Page 5 of If Tomorrow Never Comes

“I’m sorry to hear about all this, Killian. I’m sure having yer woman taken by your ex-fiancée has not been easy.” His eyebrows come together in sympathy as he turns in the passenger seat to look at him. “I can’t begin to imagine what I’d feel right now if they took Maeve.”

A low growl escapes past my lips as my fingers clench into fists. Killian notices. A brief moment of indecision forms on his face. He nods, silently granting me permission to disclose the truth to Declan.

“About that, Dec. It’s a long fucking story. One I will get into when we have more time. All you need to know right now is that Madison ismine.”

Declan’s eyebrows practically smash into his hairline before a low whistle leaves his lips. “All the women in the world and the lot of you fall for the same lass,” he chuckles, shaking his head.

“As I said, the situation iscomplicated?—”

Killian intervenes, sensing my emotional instability and knowing I’m on the very edge of snapping at anyone or anything. “He knew her years before me, Dec. I just got wrapped up in it, not knowing it was who Liam had his heart set on. Long story short, Madison and Liam had a falling out. Liam attempted to shield her from this life. She had no idea that he’s my brother, let alone that we were involved in the same organization. We worked through it all over the last few months. Selena and I reconnected…but now I’m not certain I can trust her.” He releases a shaky breath and pinches the bridge of his nose.

Sighing, he says, “I love her. I really do. I need to knowfor a factthat she is responsible. No one lays a finger on her unless I say.”

“I understand. As for Selena, brother, I can’t find a reason to trust her right now. She walked off the tarmac like she just had the most relaxing flight. Not a care in the world for the unconscious girl slung over the shoulder of her lackey.

Killian leans over, looking like he’s been punched in the gut. He scrubs his hands over his face, then through his unruly hair. I pat his back, letting him know that the signs don’t necessarily indicate one hundred percent fact yet. This, however, should give him the strength he needs to get our girl back.

Our girl.

That’s what she is, isn’t she? She may be mine in every sense of the word. Romantically, emotionally, and spiritually she’s exclusively mine. But we both know Madison still holds space in Killian’s heart—a fact I can't deny or ignore. He may not love her the way he used to, but hedoeslove her.

“Let’s just focus on gettingourgirl back, shall we?” Killian lifts his head at my admission and his eyes narrow in determination.

Lethal. He looks absolutely lethal.

“I’ll do whatever it takes,” he declares, grabbing the back ofmy neck, and giving it a firm squeeze. “Dec, when we get to the compound, I need every ounce of information you can get on all the private islands off the coast. Especially ones with helicopter access.”

We reachthe compound a half hour later. There are a handful of men surrounding the gates of the property. Some faces I know, others I haven’t met before. Declan leads us into his home where we are greeted by Maeve. She’s stunning as always. Her beautiful red hair is pulled back into a low ponytail, a few wisps falling loose around her ivory skin. She looks between me and Killian before pulling us both into a hug.

“I’m so sorry to hear about your sweet girl Madison. Why don’t we head into the kitchen and I can whip you both up some comfort food.”

Declan wraps his arm around his wife and chuckles. “Or…perhaps they prefer to drink, love.” He places a kiss on top of her head as she smacks his chest playfully.

“They need to keep their wits about them, Declan. Foodfirst.” Her stern green eyes pierce mine before shifting over to Killian.This lioness is not to be fucked with.

Declan and Maeve are in their forties. Not much older than us, yet, the motherly instincts Maeve is giving off is oddly comforting.

“The rest of my men should be joining us soon,” Declan announces as we all take a seat at the oversized dining table. Maeve leaves us, heading off to the kitchen. Cabinet doors start to slam, and pots and pans clink together as she works on dinner.

“I heard you have one of the best hackers in the country on your payroll.” I take a sip of the double of whiskey Declan placed on the coaster in front of me.

He chuckles and brings his rock glass to his lips, hiding his smile. “Who told you that?”

“Guilty,” Killian smirks.

Dec folds his hands on the table. “I do. His name is Sebastian. We call him Seb for short. And he’sreallyfucking good at his job. I already brought him up to speed on the way here. The two of us have a secure line to text back and forth on.”

The sphere-shaped ice clinks against the glass as I finish off my drink. Helping myself to the bottle in the middle of the table, I pour another. My mind goes to Maddy.What possible hell could she be enduring over there?I slam the second drink back. Fire coats my throat, burning its way down my esophagus. The glass almost shatters as I return it to the stone coaster.

Basilio may be dead, but his brother Geraldo—the current leader—is just as corrupt. And he isn’t eventhe worstof them.

Rumor has it, they have a man in their arsenal so deadly, so unworldly, that they nicknamed himTheBone Breaker—AKA—El Rompe Huesos. One of the hushed rumors swirling around describes the barbaric surgery he endured where surgical metal was placed over the bones of his knuckles. If that were to be true, his right hook must be lethal.

I swear I am going to have TMJ by the end of all of this. My jaw clenches at the thought of this psychopath being anywhere near Madison. Bile surges in my throat before slipping back into my uneasy stomach.

IfThe Bone Breakergets his hands onmy woman…

I need to stop.We will get her back.But…even when we do, what kind of trauma will she have had to endure? Will Maddy even be the same after all of this is over?

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