Page 32 of Wicked Oath
My house is a three-story brick townhouse that screams luxury. I like to live in style, and my own reflects that.
Olivia gasps as she steps foot into the grand foyer that leads right to a large set of stairs. “This is beautiful.”
“I’m glad you like it.” She laughs as I pull her into a hug. “I’ll give you the tour. But first, I want to show you our bedroom.”
“James,” she squeals as I scoop her up and carry her upstairs, where I give her a whole lot more than just a tour of the bedroom.
Married life is looking very good right now.
* * *
The next nightwhen I go to the warehouse, I see a wall of flame. The warehouse is on fire.
I’m not surprised. I sent my guy Finian O’Connor to do the job.
The fact that Patrick laid out exactly where his drug shipments would be seemed absurd to me when he told me. But damn, he’s making this easy on me. I want him to feel the sting of losing money, just like how he screwed my father out of all the money he was owed for the properties they owned together. And he doesn’t even know it was his son-in-law who did it to him. He’s so caught up in the happy fairy tale of my marriage alliance with his daughter that he doesn’t see what’s right in front of him.
I call Patrick. “We have a problem.”
He meets me at the warehouse at the same time as the firefighters, who I called right after speaking to him. “How did this happen?”
I shake my head. “No clue. I showed up, and it was on fire.”
“Damn it!” He bangs his hand on the hood of his car. “They’re going to find the burned-up shipments in there.”
In fact, they’re not. I had Finian steal the drugs first. I can resell them and make a bigger profit. Of course, I’m not going to tell Patrick that.
“Everything will be too burned to come back on you,” I remind him. “So at least that’s something.”
“True.” He rubs a hand over his face. “And you didn’t see anyone? Anyone who would do this?”
“Do you have any enemies?”
He pauses before cursing again. “The fucking Italians. They can never just let me be. They probably did this to start a war.”
“My advice?” I lay my hand on his shoulder. I’ve got to be the best son-in-law imaginable for him to never look in my direction. “Don’t react. You’ll just be giving them what they want. Just focus on recouping right now.”
“You’re right. This is just not what I need. I just lost so much money.”
“Hey, you know I have your back. I’m here to help you out.”
“Thanks, James. Your father would be so proud of the man you’ve become.”
I try not to flinch at his words. “Do you want me to stay?”
“No. Get back to Olivia. I’ll handle this.”
Once I return home, full of giddiness from my deception, I call out for Olivia. She comes downstairs, meeting me in the foyer.
“Everything ok?” she asks as she wraps her arms around me.
“Unfortunately, no. Someone burned down one of your father’s warehouses. I didn’t see who. He’s probably going to be upset for a while.”
“Oh, no. Was anyone hurt?”
“Not that I’m aware of.”
We jerk apart when someone bangs on the front door. “Stay here,” I tell her as I go see who it is. Owen’s on the other side. That was quick. “Owen, this is a surprise.”
