Page 69 of No Lies No Promises

My head spins, partly from hunger, partly from diesel fumes, partly from disbelief. “You’re making no sense. Start over. From the beginning.”

The man who claims to love me explains as he walks across the stones, hops into his SUV, and drives.

Ten miles down the road, I finally understand. “So, Fitz is giving me to my father in exchange for Pearson’s death.”

“Yeah.” Glancing at me, he nods.

I rub the back of my tense neck, wondering what the hell these guys were smoking. “It is by far the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.”

“Hey, it worked. Our man has accepted the job, and once the hit is done—or rather faked—Liam will call Fitz, who will pretend to be convinced and arrange a swap.” His enthusiasm is so misplaced, I might lose my mind.

“Why would Fitz believe him?” This is where their plan is most likely to break down.

“Because the Irishman is on our side.” His chuckle sounds so confident, my temper snaps.

“Bonkers. You should’ve included me in the planning. Whatever happened to trust?”

Expression fierce, he meets my gaze for half a second. “Like Becks and Grams’s hideout? That trust?”

As the thunder rumbles and the rubber blades squeak across the glass, I lower my voice. “That’s different.”

“Is it? How? Explain it to me.” His knuckles tighten around the wheel.

Angry, betrayed, and heartsick, my voice cracks. “My promise was made to Rebecca years ago, before I met you. Can you please take me home now?”

“Sure. To the safehouse.”

“No, Sean. Back to my place.” Folding my arms, I glare at him.

His brows lift as he enters the fast lane. “You mean our apartment, right?”

“No, I do not.” The moment the words leave my mouth, I wish I could take them back.

Face grim, he swallows hard. “Tell me one thing. If we hadn’t staged your abduction, were you going after Liam on your own?”

“I don’t know. I hadn’t decided.” Yeah, I sound petulant, but hey, I was kidnapped.

“Fine. I’ll drop you off at home. It doesn’t have to be me, but you’ll need a guard.”

“Send Mace.” Shifting in my seat, I face the side window to hide my tears. I’ll be damned if I will let him see me cry.

Chapter 36

Sean

Sitting in the hall outside my own damn apartment, I load a fresh magazine into my Sig Sauer while Dante talks my ear off. It all boils down to: Grams and Rebecca are fine, Liam landed in Teterboro, Pearson is ready to talk, and Fitzpatrick is fucking gleeful because his reputation has skyrocketed.

“Glad it all worked out.” I could give a rat’s ass. Without Lillian, everything is meaningless.

In response to my flat tone, my friend amps up his enthusiasm. “We’ve been monitoring everyone involved in Parkhaven. Could be another LLC is trying to take them over.”

“We chop off the head of one snake, another grows in its place. It’s a game of whack-a-mole.”

Dante sighs. “Listen, I’ve given you lovebirds two days to iron out your shit. In the morning, you both will report to work amicably, or don’t bother to come at all. Ireland was a huge win. You put Parkhaven out of business. Now, we can concentrate on finding Liam Boyle. You should be celebrating.”

“I will,” I lie. Plenty of time for champagne once Boyle is dead. Until then, my nights will be spent here on the floor outside my door.

Around midnight, I tap on the barrier keeping me from my former life.