Chapter 40
Surprise Guests
Ciara
“I’m on my way.”
I hang up with Danika and gun this truck as fast as it will let me push it. I’m not crazy, I know Cadlha has a trap set up for me. I just can’t understand what has made her so bold that she would return here and take my brother again.
I feel sick to my stomach. I hadn’t known Ciarán wasn’t home until that call came in. I had rushed to his room, praying she was lying on the other end of my phone. However, by the time I jumped out of the bathtub and ran into Ciarán’s room, I knew for sure she wasn’t lying.
I tried Taegan’s phone but she’s not answering. I couldn’t call Dylan. He left on business. He already looked pissed off as he left.
I don’t want to distract him. He has enough on his plate. I’m going to go and kick this bitch’s ass again then get my brother back.
However, I called Danika because this time, when I’m done with Cadlha, she’s not going to be breathing. I furrow my brows as I turn into the fight club lot and I notice Taegan’s car. I also note the other three cars. Two with rental plates.
Grabbing the gun I took from the lockbox in our bedroom, I tuck it into the back of my jeans. Then I jump out of the truck to head inside. There’s construction plastic all over the place once I enter, as if the place is being renovated.
Nothing at all like what it looked like when I first came here. I keep moving until I get to the large back room where the money counting and betting had been. That’s where I find them waiting for me.
“Ah, here she is. My little girl. Good to see you, Cee-Cee.
“Or should I call you Ciara? It seems you’ve remembered your real name since you’ve been gone.”
All I can see is red. Rage consumes me the moment I see Theo and Sean, but what has me ready to spit nails is the fact that Taegan is tied up and Ciarán is sitting in a chair next to her, clutching his backpack against his chest. I don’t know the other guy they have tied and gagged with them.
Taegan begins to groan and her eyes flutter open. She looks around wildly then anger fills her face. Before I can reply to Theo, Taegan begins to growl at them.
“Ya fucking pieces of shit. Simon, yer no better than this stupid cunt. No wonder none of the family will fuck with either of ya. Wait until I get free. I have a bullet for the both of ye,” she snarls.
“Oh shut up. We only drugged Eoghan to gain access to this place and to get him to coax ya here. I thought we would need ya to get to the kid and this bitch, but now that we don’t need ya,” Cadlha says as she pulls a gun and lifts it toward her cousin.
“Put that shit down. Do ya know the shitstorm ya’d start if ya killed her. I didn’t come here for that, ya eejit,” the dark-haired, lanky guy growls.
“Shut up, Simon. Ya didn’t have to come here at all.”
“Would all of you shut the fuck up,” Sean shouts, spit flying from his mouth.
I narrow my gaze on him. It hasn’t slipped my notice that his buddy Devin is here with him. I can’t help wondering where Lily is.
“Ya have me here, so what’s yer plan?” I hiss.
“Ugh, I thought I crushed that accent out of you. Whatever, I have some friends who have a price on your head. I get you back to them and I get two million,” Theo croons.
“You didn’t tell me that.” Sean pouts like a child.
“If you don’t shut the fuck up. Where the fuck did you think all our money came from? Did you miss that we didn’t have shit before she arrived and we ain’t had shit since she’s been gone?
“Fucking idiot. That piece-of-shit gym hasn’t ever earned me enough to live a real life. Now your sister is forcing me to take a fucking allowance when the place is turning a fucking profit like never before.
“Why would I tell you anything? So you can fuck it all up for me. Nope, not this time. Although I don’t plan to turn her over just yet.
“Rumor has it there’s a big fucking payday coming her way. All she has to do is marry that Irish motherfucker she’s been here fucking.”
“Are ya fucking kidding me? The deal was I would bring ya here to her and ye would get rid of her for me. I knew ye couldn’t be trusted,” Cadlha screams. “She’s not fucking marrying my man.”
“Yes the fuck she is. I’m going to take our little Ciarán here and she’s going to do whatever the fuck I tell her to if she wants him back. I am his legal guardian after all,” Theo seethes while snatching Ciarán out of his seat.
I make eye contact with my brother to let him know I’ve got him. I’m proud of him as he gives me a small nod to let me know he’s okay. I need to keep Theo calm and talking to give Danika time to get here.
I take a deep calming breath. “Relax, you don’t need to do this. You’re not his guardian either. This could blow up in your face if you take him, but I’m willing to work out a deal with you.
“You said two million. I’ll double that. Just—”
Theo releases a maniacal laugh. I freeze and start to inch for my gun. I will blow his head off if he so much as moves wrong toward my brother.
“Two million. Do you think I’m stupid? The McDougal clan is worth billions, and you are set to inherit it all. I don’t want a measly two million. Shit, I ran through the twenty million your parents left you within five years. Thank God O’Brien was willing to pay me to keep you away from here.
“I don’t want the two million, sweetheart. I want it all. Every single dime. Your boyfriend is loaded. You won’t miss a dime,” he scoffs.
I reach for my gun. Twenty million dollars? My parents left us twenty million dollars, and we were forced to live like shit.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” I stiffen at the sound of the voice that comes from behind me.
Devin. I should have made sure he could never walk again. I’ll make certain to fix that this time.
Dean
Ronan pulls up to the Fighting Irish right as a Porsche comes flying into the lot. I wouldn’t find that strange if three undercover police cruisers didn’t arrive just moments behind it. Dylan jumps out of the Porsche and storms into the building, ignoring the cars that are chasing him.
I would know his big, tall, blond ass anywhere. That BDE walk he and his brothers have radiates off him in this moment. My scalp begins to tingle. I don’t get the feeling these guys are friendly.
Especially when they don’t get out of the cars to follow him inside. Something stinks. From what Ronan told me on the way here, Dylan is in don’t give a fuck mode. This can’t be good.
“Ronan, baby. Get out of the car and head inside to help. I’ve got this.”
“Ach, what are ya thinking? I don’t like the look on yer face.”
“I’m going to buy Dylan some time.”
Ronan reaches for the back of my neck and kisses me hard. I can feel his possessiveness in the kiss. He shouldn’t worry so much. I’ve got this.
“I’ll be fine. No record, remember?”
“Aye, but that’s my point. There’s no trace of ya. This will place ya in the database.”
I shrug. “It’s for my family. We all sacrifice at some point.”
I wink at him as he groans then rushes out of the vehicle. From this angle, we can see the cop cars, but I don’t think they can see us. Ronan moves swiftly to head inside through the back entrance.
I chew on my lip. With the renovations, the back of the building is a challenge to go in through, but it’s the best option right now. It would take too long at this point to go around to the side entrance and these assholes are sitting out front. I climb across the console into the driver’s seat.
Placing on my seat belt, I then put the SUV in gear and fly around the corner to ram right into one of the cruisers. The other two turn on their lights, but not the sirens. I grin and sit waiting for them to come to me. When I see who the officers are, I roll my eyes.
These assholes have a death wish for sure. LaSalle has already had a conversation with me about them. Their photos are on my desk.
“Good evening, Officers,” I purr as I roll down my windows. “I’m so sorry about that. A spider startled me, and I lost control. My husband is going to be so angry with me. So much for game night with the family.”
“Can you please step out of the vehicle?”