Under any other circumstances, an agent operating in this type of capacity would have an elaborate fake identity and backstory that would be backstopped so well that no one would ever find out who he really is, and Stone is intelligent enough to know that.
“Because I could only get into the position I’m in now because of who I really am.”
Standing here, surrounded by Hawkes, knowing what I’m about to say is going to rock them, I wish like hell I had done things differently. That I had stuck to the plan when I arrived in New Orleans instead of allowing my attraction to Bishop to cloud my judgment.
Because now, the truth is coming out, and she might never forgive me for it.
“Michael McDonald isn’t just one of Satriano’s hitmen. He builds explosives for anyone who will pay him. He will take money from any asshole who needs his help.” I brace myself for the reaction I know will be coming to my next confession. Something likely to only increase their distrust. “And he’s also the man who trained me when I was in the Rangers.”
All the air gets sucked out of the room.
Tense silence reins, and Bishop finally reacts, her lips curling down slightly before they go back to being pressed together.
“I am here because I knew he was coming. He’s the one who set that bomb, but it wasn’t because Satriano ordered him to take out a target.”
“What?” Saint shakes his head. “I don’t follow.”
I didn’t either, at first. Couldn’t wrap my head around why that bomb went off or why the Hawkes would be targets for McDonald. When it finally hit me, everything made sense and proved just how dangerous the situation really is.
“McDonald is here for Satriano, and he wants the Hawkes to do the dirty work for him. He wants to draw you into an all-out war with Satriano.”
Caroline throws up her hands. “Why?”
“The most basic human reason—he wants revenge.”
BISHOP
Liar.
I don’t believe a single word that’s coming out of his mouth.
How can I, when everything he’s told me has been a lie?
The man standing in front of the door to the penthouse with his hands cuffed behind him is a stranger to me.
A complete fucking stranger who I let into our lives.
Who I let become a part of this family.
Who I let become a part of me.
Fuck.
I squeeze my eyes closed, willing my body not to give out and praying my self-control holds a bit longer so I don’t give in to the desire to burst into tears right here and now and never stop crying.
It would be so easy to crumple to the floor like I’ve wanted to since the moment Isaac and Stone brought me back here after rescuing me from behind that old grocery store two blocks from Gage’s place. So easy to surrender to the crippling pain and guilt that want to drag me down into the black abyss that’s floating around me.
But I can’t right now.
Not when Gage is right there, spewing his fabricated excuses for why he did what he did. For why he broke me.
When I open my eyes again, I find him staring at me despite Dad’s earlier warning. And it’s like looking into the eyes of a monster. Anyone who does the things he did, says the things he said, knowing they were all lies, doesn’t have a soul.
Yet, I can tell from the look Dad gives me that he believes him and that this isn’t over. “I think you better start from the beginning…”
Why does it matter?
Nothing he can say will change what he’s done. Listening to him try to justify it will only make it worse.
