“What’s this big plan of yours?” Kieran asks as I enter the bunker.
He’s standing behind the bar, and lining up rocks glasses beside an unopened bottle of whiskey he’s chosen for the occasion. It’s one of his nicer ones. Perhaps my older brother is feeling optimistic for once.
“I want to wait for Fiona first.” I brace my hands on the poker table and roll out my neck.
Every muscle in my back and shoulders is coiled tight.
I’m desperate to hit the gym to try and expel some of this tension, but we don’t have time.
Lorcan is already on the move, and the fact that we’re still sitting around making plans makes me want to flip the table.
Kieran scoffs. “Don’t you think it’s more important to run it by us than her?”
“When are you going to stop biting my head off every time she comes up?”
“Ask me that once I’ve got a higher blood-alcohol level.”
Ronan’s voice is calm but laced with control. He’s perched on the arm of the couch, his tablet balanced on his knee as he continues to scour through security footage. “Every time you argue, you’re giving Lorcan what he wants. Cut the crap. You’re both on the same side.”
Kieran scoffs. “I know that. It’sherside that I have a problem with.”
I’m moving before I realize it. One minute, I’m leaning against the door, and the next, I’m behind the bar, my fist knotting in Kieran’s shirt as I slam his back against the wall hard enough to rattle the bottles. “Say that again. I fucking dare you.”
“Am I interrupting?” Fiona’s voice slices through the room, and I release Kieran instantly like I’ve been burned.
Kieran adjusts his collar. “Pussy.”
I want nothing more than to wipe that smirk off his face, but I won’t show that side of myself to Fiona. Not now. Not when I need her trust more than ever. So, I force myself to walk away from Kieran to where Fiona still hovers nervously in the doorway and slide my hand into hers.
I lead her over to the table. “We need to make our move against Lorcan.”
She chews on her lower lip. “Okay…”
I pull out her chair, and she slowly lowers herself into it.
“Everyone, sit,’ I order.
Kieran scowls at me as he snatches up the bottle of liquor and comes to take a seat on the couch beside Ronan. He doesn’t even bother with a glass. He pulls the stopper out with his teeth and knocks back a few fingers’ width.
Brennan grins, rubbing his hands together, as he comes to take the vacant seat beside Fiona. “It’s game time. Are you ready for this, Callahan?”
“That depends on what Cormac is about to say.”
I take the seat on her other side.
I don’t bother sugar-coating it. Instead, I jump straight to the point. “You’re going to lure Lorcan out of hiding.”
The room goes still.
Kieran lets out a short, incredulous laugh. “You say that like you’re asking her to run an errand.”
Fiona doesn’t speak at first. She just looks at me, her blue eyes searching my face, like she’s trying to decide whether I’m serious.
“Explain,” she says finally.
I brace my hands on the poker table. “You’re going to tell him you have hard evidence on us, something he can use to finally take us down.”
Her color drains immediately.
