Page 70 of The Celtic Resolution
Saoirse’s eyes close. “Fuck,” she whispers. “I hate how much I understand you.”
“Why?”
Her eyes open and tears shine up at me. “Because I wanted you to be an asshole. An actual asshole because it would make it easier to hate you. I wanted you to be as twisted as your father but you’re just trying to save your sister and I…. I hate how I understand that.”
“He was forcing me to get my hands dirty the night you were sold. I think he wants me so deeply embroiled in this that I’m just as guilty and I’m fine with that. I just knew I had to buy you because all the other buyers were overseas. And if you were lost then any chance of repairing the Irish/Italian treaty would be up in smoke.”
She scoffs softly. “First Noah, now this? I’m sorry, I don’t think there’s ever going to be another peace treaty.”
Her words, while painful, are true. No Irish blood will ever trust an Italian ever again. But that’s not important right now.
“Ever since your disappearance, things have been tense. And Matteo is still out of the country, and Rocky… I’m not sure what’s happening there. He left on his honeymoon and they came back last week but Rocky has been absent. If he was dead,I’m sure my father would be in full control but he’s still following Rocky’s order of only reacting defensively to any Irish pressure.”
Saoirse nods slowly. “I need to think.”
“Right now?”
“I can’t think that fast.”
“Right. Of course.” After shuffling about under the covers for a few more minutes, I climb off her and make a show of adjusting my belt for the cameras. “I’ll do everything I can to find out more about Cian’s condition,” I say while moving my mouth as little as I can. “And I’ll keep you safe, Saoirse. I promise.”
My word carries little weight so for the next few days, I focus on proving it. I bring her all her favorite foods, I make sure no other guards go into her cell and when I’m resting in my own room, I’m researching. Everything rides on whether Saoirse agrees to help me or not, but I need a plan in case she decides it’s not worth it. If she sees no way out of this then it’s down to me to find it.
And I will.
Rigging the cameras should be easy if I can get into the security room. Getting her and Cian out will be the most challenging task since she’s weak and Cian is fucked up. I can barely stomach thinking about what they’ve done to him, and the spare rib he has for a leg after they hit him with the car is horrific. He’ll be lucky to regain mobility after what they’ve put him through. Even more reason to fix this quickly.
I could stage a fire. That would take the attention of most of the guards here. Taking them all out by myself is an impossible task and if I end up dead, then there’s no one to help either of the twins. Getting a message to the Irish is also difficult with how closely I’m being watched. Hazel of the Black Ox might be my only hope. If I can get the twins to her then she’d surely do the rest.
It’s the bare bones of a plan but it’s a start, and when I return to Saoirse’s cell two days later, she has the perfect addition.
“Have you seen Cian?” Her hands wrap around her cup and she clutches it tightly. “Is he okay?”
“He’s alive.” It’s the only information I have. “As far as I understand, they have been treating him. I don’t fully know why he’s been kept alive. Perhaps my father understands how fucked he would be if anything happened to you so he’s holding Cian as some kind of extra bargaining chip.”
She nods quickly and tucks a strand of her straggly hair behind her ear. “He must need something. Or want something. Keeping witnesses alive like this only spells danger and he’s been so smart to stay hidden until now.”
“More power, maybe? I’m sure in his eyes he’s on a winning streak so maybe he’s getting greedy.”
Her eyes dart up to me. “How so?”
“Well…” I lower to my haunches. “He has you and Cian. He has Mary and he has me where he wants me. Matteo is out of the country and I still can’t track down Rocky, although my methods of communication are limited when I have a tail on me the entire time. Maybe he’s changed his goal.”
“You think he’ll make a play for control?”
“I think so. Before, he was doing all this because he saw the family heading for destruction or irrelevance. Now he’s got so many wins under his belt I bet he thinks he can change that and make himself the leader. Even if the human trafficking goes public, if he has enough money and power to weather the hatred it will earn him, then he’ll be fine.”
Her attention drops back to her cup of water. “The Russians were open about it for years,” she agrees. “But to brag about being involved in something so sickening… he must have powerful backing. Or he’s been doing this long enough that he thinks he’s untouchable.”
“I think it’s the third leader.” Running my hand back and forth through my hair, my gut twists again. I’m going to need a lifetime supply of antacids at this point. “We know there are three leaders, but the third is a mystery so far. I haven’t seen a single mention of anyone else.”
“A silent backer?”
“Maybe. This shit had to start somewhere, right? It can’t be easy to just break into the skin trade especially when the Russians made sure to destroy everything. But he kept talking about a gap in the market that he filled. Demand didn’t stop just because supply did.”
Saoirse’s mouth twists briefly. “I’m too tired to analyze it all but I think you might be right. And… I have a plan.”
Our eyes meet. “A plan?”
