4. Rory
4
RORY
I make it to my father’s property and buzz myself in with his code. His birthday. Because it’s always all about him.
When I get to the main house, I don’t have to ring the doorbell because my father is already standing out on the porch, looking at me.
“The prodigal son has returned.” His idea of a joke, I guess, but I don’t laugh.
“I was summoned here because Bree was taken. What happened?”
I want to make it clear that I certainly didn’t come here for him . Niall Murphy is not the kind of man I want to be around at all. And he is definitely not who I want to become.
“Come inside.”
He turns, and I follow him up to his office at the top of the stairs. He sits down behind the desk.
I close the door and remain standing. I don’t plan on being here long.
“What happened?”
My father looks up at me, sighing. “Your sister was kidnapped by the Burkes.”
“The Burkes?”
“And now, we’re retaliating.”
“Of course, we are.” My tone is sarcastic, but I don’t exactly want to argue. Arguing with Niall is like arguing with a brick wall.
He narrows his eyes at me. “Have you forgotten how we do things here?”
“I haven’t forgotten. I guess I was just hoping you’d straightened up some.”
“I don’t know how you’re my son. It’s like I don’t even know you anymore.”
I shrug. “I’m the same as I ever was, Father.”
He takes a deep breath. “In any case, they took what belongs to me, so I took something from them. An eye for an eye.”
“Wait a minute.” I put my hand to my forehead. “You kidnapped someone because Bree was supposedly taken?”
“Not supposedly. The whole town knows she was taken. I couldn’t let them get away with that and not retaliate.”
“So, your solution is to kidnap someone else?” I can’t wrap my head around this. I know my father is crazy, but kidnapping?
“I took one of the Burke bitches. I have Patrick half in the grave. It’s not like he’s going to retaliate.”
“Of course, he will! What are you talking about?”
My father stands up, slamming his hands down on his desk. “I won’t be talked down to like I’m a child, and especially not by the likes of you. Where were you when your sister was taken? Have you even talked to her?”
I know I haven’t talked to Bree for a while now, but I thought she would be safe. Protected.
God. It’s easy to drift apart when we’re not seeing each other every day, but she is my sister.
“I’m here now.” Unfortunately. And only to help my sister. God knows what she is going through in the enemy’s hands.
“Well, while you were away, all kinds of shit has gone down, and you’re responsible for helping me fix it.”
“I’m not responsible for your reckless actions,” I growl.
“Like hell you aren’t! She’s your sister, Rory. When did you lose all your loyalty?”
“I haven't been loyal to you since I was a kid.”
My words hang in the air, making the situation even more tense.
“So, what? You’re going to go back to your nine to five? Wear your cheap suits as your sister suffers God knows what in those filthy Burkes’ hands?”
“I didn’t say that.” I speak through gritted teeth, my hands turning to fists at my side. “I’ll help. But it’s not because of you.”
It’s important to me that he knows that.
I don’t want to do this. I don’t want to be part of his stupid plan. He’s all-but starting a war, taking Patrick Burke’s daughter.
“Then you’ll help.”
“Help with what?”
“Lara Burke. She needs to be handled, but kept alive, so you need to get all the information you can out of her.”
I snort. “Why me? You have more than enough manpower that you don’t need me to do anything.”
“Because my men are loyal, but they are a little too violence-happy, and I need her breathing and able to talk.”
I rub a hand across my face. “I guess I have no choice, then.”
“Don’t try me, boyo.” My father scowls, but I ignore him.
I hate being put in this position, but if my cousins or my father do it, Lara Burke will suffer more than she needs to.
I don’t want blood on my hands. Or the guilt that would come from knowing I walked away and left her to fend for herself.
“Tell me where she is.”
“Upstairs. In the right wing.”
I storm the hall to go upstairs, and the first person I see at the bottom of the stairs is my idiot cousin, Oscar.
Why did my father have to choose him to kidnap this poor girl?
It’s not like I think Lara Burke is innocent. I’d never think a Burke is innocent, but she didn’t kidnap Bree.
Oscar’s eyes widen when he sees me. “Rory. It’s been a dog’s ear since I’ve seen you last. You’re all grown up now.”
“Yeah.” I step closer to him. “And I hear my father’s gotten me into a mess.”
He shrugs. “It’s just a little retaliation.”
“There are better ways.”
“How would you know? It’s not like you’ve been around.”
“Yeah, well, I’m taking point on this.” My voice is hard and firm, and for a moment, I think Oscar is going to protest.
I don’t care. I just want to get this done as soon as possible, so we can all move on with our lives.
Whatever Lara Burke knows about my sister, I’ll find out.
Chapter Five