Page 48 of Redemption

I take out a lighter from the pocket of my running shorts and wag it before sliding it back in. The PLA did think of everything. The gym in the basement of the mansion, which I’ve nicknamed the dungeon because it amuses me, fulfills my need to lift heavy things and get out my frustrations. I’m still not sure whyI’mthe best person for the jobs they’ve set up. Could be as simple as muscle for hire. The equal focus on Carys is what messes with my head.

Lorcan nods and climbs into his compact car. It’s comical watching him fold himself into such a tight space. “If you need me to say something at the meeting, ask. Otherwise, I’m keeping a low profile.”

“Got it.” He starts the engine, and I say, “I’m surprised Kimi let us meet alone.”

He purses his lips. “She trusts me. CIA might not. FBI might not. But she does. I’m not fucking that up for anyone.”

At every turn he’s cautioning me not to put him in another situation where he has to choose. I’m not intending to go rogue. As long as Carys, Lucas, and the rest of our crew is safe, I can play along with whatever the CIA wants me to discover or dismantle. The immunity on crimes committed for the PLA during my stint on the outside doesn’t hurt. I’m leashed and unleashed. Could be worse.

“I’ll see you later.” With a tap on the hood, I wander into the fields. I’ve got a few miles to walk and memorize before I burn this sheet far from the prying eyes of the mansion.

The setup for the conversation with Pierre-Jacques pisses me off. Instead of being in the war room, he’s summoned me to speak, literally, in front of his throne. Like I’m some kind of peasant. It’s insulting, and a power play in the most obvious way. He’s seated in one throne, and Jade, black eye on prominent display, occupies the other. Didn’t look like he hit her that hard. Noel and Daniel hover on either side of them, obedient dogs.

Behind me, Jay and Lorcan are listening to me lay out the plan. Without a map, the ideas are jumbled words to me. I’ve got no idea how Pierre-Jacques is following the rotation of places, the modes of attack, the number of men needed. They seem bored by my chatter, which isreallyannoying. I didn’t ask to be his lackey.

Pierre-Jacques sighs loudly. “Will this get me what I want?” His expression is bland.

“Yes,” I grit out, ready to tell him that if he didn’t give a shit about the actual plan, he should’ve sent me south with no restraints and let me blow buildings up. I memorized that sequence for nothing.

“Go ahead, then.” He waves me off. “Take Lachlan with you and go to the southern faction. You’ve got one week to bring me Donal McCaffrey’s head on a stick, literally. On a pike.” He mocks driving it into the ground. “So I can display it on the corner of the castle ruins.”

Jade tenses beside him, obviously not impressed with his suggestion. She places a hand on his forearm, and he gazes at her, their eyes locked in silent communication.

“Fine,” he mutters before turning back to us. “A box or some such will do. I can have someone here put his head on a stake afterward.” He makes an impatient gesture toward Noel, who winces in response.

“Jay, not Lachlan.” I glance over my shoulder at the two of them. “I trust him.”

Pierre-Jacques barks out a laugh. “Well, I trust Lachlan, Noel, or Daniel. Pick one. Jay is not an option.”

I stare at Noel and Daniel. Noel is a dick and won’t follow my orders. I’m as likely to have a knife driven into my back with him along as I am to get Donal’s head on a stick. Daniel is more pliable, but that doesn’t make him any safer as an accomplice. Guy is so medicated he can barely prop his eyes open. A drug addict, a dickhead, or my brother. Choice is easy.

“Lachlan.” I don’t look at him. How we’ll keep him safe and away from anyone who might recognize him in the south is a problem for another time.

“Leave today. I want this done quick, quick.” Pierre-Jacques dusts his hands off and rises from his seat, offering Jade his open palm. “You can put Francois in charge once you’ve got the McCaffrey men in line. He’ll be your contact in Cork. Good enough to direct the symphony from there. I require you to conduct other business afterward.”

I frown and cross my arms. “McCaffrey family used to deal primarily in Dublin, not Cork.”

“Yes,” Pierre-Jacques agrees. “They did. Funny how things change with time.” With that, he leads Jade out of the large throne room and into another section of the mansion I haven’t had a chance to explore.

“Come with me.” Noel gestures for me to follow him. “I’ll give you Francois’s information. I’ll also give you a PLA car. That piece of shit Lachlan drives isn’t suitable for such a long drive.”

Means the vehicle will probably be bugged. Pierre-Jacques might have claimed he trusts Lachlan, but I don’t believe him. Mindless chatter for six hours. Fucking amazing.

“My car is good on petrol.” Lorcan reasons from behind me. I wonder if he’s also dreading the six hours of stilted conversation.

“PLA’s got bank. We don’t care about costs.” Noel opens an office door for us and directs the three of us into it.

But they’re concerned for our comfort?Yeah, right. I whip out my phone and open the contacts page.

“We’ll also provide you with a phone.” Noel eyes my no-frills device. “Preloaded with the contacts you need. You’ll return it to us when your work with the McCaffrey family is done.”

Nothing about this setup is comforting. Their phone, their vehicle. They may not have cared about the actual plan, but they’re hell-bent on catching me doing anything I’m not supposed to. I take the phone without a word. Jay’s always playing on his. Maybe he’ll be able to tell if they’ve enabled anything on the device that can screw me over. I’m fine with them tracking me, but if I have to be worried about them listening in even when I’m not in the car, that’s a problem. Lorcan and I will have to plan and coordinate openly at some point. Too easy to screw up his identity.

Noel hands me a phone, a paper map, a stack of cash, and the key fob for a vehicle. “The vehicle is in the barn out back?” I’m guessing because I haven’t seen a fleet of vehicles out front.

“Yeah, that’s the one,” he agrees, distracted by the ping of his own phone. “I’ve got somewhere to be. You got questions?”

“None,” I say, and he shoos us out of the office as though he’s in charge of the world. He rubs me in the wrong places.

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