Page 83 of Líadan's Code

“How lucky for them,” I remark.

Skylar smirks, realizing I’m responsible for this before continuing. “Rory Macdonald has been on the phone recently talking to people about how Líadan is a scared little girl who they don’t need to worry about,” he says.

“However, Uncle Seán and he hated each other, so I feel as if he may be misdirecting people. Few people remember the feud they had, and I only know about it because my uncle mentioned it. He doesn’t approve of the trafficking, but my uncle told him to respectfully fuck off and stop being such a stick in the mud.”

“Of course he did,” I grunt. Rory was one of the people Líadan was going to meet yesterday, so it appears that their meeting definitely happened, despite the fire. “Anything else?”

“Not that seems important, but I’ll send you my drive,” he says, asking for some information so he can send it all. I’ll need to make sure there’s not any viruses on the drive that’ll fuck up my laptop, but for now, I have everything I need.

“Here’s the phone number,” I say, rattling it off by heart. “I’ll check with Greg to make sure you called him. If you don’t, I’ll send him after you.”

“Yes, Sir. I’ll call now,” he says, already dialing the number.

I listen as he speaks to Greg, nodding as I walk out. He’s not my problem anymore. Sighing once I’m back in the cold night air, I pull out my phone and call Layla. I want to make sure she’s okay, and I also am a bit frustrated that I didn't get any clear answers tonight.

“Hello? Who is this?” she asks when she picks up, not recognizing the phone number.

“Hey, Lay,” I say as I walk. “It’s fucking cold here. Who the fuck lives full time in Chicago, anyway?”

“Apparently you do, old man,” she teases me. “So you’re not a prisoner anymore I see?”

“No, though it’s not at all safe here. I may have had a house burned down while I was in it,” I say lightly. “I’m fine, but people are losing their minds that we didn’t die.”

“How unfortunate for them,” Layla mutters. “Why are you still there? If it’s so unsafe, why stay?”

“I kind of lost my heart here,” I grumble. “Líadan won’t give it back, and I don’t want her to. So I’m still stuck.”

“Sounds complicated,” she says. “I shouldn’t talk with Atlas and Mav, since they’re still making me insane.”

“Oye, stop telling lies,” Mav yells, making me chuckle.

“It’s not a lie if it’s true,” I remind him absently, unsure if he can hear me. I’m going to have to resign from the label. God, so much to do. “I know it doesn’t make much sense, but Brendan and Líadan are important to me. There’s something about her that calls to me.”

“It’s cute that you think I’m angry that you fell in love,” she says. “I’m sad I won’t be able to call you whenever I want or see you. It’s silly and selfish, and I don’t want to be either with you. I want you to be happy.”

“I’m working on it,” I promise. “I may have gotten broken up with and I wasn’t even awake for it.”

“That bitch,” Layla snarls, making me bark out a laugh as I go back into the subway. The sooner I get out of this neighborhood, the better. “How dare she leave you. Does she know your feelings?”

“I think she decided that she needed to protect me after I got hurt,” I explain as I swipe my transportation card and move through the turnstile. “Sometimes, people make decisions that we should have been a part of.”

“Yeah, I’ve been there,” Layla sighs. “So what are you going to do?”

“Stalk the shit out of her,” I say as she snorts in laughter. “Things are only over when I say they are. I have some tricks up my sleeve, so I’ll continue looking. They’re both smart, which means if I can’t find them, neither will anyone else.”

“Uncle Jordan, I applaud the efforts,” she says. “Just make sure you make her regret her actions so she’ll never do it again.”

“I promise she won’t be able to sit for a week,” I vow, forgetting that I’m talking to Layla for a second as she squeals.

“Oh God, that’s more information than I bargained for!”

Chuckling, I stand on the platform as my train starts screaming through the tunnel.

“My train is coming in now. If you don’t hear from me, I am safe. Líadan is waging war on the family, and that’s making some pretty large waves,” I say. “I don’t think we’ll be staying in Chicago once we sort this all out.”

“Chicago is too cold for your blood,” she says, recalling my chronic inability to remember gloves. “Maybe somewhere warmer would be fun. You know, once you get the girl and guy back. Good luck with that.”

“Thanks,” I yell as the train pulls in front of me. Scandalous fucking contraption. “Don’t take any shit from the guys. Wait, you’re still touring, right?”

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