Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 126485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 632(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 632(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
“I’m in Dublin for the holidays and unfortunately I had to kill a Russian contract killer who attacked my wife.”
“Sad news. Have you and your wife reunited?”
My lips curled, but I held back a nasty comment. “My wife is under Five-Leaf Clover’s protection. She is my wife. Russian contract killers are usually linked to the Bratva.”
“They can be, but not all of them are.”
“You’re allowing people to take away your business?”
“I don’t. Where was this killer from? I can tell you that he wasn’t one of mine and I doubt he was from my territory.”
“He was based in London.”
“I don’t have strong connections to the Pakhan there, so if you want information, you’ll have to contact him. He’s less approachable than me, I fear.”
“Have you heard from Maksim again? Could this be about Imogen?”
“I doubt it. Maksim wouldn’t hire a contract killer. Maybe it was the sister because your wife didn’t stop snooping.”
Was he trying to make me angry on purpose?
He continued before I could say something I should regret later, “If this was a freelance contract killer, maybe someone you aren’t taking into consideration set him up. Perhaps your family, because of your separation from your wife.”
“Careful,” I gritted out. “My family and I don’t have secrets, Sergej.”
“Of course. I sincerely hope this won’t negatively affect our business.”
“Not if we don’t let it. I’ll have work to do.” I hung up. I didn’t care if I’d been rude. Sergej was trying to play me against my family and I wouldn’t let him.
When I emerged, Balor was still there. “Nothing?” he guessed from a look at my face.
“Not much. He’s Russian, a contract killer from London. Could be freelance but I’m sure he has contacts to the Bratva. I don’t know why or if they were involved.”
Balor nodded. “I contacted Eddie. He’ll seek her out some time today. I’ll let you know how the meeting goes. Will you see her before your flight tomorrow?”
I was supposed to give her a heads up about the questioning, but if I saw her again today, leaving would be even harder. Maybe I’d even decide to take her with me, and that would be foolish, no matter how Balor’s loyalty test today went. I had to remain in control of the situation and right now, Aislinn made me lose control too often.
“Send one of your men to tell her what we found out and that she doesn’t have to worry.”
Balor regarded me. “You could take her with you. Just to protect her.”
“She stays. I’ll have to go now.”
I didn’t. I didn’t have important plans for today. But I didn’t want to discuss Aislinn with Balor anymore.
I went to a pub in the outskirts of Dublin where tourists were rare and I definitely wouldn’t run across Aislinn.
It was late in the afternoon, and Balor still hadn’t called me. I had drunk a few beers, but still felt disappointedly sober.
“Mind if I join you?”
I glanced over my shoulder at Aran. He nodded a greeting at the pub owner, probably the one who’d informed him or Balor of my presence. That’s what I always hated about Dublin. I couldn’t even take a piss without my family knowing about it.
“If Balor sent you, then you don’t have good news,” I grumbled. “I hope Father doesn’t know.”
“Only Balor and I.” Aran perched on the bar stool beside me. “Good news, I suppose. Depends on the viewpoint.”
“Spill.”
Aran held up two fingers to the pub owner then he turned back to me. “Your wife was pretty rude to Eddy. Didn’t want anything to do with him. Definitely no cooperation. She told him he should stay away.”
I shrugged as if it wasn’t big news, but fuck, did I feel relieved.
“Nothing standing in the way of you taking her back home to New York with you.”
“I’m done with her.”
The pub owner placed two glasses with an amber liquid down in front of us. Aran and I clinked glasses then took a sip.
“We both know that’s not the case.”
“Have I ever shoved my nose into your business?”
Aran smirked. “Do what you want.”
We spent the rest of the evening drinking whiskey and beer in turn until Aran took me home with him because I didn’t want to return to the apartment across from Merchant’s Arch. I was still drunk when I boarded the flight early the next morning.
I had been back in New York for a week when Seamus came into my office with a pinched look. “One of our contacts in Miami just called.”
I leaned back in my chair. “And? Has Miss Killeen returned from her cruise?”
“She has,” Seamus said. “She was found by a hooker a couple of days ago, washed ashore.”
I got up slowly. “She’s dead?”
Seamus shook his head. “No. They resuscitated her, but she went into a coma. Someone beat her pretty severely before dumping her into the ocean to die.”