Page 152 of Sins of Innocence

"No one can know all of them."

"Oh, aye, I can. Believe me, Mick knows every member of the Shaughnessy mob, right down to the runners."

The so do I goes unsaid.

But I'm pretty sure both me and Sadie hear it just fine anyway.

She lets out a breath, the remaining tensions she's been holding draining away. "Okay." She yawns again and stands up. "I'm going to bed." Sadie looks at Kieran. "You'll be here in the morning?"

"Yes," he says firmly.

"Well, that's me ready for sleep," mom says and stands. "I'm glad they didn't get you, boyo."

She and Sadie walk down the hall together.

Kieran shrugs into a button up and then insists on carrying Neeve and Joy to bed with his good arm.

Of course.

I know what's coming before he reaches for his jacket, but I still ask, "Where are you going?"

"I have men to interrogate."

"You want to interrogate our would-be muggers?" Am I missing something?

"They were trying to get to you," he says, fury that's been banked since we walked into the apartment and the girls' concern making his voice deadly. "Someone sent them."

"I…Kenneth?" I ask faintly.

He nods. "Yes. Whether they know it was Kenneth is something I have to find out."

"Because you need evidence against him to prevent the other mobsters from turning on you when you kill him." I can't believe I'm talking about killing a man like this.

But one of those men shot Kieran. He could have died. My daughters have already been hurt. Kenneth Shaughnessy has to be stopped.

I step in front of him. Not to stop him. Just not ready for him to leave this very second.

Placing my hand on his chest, I order, "Keep that dressing on, big guy."

"Will I get a prize if I do?"

Oh, lord. I want to give him a prize. I want to give him all of me.

He doesn't wait for me to answer because we both know that whatever I give him won't be as much as either of us wants, but he pulls me in for a kiss that acknowledges that, and more.

When he steps back, I sway, my mind too sluggish to figure out what comes next.

Kieran brushes my cheek gently. "Go to bed. I'll be there when you wake up."

Chapter thirty-one

Snacks and Whacks

WRAITH

One of them is already dead by the time I get here.

Noah meets me at the corridor junction and falls into step beside me. "The one you caught in the throat. He suffocated in holding."