Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 71832 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71832 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
“A word… about what?” I stare between the two cops, bewildered.
Officer Hawthorne softens. “Please, Ms. Locke. Let’s speak somewhere more private.”
In a minor panic, I glance at Bernie. She’s chewing her lip. “You should go,” she says. “I can, uh, stay here. If there are any updates, I can text you.”
“They won’t tell you. You’re not family.”
“I’ll stick around anyway.” Bernie hugs me tightly. “Just go talk to the police, okay, hon? It’ll be okay. I promise.”
She’s lying, but I love her for it. I turn to the officers, and suddenly Carson’s words ring through my ears. I’ll send someone.
Better the police than whatever thug Carson’s got working for him.
“I’m ready,” I say, stepping toward Officer Hawthorne.
“Right this way.” The police officers lead me away from the waiting room. I glance over my shoulder as we go, praying that my guardian angel really is out there, and she’s helping out my older brother.
Chapter 6
Carson
“Chief Cross? This is Carson Crowley.”
“Carson.” Cross sounds pissed, like always. Being chief of the Boston Police Department will do that to a man. “My boys took the girl into custody like you asked.”
“Thank you, Chief. If they can hold her for a few hours, that would make my life a lot easier.”
“They can, but—” Chief Cross pauses for a long, pregnant moment. I’m too tired and angry to play any games, so I wait for him to say what he’s got on his mind. “Your family is running short on favors.”
“I’ll make sure you’re properly compensated.”
“I don’t need money,” he says, growling at me. The self-righteous prick. “You dropped half a dozen bodies in my lap. I need a bunch of closed murder cases. I need answers.”
“Chief, as soon as I have them, you’ll have them as well. You think I want a war?”
“I think the Crowley family thinks it can do whatever the fuck it wants. You’re not above the law.”
Says the man in my fucking pocket.
“Hold the girl. Find some patience. We’ll solve this problem soon.”
I hang up before he can argue.
Exhaustion threatens to drown me.
I’ve been awake for nearly two days now putting out fires. First Iain goes missing, the selfish asshole, then his family starts dropping like flies. I tried to do what I could, but it was all happening so fast, and I had only one priority—
I watch as the nice officers help the girl into the back seat of their squad car. My priority looks like she’s seen better days.
And yet Ashlyn is as beautiful as she’s always been.
Thick auburn hair. Small, curvy, fucking beautiful. With that sharp tongue of hers.
I sigh, leaning my head back against the seat. My driver stares straight ahead, looking grim.
“Go on,” I say, glancing at him. “Say it.”
Fitzgerald shakes his head. “I’ve got nothing, sir.”
“Come on. Don’t bullshit me now, Fitz. I’m too fucking tired.”
“It’s just, you really think the girl will be safe with them?” He frowns, refusing to meet my gaze. “You think the Polish bastards can’t reach into the precinct?”
“It’s the best solution we have for now. Officer Hawthorne is on our payroll and has been for twenty years. She’ll be safe so long as he’s around.”
Fitz grunts, nodding. He doesn’t seem satisfied, but he never does.
Not that I can blame him. I feel the same way right about how. This is an unprecedented situation in the Crowley organization—a top lieutenant’s entire family killed over the course of a few hours.
God damn it, Iain. What did you get yourself into?
I lean my head back, closing my eyes. Sleep wants to drag me down, but not yet. Not until I have a better feel for the situation.
Not until Ash is safe.
“I liked him, you know.” Fitz’s voice sounds far away. “Iain had his issues. We all do, lord knows it. But I liked him anyway.”
“Iain’s an impulsive asshole,” I murmur. And I don’t add: I kept him around for one reason and one reason alone.
For her.
For Ashlyn.
All these years, it’s always been her.
Iain proved himself eventually. He grew up—enough, anyway. He tamed some of his raw violence, tamped down on his worst impulses, and learned to think before acting.
He became one of my closest friends.
But that’s not why I kept him by my side for so many years. There are a dozen guys like him in the Crowley organization.
He’s the only one with a sister like Ash.
I told myself a thousand times I wouldn’t do this. Not when I was so close with her brother. Not when she made her choice to walk away.
I have no other choice.
It’s either go against both of their wishes or watch her take a bullet.
I will not lose her. I’d rather cut my own throat than see her get hurt. In my dreams, she’s always there, wearing white and smiling at me across the aisle, coming closer but never getting close enough, never touching, never crossing some invisible barrier—