Page 31 of Líadan's Code

I recognize that Líadan is telling me this for a reason, so I listen closely as she opens the door.

“Seán made noises about using this as an excuse to come over whenever it pleases him the other day,” Brendan rumbles behind me as I walk inside their home. “He has a way of giving people what they want before finding a loophole to take it all away.”

The heavy door shuts behind him as he locks it, and I look away as we move further into the house. The tile floors are cold on my feet, which threatens to cramp my muscles. God, there go my fucking toes. Shit, that hurts.

Holding back any sounds, I stretch my feet the best I can as I walk.

“No offense, but the man seems slightly unhinged. He isn’t someone I really want to be making deals with about the safety of my family,” I say. “I’m only here to make sure Layla doesn’t have any issues with him. While I can take whatever he throws at me, she shouldn’t have to.”

“Daddy likes pretty things,” Líadan says in a creepy tone, making me glance sharply at her. “He likes to cage them, break them, and then make them into entirely new things.”

“Is that what happened to you?” I ask.

While I saw a normal, beautiful woman at the park, I’m realizing it’s just another mask. Líadan is tall and curvy, but there’s something girlish about her as she wraps her arms around herself. She can’t be older than in her early twenties.

“He did some of the worst things to me,” she rasps. “I’m the stuff of nightmares now. I don’t know if you’re here just to report back to Daddy or if he wants to keep you under wraps and this is the best way to do it.”

“Not even Bruin knows the location of where we live,” Brendan says.

“I’m not here to fuck up people’s lives,” I sigh. “I don’t even really flaunt my computer skills. I dust them off to keep the people I love safe. Layla is too innocent for this shit. Don’t tell me your secrets, I don’t want to know. I just want to get in and get out. And maybe have a shower and nap.”

“Of course,” Líadan says, almost appearing disappointed.

I don’t know what she expects from me. While I’ve done a lot of shady shit in my life, getting involved with a mafia family has to take the cake. I just want to keep Layla safe, saving a mafia princess isn’t in the job description.

“There’s clothes in the bedroom upstairs, second door to the right,” Brendan says. “There’s a shower as well, and I doubt Seán will want much from you today. Do you need anything else?”

“A first aid kit would be great,” I grunt.

Brendan nods, even as he sighs. I think they both expected this little reunion to go differently. I’m too tired to give anyone my fucks or full attention at the moment.

Pulling off his coat, he hangs it up as he disappears further into the house. A moment later, he comes back with his sleeves pushed up, showing off the gorgeous ink I noticed when he pulled his shirt off at the warehouse.

No. Those thoughts are off limits right now. We’re allowed one masturbation session in the shower, and then we’re moving on. I claim this as part of my time to get clean. That’s all I got right now.

Blinking hard, I force myself to focus on the outstretched box he’s handing me. Yep, that’s the first aid kit. Time to go.

“I’m all set then, thanks,” I state, taking it from him. The aches are making themselves known, and I have stairs to climb. Every step is more painful than the last as I walk up them, and when Líadan calls up to me, I want to cry.

Stopping and starting hurts more than simply pushing through. My hand clenches the rail as I turn my head back slightly to catch what she’s saying.

“Do you want anything to eat?” she asks.

“No, thank you,” I say, pushing myself back into motion. The amount of energy it would take for me to eat right now isn’t worth it to me at the moment.

I don’t get past the door, pushing it closed, before I toss the box on the table and crawl onto the bed. I should shower, but I can’t make myself do another solitary thing. If I shower now, I’ll fall asleep in there.

My eyes are already closing by the time I drop into bed. I’ll deal with the rest of my basic needs later.

Chapter Seven

Líadan

“Brendan,” I say, curled up on the sofa. Anxiety is crawling through my body, and I need it fucked or spanked out of me. Shifting, I check the time, seeing that Jordan went upstairs eight hours ago and hasn’t made a sound.

“Yes, baby?” he asks, climbing onto the couch with me and putting his head in my lap. For a killer, I love the cuddles I get from him.

Sighing, I run my fingers through his hair as I take a long sip of water.

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