Page 163 of Cross & Crown

Parris Island when it was time. I had pride in my heart for this boy just like he was my own son.”

Kelly’s eyes widened. He’d never heard any of this. Nick

was stone-faced, though, not reacting at all to the information being revealed, or to the almost kind words the notorious

criminal was saying about him.

“He came back home and went to work for the other guy,”

Paddy said with a sigh. “Always were the good egg no matter

how hard I tried to boil you. So you come to me asking for

help, I’m giving it to you. No questions asked.”

Nick swallowed hard. “Mikey told you what we’re

looking for?”

“He did.” Paddy gave Mikey a nod.

Kelly didn’t like the fact that Mikey was moving around

behind him, but he was trying not to be tense or appear

nervous. He had to trust Julian to watch their backs for them,

which was admittedly a little hard to do.

“You have a lead for us?” Nick asked, growing impatient.

“Better.”

Mikey set a reinforced suitcase on the table between

them, and Paddy leaned over to put in a code, then prop the

lid open. He turned it to display the contents to them with a

flourish.

On the cushioned interior of black felt sat a sparkling

piece of jewelry. Roughly four inches wide, with bright-blue

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enamel that was covered in diamonds, emeralds, and rubies.

Kelly recognized it as the star brooch from Julian’s photo.

“Jesus Christ,” Julian blurted.

Nick lowered his head, rubbing his hands over his face.

He’d just been shown stolen goods and was powerless to do

anything about it. It had to be killing his sense of duty. Kelly put his hand on Nick’s knee.

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