Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 86360 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86360 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
“I’ll eat later.”
We leave and head to a car that waits, our bags in the back of the car. Keenan meets with Cormac and Nolan on the front steps, both men carrying bags as well. “More news?” Nolan asks. He’s as sober as I’ve ever seen him, which troubles me, the jovial, boyish look gone, his lips thinned, pinched together.
Keenan relays information to them in a hushed whisper, so I don’t hear. Cormac’s eyes darken, and Nolan’s hands clench into fists. Nolan curses, and Cormac looks ready to murder someone. I’m dying to know what happened that got them in such a rage. It’s hard not to ask questions. What would cause such anger in them?
He’s gone on errands, one after the other, and I’ve never seen him behave like this before.
All around us, men are getting into cars and on motorbikes, and Keenan’s shouting directions. They’re moving en masse, not even bothering to hide the fact that they’re holding weapons of every shape and size. I catch glimpses of guns and knives, tucked into harnesses and belts and boots, when Maeve trots down the flight of stairs and joins her sons on the stairs. I look up to see Keenan’s father at the very top.
“You’ll stay here, then,” Keenan shouts to his father, and I realize it’s an order, not a question. His father doesn’t answer at first, and Keenan continues. “You’ll need to be here in case it’s a decoy.”
His father nods. “Aye. You bringing the lass?”
Keenan’s eyes swing to me. “Absolutely.”
His father holds his gaze for a moment before he nods, and I know once more it’s a concession of sorts. Keenan said he doesn’t trust me to be safe here. He wants to keep me safe himself. Are we going into danger, then?
Maeve hugs her boys and bids them farewell, then turns quickly as if she doesn’t trust herself not to cry. I feel as if she’s sending them off to war, as if they’ve enlisted in the military and may not return home. I wonder what it’s like for her, knowing the dangerous lives they lead. Bidding them farewell.
And then he’s coming to me, sliding into the car, and we’re peeling off with the crew of his men surrounding us. One man on either side of the car rides a motorbike, and I realize we’re being led by a brigade of sorts, flanked on all sides.
Keenan sighs, and shakes his head. “Even now,” he says, “Even now, you don’t ask questions.” But his tone tells me he’s pleased.
“I assume you’ll tell me when it’s time,” I say softly. Do I trust him so soon?
“We’ve a finishing school,” he says. “A boarding school at the foot of the mountains we all attended. The school is run mostly by women who’re affiliated with our Clan.”
“I don’t know who your Clan is, Keenan,” I remind him. “You haven’t told me.”
For some reason, he doesn’t hesitate. “We’re one of the largest organized crime rings in all of Ireland,” he says. I don’t flinch or act in surprise, for I knew something like this had to be the case.
“Okay,” I say hesitantly. “I figured as much.”
He smiles. “Just when I think you can’t surprise me anymore,” he mutters, shaking his head. “Alright, so we’ve got a school to prepare our boys to become vowed brothers in our Clan.”
I nod. “Aye.”
That makes him grin, “You’ve learned our trick of speech,” he says on a chuckle.
My cheeks heat. “Well. It’s hard not to,” I say, feeling my brows knit together. Is it okay that I sometimes speak like he or Maeve does?
He only gives my cheek a quick pinch. “You’re sweet, lass.” My heart flutters. “Anyhow, I was planning on bringing you with me here sooner, but I had business to tend to that took precedence.” His eyes cloud over, and he doesn’t tell me what that business is. “But something’s made our visit to St. Albert’s much more pressing.”
I nod. “Can you tell me what that is, or no?”
He takes my hand. “There’ve been attacks on the teachers who run our school,” he says. “Several. We think it’s likely retaliation of some sort, but we don’t know yet why or how they’ve gotten there.”
“Oh.” My stomach twists with nausea. I don’t like the sound of this at all, not one bit.
“Has anyone been hurt?”
He nods gravely. “Very much so.”
“Oh,” I repeat sadly. “Any of the children?”
“No,” he says, shaking his head. “But several of our female teachers have been hurt, and it’s our job to find out who did this.”
I finish for him. “And retaliate.”
He holds my gaze for long minutes before he squeezes my hand. “Aye.”
It takes us only about half an hour to arrive at the school. Similar to the mansion where they reside, this school is encircled with a large, heavy gate, and security cameras, but this building isn’t as opulent as their residence.