"I want to fracture the Irish loyalty," he says, wiping the corner of his mouth. "You see, right now, Declan holds all the power. Their fear. Their loyalty. I want that loyalty. I want that power."
My brow knots, my thoughts scrambling to keep up. "And how am I supposed to help with that?" I ask with a tight voice, disbelief creeping in. "I'm Italian. I'm the enemy. How can I help you take power from Declan?"
Liam leans forward, eyes narrowing. "By doing what you're best at," he says. "I need proof. Solid proof that Declan has betrayed the clan's code. That he's compromised something we all swear by."
My stomach drops. "What kind of proof?"
"A recording. A betrayal or something that will shift the votes when I force a leadership challenge."
My heart races. "You want me to record Declan confessing something? Admitting to something that would cost him loyalty?" I shake my head, already panicking. "He'll kill me. You said so yourself. He's not allowed to kill Finn, but me? He won't hesitate."
Liam tilts his head. "You're a smart girl. You'll figure it out." I look away from him, swallowing the bile in my throat. My mind spins, trying to strategize, to plan, to breathe. I'm not even sure it's possible. Declan is paranoid and careful. He doesn't talk unless he's in control.
But Finn... Finn is in that house. Bleeding. Suffering. And if I don't try... if I don't do something, he'll break.
"Declan won't kill Finn, but as long as he breathes, he will continue to torture him," Liam adds, trying to hasten my decision. "This is the only way. So, what's it going to be, Rosso?"My chest tightens. My nails dig into my palms beneath the table. I have no choice. I need to save Finn, and if this is the only way, I at least have to try.
"I'll do it," I say, and even as I speak the words, I feel like I'm signing my own death sentence.
CHAPTER 29
Gianna
I knock on the window,and Ailish stirs awake, blinking slowly like someone roused from a pleasant dream. How can she sleep at a time like this? My nerves are on fire, and she's out here dozing like it's just another day. She unlocks the door, and I climb into the back seat.
"Let's go," I say, and she looks back at me.
"How did the meeting go?"
"Lovely," I answer, my voice laced with thick sarcasm that doesn't even try to hide my disgust. Ailish scoffs. "I see it went well." She starts the engine. I roll my eyes, my thoughts already spinning, trapped in the question I've been obsessing over since I left the cafe. How am I supposed to get Declan on recording?
She pulls out onto the road, the tires crunching softly against the gravel as we head straight to what might be my doom.
When we finally pull up, I step out of the car, nerves thrumming under my skin. Ailish follows me, calm as ever. We approach the hidden side entrance, and she presses the code. The door slides open, revealing the elevator. I step in, expecting Ailish to follow behind me. She doesn't. I turn to her, brows knitting as I meet her eyes.
"What are you doing?" I ask, frowning. "Let's go."
"This is where my help ends," she says. "I can't go with you."
"Are you kidding me?" I hiss, keeping my voice low. "You said you'd help me find Finn," I whisper, trying not to alert any guards.
She nods. "Yeah, and I did. I found out from the guards where he's locked. I'll wait for you here. Someone has to keep watch, Princess."
I want to scream at her, but I know she's right. It still doesn't feel comforting going there alone. My insides churn, but I know there's no time to waste. "Where is he?" I ask, bracing myself.
"Take the elevator to the fourteenth floor. The only room on that floor is where Declan's holding him," she answers.
I swallow hard, my heart crawling into my throat. "Okay," I nod, more to myself than to her.
"Good luck," Ailish says, and I press the button. The door slides shut, and the elevator begins to move up. I bite hard on my lip, mapping out my plan, praying everything goes well.
The elevator jerks to a stop. The number "14" glows white above the door. It slides open with a slow hiss, revealing a dim hallway, my heart pounding in my chest.The only room on the floor.I walk down the hall, trying to find an opening similar to the one I found in Declan's room. My steps are heavy, and so is my heart as I inch closer to where Finn is. I hope he's still conscious.
I run my fingers along the wall. Nothing. I press my palm to the panel beside the door, hoping and praying it reacts. I glance around again, searching for something, anything that resembles a trigger, a groove, a loose panel.
Then I spot it. Just barely visible, a faint seam low on the wall near the frame. I press into it and feel a soft click under my palm. The door hisses open. I step in and glance at the door disguised as a shelf. But it's not a bookshelf like Declan's room. This shelfis filled with boxes, dusty boxes. The room is dimly lit, the only light source a single overhead bulb flickering in the far corner, but I can barely see because of the large nylon blocking my view.
I walk slowly, trying not to attract any guards if they're in here. I push the nylon aside, my heart beating so hard, I'm sure anyone in the room might hear. I freeze. My heart drops.
