us.
We move in the shadows. Nothing more than shades in the tree line near the abandoned house where Sean is keeping Riley.
By the time we’re settled into position, my body is trembling with adrenaline.
Every life out here with me weighs on my shoulders.
We’ve already lost too many, and if I play this wrong, I can lose two more. The most important ones.
Riley and the baby.
I’ve chosen the role of bait, and if I survive it, I’ll be the first to admit I was a fool. If I don’t, then at least I die trying to bring them home. Either way, I’m not walking away from this.
Ronan’s radio crackles quietly as he checks his weapons.
Oscar shifts beside me, trying to pretend he isn’t terrified, but I can see it written all over his face.
I keep my eyes focused on the derelict house as I run the plan one more time in my head.
There are so many things that could go wrong, but at this point, we’re out of options.
I turn to my big brother. “Ready?”
Ronan meets my eyes.
We don’t need to waste time with heartfelt goodbyes because this is what we do. We protect our own, no questions asked.
He nods. “Let’s do this.”
