Page 87 of Redemption

“Aye,” he agrees. “She shouldn’t have gone, but Carys has a soft spot for her da’, yeah?”

“Unfortunately,” I grit out. Too much softness for too many people. Anger courses through me, and I shake out my arms, flexing and releasing my hands.

On Thomas’s advice, one of the guards calls the cops to report the shootings. They’re staying here to handle the questions and payoffs. Not how I’d normally suggest doing things, but my only concern right now is Carys. Where have they taken her? How can I get her back?

I’m not going to let myself dwell on any outcome that doesn’t bring her to me alive and well. No matter what I have to do, where I have to go, or who I have to demolish, she’ll be alive and unharmed by the end. That’s the only satisfactory resolution, and I’m clinging to it. If I don’t, I’ll sink into inaction. Blame myself for not sending her to Boston when my gut told me it was time to let her go.

We climb into the SUV and head for Dublin. My heart is lodged in my throat. I’m not a crier, but these emotions are welling up in me at once. I should have made her go to Boston with Lucas. Selfish and stupid and careless. The whole ride, my thoughts race with possible scenarios—locations, tactics, outcomes. The whirlwind of possibilities doesn’t help my mental state.

“How are you holding up?” Lorcan asks when we turn onto Thomas’s street.

“How would you be holding up if this was Kim?”

“I’d be furious and petrified,” Lorcan answers as though he’s imagined this scenario so many times, he’s lived it.

“Then I don’t suppose I need to tell you.”

“Ah, right.” He gives me a pensive look. “See, I thought you said we should have talked more?” We’re through Thomas’s gates and at the front door. Lorcan shifts the SUV into park.

There’s a hint of teasing in his voice, but I’m not in the mood for him to lessen my dark cloud. She’s gone, and until she’s back where she belongs, I’m not discussing my feelings. “We’re men of action.” I throw open the door. “Right now, I’m feeling murderous—all my feelings and actions rolled into one. How about that?”

When the guards try to lay their hands on me to check for weapons, I let out a string of curse words so loud and aggressive Thomas appears in the entry behind his men with his dogs.

“Leave them,” he says.

The guard raises his hands in surrender, and I storm past him and the low growls of the German shepherds into the living room. There are no words for the depth of my anger. I told Thomas, and I sure as hell told Carys, to stay at the house. Her father could have called her on his deathbed, and I’d have tied her to a chair rather than let her go.

“You had to know it was a trap.” I take the whiskey off the sideboard and pour myself a generous glass.

“Which is why I sent her in armored cars with seven of my best men. She’s a grown woman, and she insisted. I’m not in the business of restraining women.” Thomas’s jaw is tight.

Kim appears in the doorway, and Lorcan loops his arm around her waist, kisses her temple. The sight of them together makes my chest squeeze as though in a vice.

“What’d the CIA say?” I ask, gulping my drink. “Do they have a beat on where Jade took Carys?”

“No.” She leans into Lorcan. “We’re working under the assumption, at this point, that the bombs will go off in sync the day of the grand opening.”

“Logic has no place with Jade,” I mutter. “She’s just as likely to set them off tomorrow because she can. We’ve got no firm hour or date.” I rub my face, and for the first time since Carys dragged me out of the warehouse, I don’t have a clue how to fix this mess. Jay is recovering upstairs. The CIA knows nothing. The Volkovs already tried to hurt Carys and are repaying me with protection. Thomas doesn’t know any more than me. “Thomas, have you got any favors you can call in? Any ears to the ground? Someone’s gotta know something.”

“I made some calls as soon as I realized she was ambushed. I didn’t get anywhere.”

“Your brothers?” Every option has to be exhausted.

“Their connections are my connections, I’m afraid.” He grimaces.

I leave the room and take the stairs in twos to find Jay. He’s sleeping, but I don’t care. He’d want to be told. I touch his shoulder, and he wakes, his gaze unfocused for a moment.

“Finn?”

“Carys has been taken by the PLA. I need contact options and people to call. Someone who’ll know something.”

Jay tries to sit up and groans at the motion. He eases both hands over his face and doesn’t say anything for so long I think I’m going to have to repeat my demand.

“Evander Williams. He’s the most connected guy I ever met. If anyone knows anything, it’ll be him. Or he’ll know who to call to get information.”

“Except he fucked up my escape,” I scoff.

“Yeah, he did,” Jay agrees. “So, maybe he’ll be motivated to make it right. His contact info is in my phone.” He nods to the device on his bedside table.

---