Page 70 of Líadan's Code

Jordan snorts as he looks at Aine as if to say, “You’re kidding, right?”

“I can assure you, Líadan will not hesitate to say exactly that,” he drawls.

“With an introduction like that, I’m sure it’s going to be a fairly nosy and uncomfortable question,” I remark.

“Probably,” Aine agrees. “Brendan said that they are yours. Are you with both of these men?”

“Yep, you’re right. That’s very much none of your concern,” I say, picking up my bag. “Time to go. I think New York has had enough of us.”

“Am I booking plane tickets?” Jordan calls over his shoulder as he goes to the other room to get his bag.

“Not quite,” I tell him. “I’ll tell you in the subway.”

“You’re taking the subway?” she gasps.

“As you said, I’m the one that people should be afraid of,” I remind her as I put my socks and boots on, tucking away my knife. “None of the people who want to hurt me would be caught dead in the subways. So it’s been nice and quiet.”

Brendan helps me put on my coat, and then we’re leaving Aine behind without a second glance.

“Destination?” Jordan asks once we’re settled in the subway train.

“Penn Station, please,” I tell him. “We’re going to take the train back to Chicago. A long nap sounds really good. I want to get the ball rolling on all of this. If we wait too long, it’ll allow the natives to get restless.”

“You’re the boss, Princess,” he teases me, getting to work. Leaning into his side, I press my lips against his cheek.

“Thanks, Jordan.”

With support like this, I’ll actually be able to have a life. Even if it’s an unconventional one.

Chapter Sixteen

Brendan

It’s going to be late on Monday night by the time we finally get back into Chicago. We have comfortable sleeper seats on the train and our own room. It’s giving us privacy and time to work, while Jordan pulls up intel on the fifty most dangerous people in the Irish families.

“Is there anyone you trust in the families?” Jordan asks softly as he writes out names on a tablet that can be easily wiped or saved as he glances here and there at his laptop.

“This is one of the drawbacks of not seeing anyone for years,” Lía sighs. “I don’t know who we can trust.”

“Maybe, but there have been people who have said things to me over the years,” I remember. “Mickey O’Brien has been asking me how you are for at least the last five years at events. He told me that if you ever needed help to reach out. I don’t think he had any idea what was going on, but he’s smart enough to connect the dots that something wasn’t right.”

“Does he have any strengths?” Jordan grunts, opening a spreadsheet on his laptop. This man has a sheet or a document for almost everything.

“He’s one of Lía’s cousins, though he’s in his late thirties. Mickey has a trucking business, and has refused to let Seán use it to traffic people. He’s firmly against the practice, and instead runs stolen cars to the border. The man makes a killing,” I state. “I always respected that he could say no to Seán and not get dead.”

“That’s a talent in and of itself,” Lía says, smirking. “We’re going to need a way to supplement our resources as we change our stream of income. Daddy has that club too… what the fuck do we do with it?”

“What about rebranding it?” Jordan asks. “Shut it down and reopen it as an actual sex club with a membership. Sex sells, what if there’s also an escort service within the club?”

“A night with an escort for sex?” Lía asks, responding with another question. “The woman goes free at the end of the night, right?”

“She or he keeps full autonomy of their choices, Princess,” Jordan explains. “There will be very specific rules, membership requirements, and anyone who breaks those rules are subject to consequences.”

“Banshee consequences?” I tease, brow raised.

“Eh, there will be so much paperwork and conversations about what isn’t and is allowed that we can absolutely throw them to our Princess to handle,” Jordan says. “People need to work, and sex work makes good money. In the same vein, there’s a need for discretion in this and most cities. We can open sex clubs in different cities and not need to worry about money.”

“Not that Lía needs to worry about it at all,” I remind him. “You’re rich, baby.”

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