Page 57 of Redemption

“Lachlan texted me,” Kim says. “They’re on their way back.” She stares after Jade. “Any news from Charles?”

“Just more back and forth on terms he’s willing to let me give Demid.”

“Want me to try?” Jay says. “Finn’s not gonna be happy if he comes back and we don’t have a plan in place.”

“Is Donal dead?” I ask Kim.

“The PLA is now in charge of the McCaffrey clan.” She tucks her hair behind her ear. “Next up is the Byrne family.”

“And we still have no idea what the end goal is,” I whisper.

Jay looks down the long gravel drive. “I’m not sure when we’ll see what’s coming. I just hope we recognize it before it blows up in our faces.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Finn

Lorcanglancesatthebox on the floor of the back seat again. It’s wrapped like a Christmas present, a bow sitting on top. Underneath is a garbage bag to keep the blood from seeping into the car mats. Probably been blood spilled in the vehicle before. Not as much as that leaking head, though.

“Bloody hell, you’re playing with fire,” he says.

“I’m giving them what they want.” I’ve taken the second stretch of driving to get us into PLA territory. We’ve spent most of the ride in silence since we can’t be sure if we’re being monitored by someone. If my mind wasn’t busy mulling over Jade’s connection to Carys’s stabbing years ago, I’d be bored out of my skull.

“Indeed. With a ‘screw you’ flourish.” He sighs and rubs the side of his face.

That’s been my MO since we were kids. Why would he imagine I’d be any different now? “Think anyone is still awake?”

He squints down the dark laneway, trying to catch a glimpse of any lights ahead. “It’s half twelve. I reckon someone will be up as a lookout. Pretty shoddy security otherwise.”

As we get closer, the gravel drive crunches and crackles under the tires. There’s no silent entrance by car. If anyone is watching for trouble, they’ll hear us coming, even if we turned off our lights. I park the vehicle by the front, and framed in the doorway is Noel. I could give him the box now and have him find a spike for Donal’s head. Or I could deliver the package as I intended. Easy choice.

From the back seat, I drape the garbage bag over my present and pick it up. The contents aren’t heavy, but I don’t need to be getting covered in blood when I haven’t seen Carys in a week. Not sure how she’ll respond to what I’m about to do. She’s probably sleeping, anyway.

Lorcan is at my side as we walk toward Noel. “Pierre-Jacques and Jade around?” I ask.

“In the throne room. We heard the car on the laneway.” Noel holds open the front door. “Is that…?”

“It is. No peeking.” I smirk and shoulder past him.

They follow me to the throne room, and while I hated our last meeting here, I have a feeling this will leave me more satisfied. When we get to the large, open room, Jade and PJ are settled into their thrones drinking glasses of wine as though they are royalty. Ridiculous. I set down the garbage bag and pluck out the bloody, wrapped box. Without waiting for an invitation, I set the box on Jade’s lap.

“M’lady. Donal’s head. In a box.” I give her an exaggerated bow.

She gasps, and her wineglass crashes to the floor. Red liquid spills everywhere. When she glances up at me, shock and rage mingle on her face. “Is thatblood?”

“Yeah. See, the head is connected to the neck by—” I use my head and neck as props while I explain basic anatomy.

“I know,” she grits out. “Why did you put the bloody box in my lap?”

“Oh, sorry.” I frown, trying to suppress my grin. “I thoughtyouwanted his head.”

“You thought wrong,” Pierre-Jacques says from the seat beside her. “Noel, remove the box and do as I asked earlier. Head on a spike at a corner of the house.”

I quash my eye roll at such a useless display of dominance. Who from McCaffrey’s organization will see his head up here? No one.

When Noel lifts the box, Jade’s dress is patterned in various shades of bloodred.

“You’ve ruined my dress,” she seethes.

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