Page 152 of Sinful Sacrifice

The twelve other men in the room watch Odhrán with guarded eyes as Kian starts his speech. A few square their shoulders, as if ready for battle to protect their fallen king.

I fucking love it.

Kian pushes Wayne forward. “Tell them what you told me.”

Wayne’s attention pings to each dangerous man in the room. We prepared him for this, telling him no one would touch him so long as he recited what he was paid to.

“While I was filling the champagne trays”—Wayne pauses to point at Odhrán—“he told me he needed the glass for the father of the bride because he was his taste tester.” He clears his throat. “He said he was the only one who handled the man’s drinks.”

“You’re a goddamn liar,” Odhrán screams.

“I figured you’d say that.” Kian collects his phone from his pocket, hits the screen, and holds it up for everyone to see. “Here’s surveillance footage of you speaking to him.” A few moments pass, and the video shows Odhrán speaking with Wayne. “Unfortunately, they don’t have audio with their cameras, but it’s pretty clear you’re speaking with him and take a glass.”

We set that up. Wayne stopped Odhrán to check if anyone had any allergies. He then told Odhrán to take a glass to make sure it was up to par. Kian makes sure to close the video as soon as Odhrán takes the glass on-screen.

“Taste tester?” Riona gasps. “You’re not my father’s taste tester.”

“That conversation is a lie,” Odhrán screams while the other men start standing.

“You …” Riona chokes back fake tears. “You murdered my father all because you wanted to be boss. After everything he did for you.”

It could be that emotions are high, but the Koglin men are buying their story. I do have to give Riona and Kian credit for selling it well. Personally? I’d always do more research before believing hearsay.

That’s what happens when a boss is dead, though.

The lack of leadership means stupid decision-making by members.

Stepping forward, I draw my Glock from my waistband. “Do you want to do the honors?”

Riona takes the Glock from me while two men snatch each of Odhrán’s arms and shove him into an abandoned chair. Riona stands behind him, snatches his fedora off, presses the gun barrel to the back of Odhrán’s head, and pulls the trigger.

52

The cold air-conditioning of Damien’s brownstone hits my skin.

While it appeared none of Damien’s friends or family attended the rehearsal dinner, they were just lingering in the shadows.

As soon as Cernach’s death madness happened, Julian discreetly slipped to my table and said, “Let’s go.”

I grabbed my mom and Lanie, and we hightailed it out of there. Julian picked up Genesis and Darcy from the hotel and drove us straight back to New York.

Hardly anyone spoke during the ride. My mom and Lanie cried. Darcy and Genesis stayed on their phones. And I sat in the back seat with endless questions. Julian took Darcy and Genesis to Genesis’s house and then dropped off my mom and Lanie at home before driving me to Damien’s.

“What happened?” I ask Julian as I walk toward the couch and sit, ready to get these heels off my feet. “Where’s Damien?”

“It wasn’t safe for you to stay there.” He drags his phone from his blazer pocket.

“Because Cernach is dead?”

Even though no one has confirmed it, I know it’s true.

Riona cried that he wasn’t breathing.

My aunt said he didn’t have a pulse.

I should feel on top of the world with his death, but I don’t.

Cernach’s death doesn’t end our troubles.

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