Page 89 of Guilty as Sin

I’ve known something like this was coming. When I destroyed Seven’s warehouse, I took out tens of millions of dollars of his product, as well as half a dozen of his personnel. Retaliation was inevitable, escalation guaranteed. And I’ve readied myself for it.

Although Da addresses his announcement to me, the heightened tension runs through all of us.

“The building’s being evacuated as we speak,” Mam says.

“Where is this intel from?” Cora asks, surprising the room. Her voice has only the slightest tremor, so faint I don’t think the others notice. My brave wife is afraid.

“A reliable source,” Mam says.

Cora purses her lips in frustration. She asked the right question, but Mam’s stingy about her sources. As usual, the rest of us are left to deduce for ourselves.

I’ve been trying to link Seven’s high-rise assault to Connor’s betrayal, but the kid wouldn’t put his sister in danger like that. There’s a gap in the details. Within that gap, there’s a miniscule chance that Connor isn’t in league with Seven.

And I now have the perfect life-or-death stakes to test him.

“I’m going back to the high-rise,” I announce. “If I’m there as usual, Seven won’t suspect that we know his plan. I’ll be able to set an ambush.”

I’ve been prepared for this for years. My home, under attack. I am the steadfast soldier, ever training and drilling and planning. This blare of the air raid siren is my call to arms.

Beside me, my wife stiffens in her chair. I cannot bring myself to look at her, to see her beautiful face pale with unease.

My duty is to keep her safe. And I always abide by my duty.

One by one, the moving parts of my plan click into place.

“It’s a good plan,” Liam says to me. He doesn’t know the half of it. “It’ll provide a decent distraction while the rest of us attack Seven’s place.”

Da raises his eyebrows. My older brother must hear the same call to arms that I do.

“Fire with fire,” Da says. “Good. Finn?”

“The high-rise is my home too. I’m defending it with Brady.” My younger brother gives me a nod that’s more confident than his expression. But I’m glad to have him on my side. I give him a nod of solidarity in return.

“It’s my home too,” Cora blurts. I can’t help but turn to her now. She’s not pale like I’d expected, though her hand is sweaty when I take it in mine.

“It is your home,” I agree. But that doesn’t mean I’m letting her anywhere near it while it’s under attack.

If Cora’s at the high-rise when Seven’s men come to kill us, my sole concern will be getting her out alive. I can’t have that. This catastrophic threat spans too wide for me to concentrate on my wife alone. I’m responsible for keeping my entire family safe from this danger. Not just her.

“So be it,” Da says with a frown. “Brady, get Blackbird in position. If Seven’s making a statement, he’ll use the front door.”

Da’s right. And it’s welcome news that he’s assigning me our sniper. I squeeze my wife’s hand before letting go, her sweaty palm her greatest tell. Then I stand up and let myself out of the room.

Out in the back alley, the night air awakens every cell in my body. As I tap through my phone to call Blackbird, my fingers are steady. I do not acknowledge the churning in my guts. I do not acknowledge the worry I feel for Cora’s safety. I’ve already taken it into consideration.

My plan to keep her away from the high-rise is flawless and absolute. And I don’t just make plans.

I execute them.

Chapter 42

Cora

When Brady leaves the back room, I feel exposed. The other members of his family clearly aren’t happy with him involving me on this, but I’m elated that he’s bringing me back to the high-rise.

It is your home, he’d said.

And I’ll be defending it with him. At my husband’s side, right where I belong. Whatever attack Seven’s going to launch at us, Brady and I will face it together.