“You left The League for your sister,” he said as if reading my thoughts, noting the turmoil of my decision on my face. “It’s time you do the same for Holly.”
“The McGregors were under my protection. Donovan was going to break the pact by having them killed. He should’ve been fair game.”
“Life isn’t always fair, and you were faced with a choice.” He shrugged. “And you chose to make a deal with me.”
A deal with the devil. I’d sold my soul, and he was there to collect.
But he was wrong. Leaving The League didn’t save Alessia, it got her killed. And like hell would I make that mistake again.
“Friday,” he said as I started for the door, worried I’d grab his letter opener and slice his throat.
I opened the door and looked back at him. “The land, or my decision to step down?”
He casually tipped his head to the side and closed one eye. “Let’s call it both.”
My pulse raced as I tore out of his office building, my thoughts scrambled. I checked my mobile to find two voicemails as I hurried down the footpath. I needed to get to the airport and head back to Dublin ASAP.
I listened to the first voicemail, a message from The League member I had looking into Declan and Samuel’s mother.
“The boys’ ma is in the hospital,” my associate said straight away. “She overdosed. Heroine.” He rattled off more information, then added, “I couldn’t reach you, so I went to the hotel and talked to the boys. I dropped them off with her ten minutes ago. The doctor doesn’t know if she’ll wake up.”
I halted at the message, at the fact I’d been too late in finding their mother. They couldn’t lose her, not the same way I lost mine.
My heartbeat jumped with worry at the realization the next message was from the mobile I’d bought Samuel.
“Declan just left the hospital.” Samuel’s voice was breathy and low. “He’s so angry. He’s gonna try and kill the man who sold Ma drugs. He-he went back to our flat to get his gun. Please-please help.”
No. Damn it. The call came five minutes ago. I tried Declan, but his mobile was off. I started to phone my League associate, but Declan would never listen to him, so I hailed a taxi and called Holly.
“I didn’t expect to hear from you so soon,” she said upon answering. “You okay?”
“No,” I rushed out. “Declan’s in trouble, and I’m still in London. Can you do me a favor?” I couldn’t believe I was asking her this, but if Declan would listen to anyone, maybe it’d be her.
“Anything,” she said softly.
“The boys’ mother is in the hospital. Drug overdose. She may not make it, and Declan went back to his flat to get a gun. He’s going to try and track down the man he thinks is his ma’s dealer,” I rushed to explain. “You might be able to get to him in time. I-I don’t want him becoming a killer. Please, Holly.” Without waiting for her answer, I rattled off the address to the flat.
“I, um, I’m on my way.”
“Can you take Sean with you?” Hopefully, he was at the office with her. The idea of her heading to Declan’s flat alone, and when he had a weapon, had my stomach flipping. “I’m catching the next flight back, but—”
“I’ll stop him. You have my word.”
“Thank you,” I said under my breath as I got into the taxi. “Heathrow,” I ordered after ending the call.
I dug my hand into my pocket and grasped Alessia’s cross. I tightened my hand into a fist around it and closed my eyes, praying to God Declan didn’t become like me.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Holly
“I need you,” I snapped out, interrupting Sean mid-sentence in front of a group of stiff-shirt investors in the boardroom. “Now.”
Sean stared at me in surprise, then motioned to one of the managers to take over as he stood. He placed his palm on my back, ushering me out of the room and into the hall. “What’s wrong?”
“We need to get to Declan’s flat and stop him from committing murder.”
“What?” He stopped in the hall, but I grabbed his arm, urging him to continue.
“I’ll explain on the way.”
A million thoughts whirled around in my head, but I had to focus on preventing Declan from killing or getting himself killed.
“Their mother overdosed,” I said once in my car. I fumbled with the key, trying to get it into the ignition as my hand shook. “She’s in the hospital.” I hurriedly buckled in and threw the Range Rover into reverse. “Declan’s going after the dealer he believes sold her the drugs.”
His brows drew together, worry in his eyes. I’d had a feeling he was growing attached to the kids during our time together last night. “He wants revenge?”
“Yes.”
“Who called? Samuel?”
“Samuel called Sebastian.” I jerked the wheel and pulled out onto the main road.
“And why isn’t he helping?”
“He’s on his way back from London.”
“Damn it. I gotta call Adam.” He dialed our brother and brought the mobile to his ear. “It’s me. I think I know where Cole disappeared to.”
“Wait, he’s gone?” Why hadn’t Sean told me this?
“He slipped out of Adam’s house this morning, but I didn’t know Renaud went out of town. I bet Cole followed him there,” he quickly explained. “Yeah, okay,” he said to Adam a second later. “Touch base when you know something.”
“Is Cole out of his mind following Sebastian there?” I asked after he ended the call.
“Yes,” he hissed. “We’re all out of our minds lately.”
I couldn’t argue with that.
“Why was he in London?” Sean asked after a minute of awkward silence had passed.
“Sebastian stopped by the office earlier,” I began, and had Sean not been in meetings all day, I probably would’ve caught him up sooner and explained what Sebastian had told me about Drake Anderson.
I gave him a quick recap about Donovan’s intention to seek revenge on Adam by targeting our family and Sebastian’s deal with Anderson to protect us.
He dropped his head forward. “Adam’s gonna lose his mind.”
Part of me wanted to keep all of this from my brother because the guilt would rip him apart. But he’d never forgive me if I didn’t let him know the danger we faced and how Sebastian was trying to help.
Sean remained quiet as we drove. He was probably as torn up as I was about all of this.
“His flat’s on the second floor,” I said as we neared the address Sebastian had provided.
“Shit.” Sean pointed out the front window. “He’s on the move.”
Declan got into the back of a taxi, and the vehicle pulled away from the curb. I floored the pedal to keep up with him.
“Wherever he’s going, you need to let me take the lead when we get there.” Sean glimpsed me out of the corner of his eye as we crossed deeper into a part of town I’d never even been to before. Buildings with boarded-up windows. Homeless people on the streets. “I can’t imagine what he’s going through.”
“Declan’s a strong kid, but he’s angry and hurting.” I gripped the wheel, my palms slick from a nervous sweat. “He’s got a good heart, I can tell. But Sebastian doesn’t want him—”
“Turning out like him?”
Before I could respond, my mobile began ringing. An unknown number. I handed it to Sean so I could focus on driving.
He brought the phone to his ear. “This is Sean McGregor.” He paused to listen. “Samuel?” He looked my way and gave a slight nod. “I’m glad to hear. We’re about to pick up your brother now. Hang in there, kid.” He ended the call. “Their mother is awake. She’s gonna make it.”
I swallowed the lump down my throat and held the wheel even tighter, tears springing in my eyes.
“They’re pulling over,” he announced.
I parked behind the taxi and unbuckled my seatbelt. “He’s getting out.”
“Wait here,” Sean ordered, then climbed
out of the SUV. “Declan!”
Declan spun around, a look of surprise on his face. He stared at Sean with wide eyes, then turned his attention to my SUV. Upon seeing me behind the wheel, he tightened his arms across his coat, as if worried I’d see the gun hidden beneath.
Sean took cautious steps Declan’s way. “Let’s talk. Please.”
Declan was going to run, wasn’t he?
I flung open the door and circled the front of the SUV. “Declan, please. Wait!”
“No.” He turned and stalked off down the footpath. I started to follow, but my heel caught, and I flew forward to my knees, groaning upon impact.
Sean stopped his pursuit of Declan and whirled around to come to my aid.
“Your mother is okay!” I cried out, and he stopped and faced me.
His eyes moved back and forth between the direction he’d been heading and back to me as if he couldn’t decide which route to choose.
“Declan,” I whispered when he began heading my way.
“Are you okay?” He looked down at my legs, remorse in his tone and in his eyes.
“You came back.” On reflex, I pulled him in for a hug. “You scared us. Sebastian, too.”
At the feel of Declan lifting his hands to my back and returning my hug, I nearly cried. “She’s really okay?”
“Samuel called,” Sean responded. “She’s going to be alright.”
“I was so mad,” he said, his voice hoarse. “I-I thought she was going to die.”
The same way as Sebastian’s mother. “I know.” I caught Sean’s eyes from over Declan’s shoulder a moment later, but I wasn’t ready to let go. I had to protect him, even though he was only eight years younger than me, he was still a kid. A child who almost lost his ma. “We’ll get her into rehab, and then you can all be together. I promise.”
* * *
“Sebastian!” Samuel jumped to his feet at the sight of Sebastian entering the hospital room that night.
I pushed away from the window where I’d been leaning, my pulse racing at his presence.
“Ma is sleeping,” Samuel added in a lower voice, “but she’s going to be okay.”
Sebastian crouched, and Samuel threw his arms around his neck. He looked uncomfortable as if he wasn’t sure how to hug him back. His body was stiff, his eyes moving to Declan who was now on his feet, arms hanging restlessly at his sides.
Samuel whispered something into Sebastian’s ear, and it was then that he finally returned the hug.
“Thank you,” he mouthed my way when Samuel had let go.
I nodded, my heart on the verge of exploding with relief.
Declan strode closer to Sebastian. “Sorry about scaring you.”
Sebastian raked a hand through his dark hair at Declan’s apology. I crossed the room to stand next to him and addressed Declan. “We’re here for you.” I smiled, and Declan shot me a crooked one back.
“We’ll get her the help she needs.” Sebastian glimpsed Declan’s mother, and he had to have been wishing the medics had gotten to his own mother in time. “I promise.” He reset his focus on Declan. “Do you mind if I steal Holly for a moment?”
“I won’t go anywhere. You have my word,” he responded.
“Thank you.” He patted him on the shoulder, and he motioned for me to go out into the hall. “Maybe we should talk in private?”
Three doors down, we found an empty room and went inside. My palms were clammy, my heart almost wild in my chest, and all I wanted to do was copy Samuel and throw my arms around him, but I resisted.
I kept my back to the closed door as Sebastian went to the window. Darkness now draped over Dublin, no stars in sight. A few lights from nearby buildings were the only visible light from outside. “Thank you for helping out today.”
“Of course.” His eyes met mine in the reflection, and I pushed away from the door, a ball of nerves in my stomach when he faced me. “How was London?”
“It didn’t go well.” He leaned against the window, hands diving into his pockets, his ankle crossed over the other. Exhaustion in his eyes. “I’m in trouble, and I honestly don’t know what to do.”
I sucked in a sharp breath at his words. “And I take it admitting that to me isn’t so easy?” I closed the space between us, and he lifted one hand from his pocket and placed it on my cheek.
His touch always calmed me, as well as inspired an entire sonata of other emotions. “Perhaps we should finish this conversation at my place? Come over later?” His eyes moved over my shoulder, and he dropped his hand.
I turned to see Sean and Adam entering the room. Both casually dressed in jeans and long-sleeved shirts. Sean had gone home to change an hour ago, and apparently, he’d brought Adam back with him.
My brothers stayed next to each other in front of the closed door, and I honestly had no idea what would happen next.
Adam scratched at the nape of his neck, his eyes dropping closed for only a second before he said, “Thank you for watching out for my family after I put us in such a dangerous position.”
Sean told you?
“I don’t know why you did it, but you kept us safe. You kept Holly safe when I couldn’t, and I-I don’t know what we would have done if we ever lost her,” Adam continued, his voice low. “Cole said you killed the men responsible for your sister’s death. He told us about the kind of people they were.”
Kind of people?
“Human traffickers,” Adam said as if reading the confused look on my face. “If Donovan killed Holly because of my actions, I would’ve broken every bone in his body and ended his life myself.”
“I promised Alessia I’d never kill again.” Sebastian’s voice was deep. His words laced with pain. “I broke that promise when I had Donovan killed. I didn’t take his life with my own hands, but his death was the only way . . .”
Adam looked straight at me, guilt crossing his face like I’d never seen before.
“Everything I’ve ever done has been about keeping people safe.” He turned toward me. “I should get back to the boys, though.”
I watched him leave, no protest from my brothers at his quick exit. “I don’t know what to say.” I stood before them. “Why the change of heart?”
“I’m still not sure what to think,” Sean said. “But the way he was with the kids and . . .”
“And what he did for you. For us,” Adam added. “Plus, there’s Cole to consider. He wants to go after The Alliance, but he doesn’t think it’s possible without Renaud’s help.”
“And you’re going to let Cole go after them?” I asked in surprise.
“I honestly don’t know.” Adam reached for my arm and squeezed. “But I got our family involved in this mess by fighting for Donovan years ago, and I need to figure out a way to make things right.”
“And you think going against an evil group will be your chance at redemption?” I challenged.
“No,” Adam answered. “But it would be a start.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
Sebastian
She was still in the red jumpsuit she had on earlier when I opened my door. My gaze shouldn’t have gone straight to the curves of her body, to her lips painted with a light gloss. And I shouldn’t have reached for her and pulled her against me, but I did.
Maybe it was the two drinks I’d told myself not to have while I waited for her to come that had me unable to restrain myself. Most likely, it was just my need to be near her, to feel her soft breathing as her breasts rose and fell against my chest while I held on to her.
Holly looked up at me as I kept my greedy hands on the curve of her arse, holding her closely. “You greet everyone like this?”
I remembered the last time she’d asked me that when I’d opened the door and my dick was as hard as a titanium pole.
“Only for you.” I wanted to kiss her, devour her, taste the flavor of her gloss so I could savor it when she pulled away.
Her long, black lashes framed her light green eyes, traces of blue there as well.
>
I wanted to take her away to my boat in Sicily, get her out of the evil world, and just lose myself in her. Maybe we could be safe on the run. But I couldn’t ask her to leave her family and her life behind. And I couldn’t turn my back on my home.
I let go of her and took two steps back. “No coat?”
Her eyes flicked to the bottle of Jameson and my glass by the armchair in the seating area. “It’s not that cold out.” She stepped out of her black heels, padded over to my drink, and poured herself a refill.
Her long, slender neck stretched as she raised the drink to her lips and tipped the entire thing back. “The conversation with my brothers was unexpected.” She lowered the glass to the table, and I remained in place across the room from her.
I buried my hands into my pockets to prevent myself from reaching for her, ripping off that jumpsuit, and making love to her.
“What happened in London? What’d that arsehole say to you?” Her fiery spirit had my heart pumping harder. I loved that about her.
I was going to do something I hadn’t even done with Alessia, and, God help me, I was terrified.
The real story. Could I tell it to her?
“Before we talk about Anderson, I owe you the truth.” I’d always wondered if I’d told Alessia the truth, would she still have asked me to leave The League? That question haunted me every day, and I’d never know the answer.
“What’d Reed already tell you?” And how much of it had been bullshit?
She collapsed back onto the armchair and braced her thighs. “He mentioned people have died who have known you.” Her throat moved with a hard swallow. “Not just Alessia—he didn’t know she was your sister—but other people. Some guy jumped from a window after meeting with you, for instance.” Her beautiful eyes lifted to my face, and I did my best to remain rooted in place. “The money? Name changes? Was that when your sister found you?” She paused for a moment. “Cole had tried to stop her from going after you, but he obviously failed.”
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