Page 29 of Ruthless Reign

He said he wasn’t going to hurt me. I’d be an idiot to believe him. Especially after I figured it out the other night. Figured out who he was.

But if Aodhán wanted to hurt me, I think he would’ve done it already. He had plenty of opportunity.

What would Ava Jade do?

Use this.

Use him.

Whether he had bad intentions or not didn’t matter. This was someone who worked with the Sons. He could have intel. He could have something we could use. And I could be the one to get it from him.

I rose cautiously to my feet. Aodhán reached out to help me, but I pulled away from him. “You fucking played me,” I spat at him. “All this time.”

I wanted to rip out my hair for how stupid I’d been. Was this all I was good for? First Jericho in Thorn Valley and now him.

I was a pawn. A little piece on a chessboard to be wielded and used and discarded when no longer needed.

Jericho used me to get to Ava Jade and the Crows.

Aodhán was using me to get to the Kings of Kilborn. The sons of another Saint. My guys.

Aodhán dropped his head, but I knew better than to believe the false shame painting his features. Wouldn’t let myself be taken in by how his golden hair looked in the dappled sunlight or the way the shadows played over his jawline and seemed to settle in the hollow of his throat where a silver clover pendant gleamed.

“You didn’t tell them,” he said, and I wanted to punch him in his stupid face. Make him stuff his accented words back in his hateful mouth.

“Why not?” he pressed when I didn’t respond.

“Maybe I did tell them.”

I totally fucking didn’t. I should’ve. The moment I realized I’d been cavorting with the enemy. The same instant I realized that I might have an in with a Son of O’Sullivan.

But I’d hoped I was wrong.

I wasn’t a hundred percent sure. At least not until three minutes ago.

“You didn’t,” he argued. “Because you know that I’m not your enemy.”

“Oh really? Prove it then.”

Come on. Give me something.

Don’t make me feed you to Hardin.

He shook his head. “I’m not here for that. I came to warn you. My—” he clicked his teeth shut. “Séamas has something planned. He’s going to make a move.”

My heart twisted in my chest. “Where? When?”

He frowned. “I don’t know, but you need to leave town. Today. Right now if you can. I can help you get out. I can make it so he can’t find you. I know all the places he would look. I can throw off?—”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

He cocked his head at me, incredulous horror in his green eyes. “What?”

“I’m not leaving.”

“It isn’t safe for you here.”

“It isn’t safe for you here, either. Hardin and Kaleb are right outside.”

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