“If he thinks that, then he doesn’t know us at all.”
“I thought blackmailing him would have bought us more time. But it seems he’s calling our bluff.”
“Are you saying we should leak the information on his illegal shipments?”
Ronan shakes his head. “He’s clearly not worried about that, otherwise he would have stayed quiet. I bet the fucker’s coveredhis tracks, so even if we did leak the intel, it wouldn’t hit him hard enough to get him to stand down.”
“So, we need to take a different approach and hit him directly. Not hard enough to launch a full-scale war, at least not yet. But enough to convince him that this vendetta isn’t worth pursuing.”
Ronan nods. “It looks like it.”
“When do you want to do it?” I walk over to the bar cart to pour us both a drink.
“We’ll move tomorrow night.”
I nod as I pick up the drinks and hand one to Ronan.
He takes a long sip as he stares off into space.
I frown. “What is it?”
He shrugs as he drops his eyes to the floor.
“I used to believe the power and respect were worth it. But lately…all I see are the graves.”
I swallow hard.
He’s not wrong.
Death lines most of my memories stretching back to my childhood with the faces of the men who trained me and bled beside me.
Ever since our father was killed, my brothers and I have been drowning in this life whether we want to admit it or not. But I’ll be damned if I let Sean drag us deeper into it.
If I have to choose between standing back and watching more innocent blood spill or die trying to save my family, then the choice is already made. Because at the end of the day, that’s what it means to be a Sullivan.
We don’t walk away, even if it costs us our lives.
Chapter Nine
RILEY
It’s been so longsince I’ve woken up in Kieran’s arms that the feeling of the cold sheets brushing against my skin as I stretch my limbs is becoming just another part of my mundane routine.
The days are blurring together, to the point where I have no idea whether it’s a Monday or a Friday.
I almost miss the stress of finals because at least I had something to focus on other than whether or not Kieran is going to come home in one piece.
I quickly make the bed and get ready for the day before heading downstairs to make my morning coffee. However, when I reach the foyer, I notice a thick white envelope, with my name written across it in thick block letters, on the table beside the vase of fresh pink roses that have been cut from the garden.
What the hell is this?
I’m still staring at the envelope like it’s a bomb about to detonate when Ronan appears from the kitchen carrying a tray of food to bring up to Ciara.
I hold up the envelope. “Where did this come from?”
“Kieran had all of his mail forwarded here. Why, what is it?”
I turn the envelope over in my hands. “I have no idea.”
