Page 44 of Cruel Devil

They had to pay.

Maybe he was glad I was balancing the scales.

Nyx isn’t alone in her crusade against O’Brien. It’s always just been her and her sisters against the world…but for fuck’s sake, not anymore.

I don’t realize I’m drumming my fingers against the Expedition’s dashboard until Vito holds out a lit cigarette for me to take.

“A few flash-bangs should clear out the place quickly enough,” he says.

“We’ve got eyes on all the exits. If they move, we’ll know.” I sound like I’m trying to reassure myself, and tug at the cigarette with a grunt of disgust at how pathetic I sound.

Of course I want to go in, guns blazing. But I trust my wife’s judgment. I don’t want to, but I have to. Because what the hell kind of relationship would we have if I went around browbeating her the whole time?

Maybe, this time, her way is best.

There are a lot of innocent people inside that club. Even setting off smoke grenades could cause a stampede.

How far would I go to have Nyx back in my arms?

One innocent death?

Five?

A hundred?

I wouldn’t hesitate to mow down a thousand mob scumbags to reach my wife…but the thought of even one innocent death makes my stomach turn.

“Fifteen minutes, then we’re going in.”

Chapter 15

Nyx

The tunnel is maybe a hundred yards, but it feels longer. The air is clammy and stale. It’s so cold down here that I have to clench my teeth together to stop them chattering.

This isn’t Patrick’s first rodeo. He keeps out of reach—just far enough so I can’t grab his gun, but not too far that I’d be able to bolt forward and escape. He doesn’t make any of the rookie mistakes I’d have expected from someone I thought wasn’t in the mob. Which just goes to show how fucking stupid I was to assume that the Brennan’s weren’t in it up to their necks.

Fuck, I wish I wasn’t wearing this stupid outfit. My high heels click-clack with each step, and the balls of my feet are killing me by the time we reach another flight of stairs.

Thankfully, these go up.

I haven’t said a word since we began our trek. I should have been working on a plan, but I’ve been too busy thinking about my parents.

My mother would often declare that she missed my dad, that she loved him, that no one could ever replace him. She sounded like she was in love, that my father’s death had broken her heart.

Now I’m wondering if she wasn’t just trying to assuage her guilt…especially if she was screwing Patrick while my dad was still alive. But I’m sure the first time I saw Patrick was when Liam introduced us at the boxing club. So either Mom was really good at keeping secrets, or Liam’s lying.

Brennan doesn’t come past to unlock the door at the top of the stairs. He’s been a few steps behind this whole time, cautious, wary, fucking calculating.

“Go punch in the code. Three-three-seven-nine.”

I’m halfway up before my curiosity finally gets the better of me. After all, who the fuck knows what’s behind door number one-and-only? This might be my last chance to find out the truth.

I turn around, glaring at him. “Did you love her?” I blurt out.

He frowns, his gun sagging a little. “What?”

I force a swallow, and try to work moisture into my mouth. “My mother.” When he just keeps staring at me, I huff out, “Drop the act. Liam told me everything.”

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