Page 34 of Crimson Flames

He points a finger under the bed where I can just make out Pokey’s eyes.

“He won’t come out if you’re in here.”

His fists clench as he pulls a gun from his side. I look from it to Pokey.

“If you shoot him, the sponsor will be pissed. He’s the only one that can fit into the air ducts and the only one brave enough to try.”

He has always liked small spaces, they make him feel safe. So, when they started teaching the younger ones skills for getting into small places, to overhear information or to be able to break into offices and steal files, I knew this was where Pokey would excel.

The man yells as he storms out of the room, and I walk over to the bed to lay on the floor beside it.

“I know you’re scared, but I will hold your hand to the training room.”

“He hurts me,” Pokey says, making my heart twist in my chest.

“I won’t let him. Not today.” If he tries anything, I will put myself between them. Greg knows I won’t back down.

This is how I have gained the others’ trust—by stepping between them and the guards. I’ve proved I’m willing to fight for them, and because of that, they listen to me.

“Okay, Kai.” His voice is so small.

We walk outside, and I hear Greg shouting into the phone.

“The little shit is more trouble than he is worth. I’m telling you…”

I remember the name.

Oh shit. Oh shit.

“Batman!” I yell running to him as they walk towards Nessa’s room.

“I remember! I remember the name!”

I catch up to them, breathing heavily. Wide eyes stare at me as I push my hair out of my face and stand to my full height.

“It’s not Donovan. It’s Ronan.”

They exchange a look, shock on their faces as if they don’t want to believe me, so I give them his full name in hopes that maybe they can actually take him out.

“Ronan O’Brien.”

Evie closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. “Nessa’s ex-fiance.”

Chapter 13

I am not a complicated man. I ask for one thing and one thing only from those who work for me.I want perfection. I expect perfection.

I'll shower you in riches if you fecking work for it, but you have to show me you aren’t a useless piece of shite on my shoe.

Case in point, Donovan O’Neil. He ran the Reapers into the ground with his gambling and lack of consistency. His leadership was faulty and allowed the opinions of others to sway him.

His men manipulated him easily, and it was plain for all to see that he was not the real man in charge. So, imagine my surprise when I found out that he has been hiding from me that his daughter is still fucking alive.

Nessa O’Neil is mine.

I didn’t expect to see her that night. In fact, once I realized what was happening, I was lucky I made it out alive. By the time the drone tracking software on my phone warned me they were there, it was too late to warn my guards.

Her little team of heroes had already killed half my men by the time I was able to sneak into the forest. I watched them from afar, my phone making sure to disguise my heat signature from any drones in the area.

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