Page 25 of Rev

Hadrian’s face is so close to mine, I can feel the tingle of his breath fanning over my cheek. Tension radiates in the air as those dark eyes pierce mine. He holds me hostage with a mere glance, I can’t imagine what it would feel like if he were to kiss me. Sadly, I know the moment the coast is clear, he’ll leave our hiding place and immediately forget that this intimacy between us ever happened.

I’m about to whisper something when I hear Gordon’s voice echo through the warehouse from his office.

“I told you that little bitch thinks she can run everything. We need to get rid of her,” he says loudly, and his words hit straight to my chest.

I know he’s talking about me, and he hates me. He’s made it clear since the day he first started working for my father. He’s always cordial to me while Da is around, but when I’m alone with him, a darker side of him appears.

“She’s his daughter,” another voice says, one I don’t recognise. “We can’t just take her out, Hunt will know. He may be sick, but he’s not fuckin’ stupid.”

“He’ll be dead soon.” Gordon’s assurance has my blood turning to ice. “The poison I’ve been using might be slow to take effect, but it won’t show up in any routine tests the doctors run. With Harley and the Royal Bastards snooping around, I’ve had to give Hunt a final dose. I’m in hiding now.”

I want to go out there and kill Gordon myself, but when I glance towards Hadrian, all I see are those dark eyes promising me vengeance. He shakes his head slowly, and lifting his free hand, he gently presses his index finger to his lips. I want nothing more than for my mouth to replace that digit. Even if it’s just for a fleeting moment.

I watch as Hadrian types out a quick text on his phone and sends it before showing me the screen. He’s sent a message to Hades telling him to let the doctors know that my father has been poisoned.

“You know, it might not be so easy to kill him,” the stranger warns. “That man is stronger than you think.”

“The problems he’s had with his heart together with the poison should be enough to finish him. He’s in the hospital as we speak, but even if they don’t kill him, the sicker he gets, the easier it will be to end him and his daughter, once and for all.

I look up at Hadrian, who’s watching me intently. Emotion dances in his eyes, and I wonder what’s going through his mind. I didn’t think I was afraid of anything, but the thought of my father dying has a choke hold on me. I need Hadrian to tell me everything’s going to be all right.

“I think the sooner we get the paperwork signed and the rest of the stock moved, the better it will be for both of us.” The stranger’s accent comes through as he speaks, but I can’t place it.

I haven’t heard his voice before, and it’s bothering me. I want to know who this man is that’s working with Gordon.

I hear the sound of the large metal door to the warehouse shutting behind them as they leave. Silence finally falls, and I register again just how close Hadrian and I are in the tight confines of the cupboard where we’re concealed. He opens the door slowly, and as light streams into the space, I can see the way his jaw ticks as he steps out.

“Hades has sent a reply, telling me the doctors have started screening for poison.” I breathe a sigh of relief. “Who was that with Gordon?” he asks, turning to me.

“I don’t know. I wish I could tell you. I don’t recognise his voice. One thing I do know for certain is that Gordon is planning to take everything from my da and me.”

“I’ll do whatever is needed to help you,” Hadrian promises.

Anger is radiating off him as if he’s wearing it like a cologne. My father took the twins in when they needed a home, and they became a part of our family. Hadrian may have chosen to walk away because he didn’t agree with all aspects of the business, but I have a feeling he still loves my da.

Hadrian’s gaze lingers on mine, and I want nothing more than for him to tell me he still feels something for me. I want him to admit he reciprocates my stupid feelings, but then he looks away, and I know he’s not going to tell me what I want to hear. I need to stop holding out any hope that Hadrian came back for me. He’s here for his club, and that’s all there is to it.

“I need you to help me bring down Gordon and his associates. Once you’ve done that, you can go back to Belfast.” I can hear the anger and frustration I feel leaching into the tone of my voice.

“Why do you say it like that?” he asks me as he pins me with a glare so fierce, I take a step back. “Tell me, Magpie.”

When he calls me that, I can’t resist a small smile. He gave me that nickname after I returned from the hairdresser one afternoon. My hair had been dyed raven black with a streak of deep, shimmering blue that fell over my face. He told me the colour reminded him of the beautiful bird who loves shiny things. No one else has ever called me Magpie. It’s always been ours.

I don’t know how to respond to his question, so I shake my head and walk away.

We spend the next few days gathering more intel, following leads, and narrowing down our list of suspects. It’s exhausting work, but the progress we’re making keeps us going. I’m relentless, my focus unwavering, as I drive us forwards.

Each time I visit my father in hospital, I’m on edge. The toxicology reports have come back, and the doctors have found a poison in his system that they didn’t test for previously. It’s the reason his health has deteriorated so rapidly over the past few months.

My heart hurts for the man who raised me to be strong, resilient, and loyal. I know my father’s not a saint, but he is good to those he loves, which makes Gordon’s betrayal all the more despicable.

The doctors have started Da on the correct treatment. He’s not out of the woods yet and will remain in hospital for the time being, but the medical team are cautiously hopeful that he will make a good recovery eventually.

Back at the hotel where the guys are staying, we regroup with Hades and Racer. We lay everything we’ve uncovered out on the table, piecing together the different parts of the puzzle. All the clues point to a larger conspiracy.

“It’s clear that there’s more than one organisation involved in this,” Hades says, his voice grim. “We know Gordon is leading the charge, but we need to find out who else he’s working with. There are a lot more players on the board than we anticipated, and the Mod Boys keep getting a mention. They’re a gang we don’t know much about.”

I nod, my expression determined. “We’ve got enough to start making some moves, but we need to be careful. We can’t let them know we’re onto them until we have solid proof.”

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