Page 34 of Betrayal and Ruin

“Not many people can win against Conor,” Declan praises Finn. “You did well. If you’re interested, I’d like to talk to you about a job after next week’s fight.”

“Sure,” Finn grumbles and then is gone, the bulk of his body no longer taking up space in the doorway.

Declan slides into the room and I slump back against the table Finn was sitting on. I want to run. I want to go home, which is now Declan’s house instead of my studio, and wash this whole night from my body.

Declan’s arms are strong and firm when he wraps them around me. “You did so good,” he coos against my temple.

I let him hold me. Then I let him take me home. His fingers are buried inside my pussy the entire ride and I don’t care whether Oscar is there or not. I need the release, my nerves still going haywire in my body.

I’ll worry about feeling embarrassed tomorrow.

CHAPTER 13

DECLAN

Knowing Roisin is safely locked away in her tower—our home—is the only reason I can focus on the task in front of me. It wasn’t easy to convince my woman to move in with me since we haven’t known each other very long, but I played on her need to be safe. Does that make me an asshole? Sure, but she’s settled in just fine and isn’t complaining.

I’m marking it down as a big fucking win.

Now that Roisin has come clean and agreed to help me prove who truly controls this city, Conor has let go of his reservations about her. He’s lucky he did because there was never another option than Roisin becoming mine permanently. I know it was only his loyalty to me that had him questioning whether she was good for me.

I would do the same for him. If he ever finds a woman. I won’t be holding my breath on that one.

We’ve had men watching the warehouse we’re sitting outside of even before Roisin fed Finn the information on where the buy is taking place. It didn’t take long for Cillian to investigate the location and post some of his men to keep an eye out.

Now it’s showtime and adrenaline is pumping through my veins as I force myself to appear calm. They think Niall Farrell is going to be at this meeting, but it’s all a smokescreen. I can’t wait to see the look on Cillian’s face when he realizes he’ll be fighting for his life instead of Irish independence today.

“Let’s get this over with,” I mutter to Conor who glances at me with a look of pure fucking glee on his face.

I can’t say I blame him. It’s been a while since we got some action around here. People know not to fuck with me. It’s only when their greed or stupidity gets the better of them that we need to flex our muscles. There’s something to be said for violent intimidation—people remember and act accordingly.

With Roisin in my life, I would much rather be at home buried inside of her than dealing with this shit. But after today she won’t have to look back. She can focus on her dreams and building a life with me. My cock goes to full mast at the thought of having a family with her.

Kids weren’t something I considered before, but with her the idea of getting my woman pregnant is always playing in the back of my mind. I know she’s on birth control. I also know that it won’t take much to convince her to stop it.

First, I’ll deal with the threat to my woman’s happiness.

When I step inside the warehouse with Conor at my back, I step close to some shipping crates. Normally, they would hold merchandise, but we had everything cleared out in preparation for tonight. If shit goes sideways and the authorities get involved, it’s better for the space to be clean.

I’m not anticipating it happening, but I’ve learned to be prepared when it comes to my business. The authorities look the other way about a lot of things for a price. A warehouse full of weaponry? That’s not going to happen, no matter what bribe I offer.

When the door opens, I know the real fun is about to begin. It’s one of my guys, but Cillian doesn’t know that and he’s about the size and shape of Niall. Darkness provides the perfect camouflage for deception.

Ronan approaches, his head tucked into the upturned collar of his peacoat and a feral grin on his face. He lives for this kind of shit. He’s been at my side almost as long as Conor has in terms of the business, but his father served mine and we grew up side-by-side. I have to hand it to Ronan because when Conor took my number two position, he never flinched. He simply took his role as head of my security seriously.

He knows the amount of trust I must have in him for him to have not only my back, but Saoirse’s back as well.

He looks downright giddy right now. “Wanna take bets on how long they wait?”

I chuckle under my breath and shake my head as Conor snorts a laugh. Ronan has gunpowder and death in his veins. If he had a normal life, he would have probably tried the military just to satisfy his bloodlust. It would have eaten him alive though because my authority is the only one that I’ve ever witnessed him answer to.

I hear a low voice and know it must be coming from Ronan’s earpiece. His grin grows wider in response. “They’re approaching now.” He scoffs, “Cillian, that Finn fucker, Lorcan Byrne, and two other men are pulling up now.” I can hear the scorn in his voice, “They’ve underestimated us.”

“Good. It’ll be easier to make our point then.”

Conor grunts in agreement. I’m not surprised he doesn’t say a word. When Conor gets into a certain headspace, words become too much. He’s focused on the goal—victory.

When the doors swing open and footsteps pound into the warehouse, sounding like a herd of elephants wearing neon, the three of us spin around with faked surprise on our faces. I was never an actor, but I have to say, this is kind of fun. Ronan steps back to be partially obscured by shadows.

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