Page 31 of The Chief
I couldn’t see Keir’s reaction, but whatever it was, it made Finnan’s frown deepen.
“Let me get this straight, you and Grady were a couple. He slapped you around and you left. And now he finds you and tells you to deliver the bullet?”
“Pretty much.”
“And you didn’t say no, because?”
Inhaling deeply, I met his piercing stare, “Because he’s threatening my sister.”
“Threatening to do what?”
“Make her his clan’s whore, or worse. She’s only seventeen and has her whole life ahead of her.”
“Grady’s dead though.”
“Whoever is following her sister doesn’t know that,” Keir interjected. “She received a message from them just before you called us here.”
“What did it say?” Finnan asked, leaning back in his chair and drumming his fingers on his thigh.
“It didn’t say anything,” I replied. “It was only a photo of my sister taken from behind.” Something in the back of my mind twinged, and I turned to Keir. “Give me my phone?”
He arched a brow but reached into his pocket, pulling it out without another word.
Unlocking the device, I tapped open the messages from the unknown number, then scrolled up.
Unknown number: You have twenty-four hours.
“Shit.”
“What?” Keir asked.
I showed him the phone. He read the message, then glanced at me.
“Twenty-four hours to do what?”
“I don’t kn—” But I knew, didn’t I?
Grady didn’t know I’d delivered the bullet. He hadn’t given me a timeframe to get it done, and if he hadn’t relayed the message to his clan, then they didn’t know my task had been completed. They didn’t know I’d held up my end of the bargain. That they didn’t need to threaten my sister and mam anymore.
“Jynx?”
“They don’t know I’ve done what they asked,” I muttered. They didn’t know, and now my sister was going to get hurt. “Youkilled Grady before he could tell the clan I’d held up my end of the bargain.”
The accusation in my voice hit Keir, and his brow furrowed. “You’re blamingmefor killing that bastard?”
“Yes!” I shouted as panic clawed at my chest. I felt its sharp talons hook into my skin, flaying me as it attempted to climb into my body and consume my mind. “Yes, I am.” I gasped. “You—You killed him before he could tell his clan and now my sister’s life is in danger. It’s because of you.”
I had to get out of here. I couldn’t sit around and wait for my sister to get hurt. Rising from my chair, I barreled toward the office door. I’d barely gripped the handle when I felt strong arms band around my upper body.
“No!” I screamed, thrashing against the solid wall of muscle.
“Settle down, Jynx,” Keir’s voice rumbled in my ear, the words meant only for me.
“No! My sister. My sister’s in danger.” The panic that had tugged at me since Grady had reappeared in my life tightened like a rope around my neck. Cinching shut until I was sure it would never undo. “Orla needs me. Orla…” My voice keened. I’d already been forced to walk away from my family, but the knowledge they were safe and alive had been enough. Yet now?This?This was worse. If Orla was hurt because of my impulsive decisions, I would never forgive myself.
“Get her the fuck out of here, Keir,” Finnan snarled.
My feet were suddenly pulled off the ground, and Keir manhandled me out of the office. Once we were in the hall, he set me on my feet for a second, only to scoop me up into his arms again, now carrying me bridal style.
