Page 68 of Fearless Sinner

No, these aren’t the core members of the actual gang. They're mules. The best paid delivery boys on the planet who deliver shit like drugs and weapons to wherever their masters send them. But tonight guys like Dominic are no less important to me because of what he knows.

“Please don’t hurt my family,” Dominic pants like he’s been running a marathon. “They have nothing to do with my work.”

“Yet your son is here.” I motion to the son, who is shaking next to Dominic and looks like he’s going to shit himself. I don’t know if I could stand the stench of piss and shit in the same sitting.

“It was just some quick money. For college.”

I believe him but that’s no excuse. This is what happens to people like them who walk the line of danger. They happen upon people like me.

“Cooperate. Tell me what I need to know and I will spare your family.” I grit my teeth and glare at him. “Get talking now.”

“Harlan and Lance are operating down in New Jersey.”

“Where in New Jersey are they?”

“At the old shoe factory called All Wear.”

“Is the rest of the shipment there?”

His breathing quickens. “It was when I left earlier but it might be gone now. They were going to sell it to the Alfonso Cartel in Colombia and some other groups. They’re negotiating a price.”

I look over my shoulder at Dante and Jaxon, who are already nodding at me.

“Jaxon and I will head there now,” Dante says, and the two rush away with their men.

I look back at Dominic. “How did Lance and Harlan get together?” The question might be irrelevant but I want to know how the fucker infiltrated my staff.

“Lance got to Harlan because he worked for you and he knew he was in trouble. Harlan was in substantial gambling debts to the wrong people, so Lance offered to pay them off if he helped him out. He wanted the guns all along because of how much they’re worth.”

“That motherfucking bastard.” I glance at Virgo as he moves closer.

The timeframe makes sense. Those guns went into production months ago when I was at the height of searching for Lance. Harlan was perfect because he was one of my most trusted employees at the time. That's why he couriered the shipments for my clients like Jaxon.

It was easy to sway Harlan to double-cross me and Jaxon because Harlan’s back was up against a wall.

“What else can you tell me?” I demand, waving my gun at him.

“The money Harlan borrowed from you was to make up for the loss Lance suffered from your father. The guns sweetened the deal a hundredfold.”

At the mention of my father I realize this goes all the way back into the past. To what happened to my parents.

“So, you know what he did to my family?”

Dominic nods slowly. “Yes. But I had nothing to do with that. I just know the story.”

The story of how my family was butchered for a business deal gone wrong and a computer chip containing top secret information that would have ruined Lance.

“Lance used Rosaline Ricci as a pawn.” Dominic speaks with more surety. “Harlan used the excuse of her restaurant to get the money from you. Now that they have that…” His voice trails off and the infused dose of fear in his eyes has me tightening the grip on my gun.

“What? Tell me.”

“They want to take you and your family down. But they’re going to start by killing you.”

I smile back at him. “I already knew that.”

Of course, I knew. Kill me, and the O’Ridians lose their right to lead the clan. Killing me ends the line of leadership because since Virgo is the Pakhan of his Bratva, his and Olivia’s child will be next in line to take over from him.

My cousins in Ireland don’t have a claim to the title. Neither does Seamus.

---