Chapter 32
Rian
Tossing the extra chip in, I glance at my cards one more time before nodding to signal the end of my turn.
“Hm. Do we think he’s bluffing?” Sebastian’s jovial voice grates against my nerves.
Nico sighs, just as annoyed at his boss. “Don’t start shit.” Sebastian may be the son of an Outfit enforcer, and Nico is pseudo-second, but neither are Made Men, so at least one is trying to keep the other from overstepping their boundaries.
“Should listen to him. Boy gives good advice,” Cormac says, a feral grin on his lips.
Nico stiffens at the taunt, and I’m impressed when he doesn’t rise to the bait. I glance at Cormac, surprised at his teasing. He shrugs at me, twisting one of the braids hanging down the side of his face before he turns his attention to his phone.
“Declan incoming.”
Sebastian sits up straighter, rubbing his palms together. “Finally.”
I scoff. “Just because we agreed to get you some information doesn’t mean we’ll hand it over freely. We have some questions.”
“Sure, everyone’s entitled to questions. Doesn’t mean I’ll answer them.”
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I shake my head. “Your business is your business. But I have to know I’m not condemning an innocent girl to death.”
Sebastian’s face grows cold, his dead eyes staring at me in such a way that makes my soul feel unsettled. Cormac shifts in his seat, angling his body closer to me as if he feels it too.
“Tell me, Rian O’Callaghan. Has the brotherhood committed as many disgraceful acts as we’re led to believe? Or do you humor the idea so people feel too threatened to challenge you?” Sebastian asks. It’s rhetorical, a question I’d never answer and one he never expected me to.
But as we stare at each other, a mutual understanding of what he’s saying has me relenting. He doesn’t want me to judge him for his father’s actions, and perhaps there’s more to the story than we know like my father suggested.
Declan bursts through the door, holding his bag close to his chest. His gaze bounces between us before he moves to stand next to me at the table. Nico stands suddenly, making us all stiffen and glance at him. He holds up his hands, moving closer to Declan.
“Sebastian isn’t going to understand if it has anything to do with technology. I’ll watch for us,” Nico explains cautiously.
My eyes fall to Sebastian to confirm, and he nods with an amused shrug. “Pen and paper have never done me wrong.”
Declan clears his throat and sets his laptop on the table.
“It’s closed from any network. All folders are set to corrupt after even one false attempt to get in without the correct password, so you better watch your fingers,” he explains.
Nico frowns. “Seems a little heavy handed.”
Declan turns on the screen and unlocks it before turning it to face Nico. “They have eyes everywhere. They’re running facial recognition and wiping the traces milliseconds after. I’ve never seen anything like it. I had to delete every step I took because I didn’t want to chance them finding out we know.”
“That’s not possible. They don’t have the resources to do that,” Nico counters.
Declan’s face twists in a grimace, and then he pulls something up on the screen. I don’t understand exactly what he’s showing, but it causes Nico to curse and step away, shaking his head.
Sebastian and I exchange a glance, a sense of dread curling in my stomach that Luca may have more power than we thought.
“You think he’s working with the feds?” I ask.
Declan shrugs. “No way of knowing, but if he is…he condemns us all.”
“Did you find her?” Sebastian snaps, done with us talking about Luca.
Nico moves back to his chair with a grim look. Declan pauses, then seeks my approval to continue, which I give with a small nod.
“Given your description, I found two possible matches. One who frequents multiple places in Jersey and I believe lives there. I haven’t been able to pull a name from any transactions because she uses cash. The rent is paid by an offshore account that I can’t trace back and even the utilities are paid for by a security company.”
“So she’s being shielded.” Sebastian says, leaning forward as he clicks through the blurry images of the side profile of a woman. “What’s the name of the security company?”
“VIXI Security.”
Nico and Sebastian exchange looks, having a private conversation we’re not privy to. “Her brother?”
“Has to be. It’s not a coincidence.”
“We still have to find the connection to Luca.”
Declan clears his throat, interrupting their back and forth. “I may have a lead on that.” He pulls up his screen and Sebastion scowls at the screenshots of Gio. “They’ve never been in the same area at the same time, but he’s been in the surrounding areas, usually a few hours before she shows up.”
“Gio’s father has so many bastards across the Tri-State, I wouldn’t doubt if she’s one of them,” Cormac says leadingly, shrugging with a smirk.
“So you think Gio may have hid her, not Luca?” Sebastian asks, frowning as his eyebrows dip.
“That’s where I would start,” Declan says.
I crack my knuckles, trying to keep up with the information. I’ve given Declan the lead to find all this information, deciding to check in with him later to fully understand what he had been tasked with looking for. “If Gio is hiding her, what else is he doing under Luca’s nose?”
Sebastian glances at me, his icy eyes darkening with frustration. “And who's to say Luca’s sparrows only report to him?”
I snap my fingers, then point at him. “Bingo, but I’m not going to give the bastard the benefit of the doubt just yet.”
“But your girl may be the thread that pulls the whole thing loose. Keep us updated, aye?” Cormac says, patting Sebastian on the shoulder.
Declan shuts down the laptop and hands it over to Nico. “You can keep it. I uploaded as much information as I could find.”
Sebastian and I stand up. We watch each other for a second before he sticks out his hand.
“If there’s anything you need, just let me know.”
Masking my shock, I take his outstretched hand. “This was for the information you provided. We’re even.”
His grin has that creepiness again, and I pull away, half-tempted to wipe my fingers on my pants.
“Maybe we can be allies.”
Declan shifts closer to him. “Do you still have ties to Hastings Global?”
Sebastion’s attention shifts to him, confused. “Yes, we invested a large amount into their newest acquisition.”
“His wife discreetly owns an escort company that Luca uses. Could you convince him to add someone for us?”
My lips tighten, but I don’t say anything because Declan is responsible for building a lot of Aisling’s background.
“An escort, Declan? She’ll kill you,” Cormac says, not having the same issue as me.
He shakes his head. “I already asked. Luca only has one weakness when it comes to women, and it’s the one he pays for. Just like yours is picking up women at bars.”
I scowl, hating the reminder that Luca possibly planted Isabelle there that night.
Sebastian chuckles, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his pants. “I could get her in, as long as there’s no blowback on his wife. I doubt they can guarantee she’s chosen though.”
Cormac snickers. “He’ll choose her. Aisling will make sure of it.”
“Then consider it done. I’ll pass his number along.” Sebastian glances back at me, nodding. “Best of luck or whatever you Irish fucks say.”
He and Nico leave the room as we watch, unamused.
Aodhan shakes his head, picking up his abandoned cards and shuffling the deck. “Something not right in the head with that one.”
“Does that surprise you? His father is the Butcher,” Cormac adds, gathering up the rest of the cards and raising his eyebrow. “You gonna play a few more rounds or you heading back to Isabelle?”
My phone goes off and I pull it out. Grimacing at the text, I hand it over to show Declan and then Aodhan. “Luca just set the date for his annual holiday ball. He wishes us to attend so we can talk. Can we have everything set up in two weeks?”
Aodhan lets out a whistle. “Everyone important will be attending the gala. He’s sure he wants to risk us coming even when you won’t pick up his calls? But then there’s still the possibility that he's not responsible for the shooting.”
I scowl. “Doesn’t matter if he is or isn’t. Someone shot at my wife, and his men are going to pay for it.”
Cormac leans back in his chair. “We have most of the names, just gotta match them with their faces. I can pull back a few more men we sent to Chicago.”
“Do it. We want it to go off as smoothly as possible,” I say and turn to Declan. “Set up the meeting with Hastings and tell Aisling she’s being put in play.”