Page 106 of Shattered Hearts

What the hell is going on in there?

My father is typically a calm, measured man. I’m told my laconic charm comes from him. I got my mom’s sweet tooth and my dad’s stony disposition. He rarely yells.

I get the door open, and we find…chaos.

The interrogation unit is akin to a miniature prison block. Soundproof, bulletproof interrogation cells line the perimeter, each designed differently to suit our various needs. Certain cells lend themselves better to particular types of torture. To the left of the entrance is the office, where we keep the interrogation footage archives.

The back of the unit houses a special garage entrance for easy access, and in the center of the whole setup sits a space resembling a lobby. Inside, monitors display video feeds of each cell.

We find everyone in the lobby.

Thomas Brennan paces in front of the two-way mirror of the first cell. We only put high profile abductees there, and as expected, Troy Sullivan is on the other side of the glass. He’s unconscious again, and I’m willing to bet Thomas’s bloody knuckles are the reason.

“What’s going on?” Riley speaks up, casting her eyes toward Thomas. To say he’s tense would be a gross understatement.

“Got a confession out of Darragh’s boy.” Dad’s eyes lower to mine. “Red Hill has allied themselves with the De Lucas. They’ve claimed responsibility for the attacks on you and…your wife.”

Understanding clangs through me, metallic and painful.I know that my father and I share the same thought.

This changes everything.

I don’t miss the way my father didn’t say either Harper or Riley’s name, though at this point, since the De Lucas and Red Hill have aligned, I don’t think it makes much difference who knows. If Troy had a chance to tell anyone that Riley was the one who married me, then the De Lucas are already well aware of Harper’s disappearance. But on the slim chance Enzo’s guys still believe Harper married me, we need to keep our secret within the Gallaghers.

For now, at least.

Riley’s fingers squeeze mine, reminding me she’s there and that we’re in this together. The concern on her face anchors me.

We never had the talk I meant for us to have…

How could she understand the immensity of this moment?

Shane shifts his head to the left, subtly indicating the door behind us. “Tomorrow. Six p.m. My office.”

We’ve been in this room all of five minutes, and we’re already dismissed. Almost instantly, I realize Riley’s the reason. My father didn’t expect me to bring her. Whatever he needs to share is for my ears only.

There’s nothing more I can say, so I just nod and lead Riley out into the hallway. We make our way back upstairs in silence, but I can tell she has the whole spectacle we’ve witnessed on her mind. Almost as soon as we reenter my suite, she tugs on my sleeve, grabbing my attention.

“Your turn,” she murmurs with those lips I can’t stop kissing.

“My turn for what?”

“To tell me the truth. Thewholetruth.” Her expression is gentle. “About the De Lucas. Why are they after you? Why did they…kill your wife?”

Chapter 25

Riley

Up until this moment, I didn’t think I had any right to ask Finn about the particulars of his complex past. The only reason I’ve been able to gather my courage this time is because…on our way downstairs, Finn grabbed my hand.

Without reason, and without anyone else around, he laced his fingers through mine. Like we were two regular people in a relationship.

Just that simple gesture filled me with so much wild hope, I can barely contain myself, even now. And so, though I knew it might be painful for him and for me, I decided to let my curiosity slip.

The power Finn usually exudes has retrograded, the same way it did at the diner that morning when he ran into his ex-in-laws. This subject is one that makes him retreat into himself. That much is clear.

Is he willing or able to disclose the whole truth?

Looking into his troubled eyes, I’m not sure. Maybe I shouldn’t have brought this subject up.

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