Page 72 of Bartered Innocence

Ricky’s eyes narrow at him, his jaw tightening as he doesn’t move. “Did you lure my sister here?”

António tries to stand, holding his hand in a used towel that he’s already bled through. His steps stagger and his hip hits the counter before he slumps to the floor again. “Luca…” he gets out a little slurred, his face draining of more color.

Ricky glances at me and then at Rian. “Can we get my sister and parents out of here safely?”

“Where are your parents?” Rian asks.

“At home.”

Aodhan and Rian exchange a glance and Aodhan shrugs.

“We’ll do what we can.”

Ricky nods slowly, defeat etched on his face. “If I defect, will you take me?”

“Yes!” I cry out, and Rian grips my sides harder.

My brother gives me a half-smile, a sheen gathering in his eyes. “It’s not up to you, sis.”

“Prove it. Kill him, help us get out, and we’ll accept you,” Rian rumbles from behind me.

Ricky glances at António and doesn’t flinch when Aodhan hands him one of the chef’s knives. He smirks and holds it up. “Dad would be very disappointed in us for using one of his knives this way.”

A hollow laugh escapes my throat, then there’s a sharp cry when Ricky slams the knife into António’s neck. He pulls it out just as quickly and my former boss slides to the ground, too weak to even hold up his hand to the wound.

More shots ring out in the dining room and I’m moved behind Rian in a flash. I squeeze my eyes shut for a second, really wishing I had listened to my gut and turned around to go home.

Chapter29

Rian

Aodhan glances at his phone.“Both exits are covered. Three cars, four men each.”

I nod and grab Isabelle’s chin to pull her face to mine. “You listen to every command I give you, got it?”

She’s trembling, but she gives me a small nod as I let her go.

“Stay behind me. Ricky at her back. Whatever happens, she gets out alive.”

Her brother moves without a second thought. “Understood.”

Aodhan's jaw tightens, and I know he’s uncomfortable with Ricky behind me, but I have faith he won’t fill me with bullets for the simple fact that his sister loves me. I know she does, even if we haven’t spoken of our feelings. She and I have always been inevitable.

“Go n-éirí leat,”Aodhan mutters.

I smirk and repeat it back.

He flings open the door, his arm raised as he fires out a few shots. I’m right behind him, covering him as we head to the front door, and I can already hear Cillian and Cormac calling out directions.

Isabelle’s fingers are twisted in the back of my shirt, and I move slow enough for her to keep pace as we walk through the carnage. She lets out a small whimper at the bodies on the floor, and I assume she recognizes them.

As soon as we make it outside, more shots ring out and I grab her, shoving her head down and pushing her against the parked SUV.

Her eyes are wide, pupils dilated as her body trembles. Something breaks in my chest at her terror. It’s one thing to be aware of the type of life you’re associated with and another to experience it.

Cillian slides from around the back of the car, squishing into her side. She lets out a shriek, her nails curling into my arm. He glances at her in shock and then at me. Before I can say anything to comfort her, Cillian slips a needle into her neck and pushes the sedative into her body. We brought it in case there was a struggle to get her back, and while I anticipated an ambush, I hadn’t expected Isabelle’s level of terror.

“Fuck,” I curse, tucking my gun away to grab my wife’s limp body.

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