Page 108 of Resurrection

Not being able to talk to her myself, to sort through this shit as a team, is driving me insane. “You heard anything?” I ask Jay as we drive to the island house.

“No. Did you think I would?”

“Nah.” I sink deeper into the leather seat. I’d want the element of surprise. I’m sure he does too. Since our last conversation ended in a shootout, it’s hard to be confident where we stand. Out the window, palm trees and rocky hills pass by in a blur.

“She’ll never forgive you, man,” Jay says.

“I don’t care. I’m not leaving her to rot, to waste these years paying for something she didn’t even fucking realize she was doing.” I shake my head. “They’re drilling her because of me. You can’t deny that.”

“Doesn’t matter. I helped her haul your ass out of the warehouse, watched her bedside vigil until you were out of the woods. I’ve seen you two the last few months. You’ll rip her heart out.”

A lump surfaces in my throat, and I force it down. Her feelings, my feelings, can’t be my focus. “If it was your wife,” I say, “what would you do?”

Jay nods. “I get that too, man. I get that too.” He squints before speaking again. “Probably seems dumb to you, but I’ve known Carys since I was little more than a kid. She’s family.” With a quick glance in the rearview mirror, he says, “I appreciate how you love her. I’m glad she’s had that. She deserved it.”

She deserved more than a few weeks of true happiness. Much more. I rub a hand along my face and then press the heel to my chest. The ache is back. Been gone for a while. Can’t say I’ve missed the desperation. “I’m counting on your loyalty to her. Knowing you’re around to pick her up, to keep her safe…” I roll my shoulders. “But no matter what happens to me—dead, alive, somewhere in between—I’ll find a way to come for you if you don’t do your job. You keep her safe.”

He meets my gaze in the mirror. “You don’t need to do that, man. I understand. I realize what she means to you.”

We’re driving up to the house, and he tenses at the wheel.

“What?” I pick up the weapon on the seat beside me.

“I don’t recognize that vehicle.” He throws the car into park and draws his gun.

Climbing out behind him, I keep my gun at the ready. He motions for me to circle the Mediterranean-style bungalow before coming in. I gesture to the left around the house while he opens the front door, gun drawn, and calls his wife’s name.

As I’m rounding the final corner, I check the window and glimpse a familiar sandy-blond head. He fucking came. Quicker than I expected. Hustling around the last side of the house, I enter the front foyer cautiously. Could be an ambush.

Jay has his weapon aimed at Lorcan, who is settled into the couch as though he owns the place.

“Brother,” Lorcan says when he sees me. “You summoned me?”

“He’s got Sofia and the kids somewhere,” Jay says as I come into the living room.

“You in the business of taking women and children again, little brother?” I scan as much of the house as I can see from here, checking for anywhere obvious he might have stuck them. His partner in crime probably has them. “Or has Kimi finally joined the dark side?”

Lorcan glowers at my reference. “Last time we met didn’t end well for any of us. I thought it best to come prepared to bargain.” He glares at Jay. “Put your fucking weapon away. If I wanted a gunfight, I wouldn’t be sitting on your settee.”

I narrow my eyes. His accent always came and went, but it’s thick now, the same as when he first returned from Ireland years ago.

“Where are my wife and kids?” Jay asks.

“Safe.” Lorcan stares and raises his eyebrows. “For now.” With a sigh, he relaxes into the couch. “What’d ya want, Finn?”

“Where are my wife and kids?” Jay’s voice vibrates with rage.

There’s fear under his anger. I recognize it. I’ve felt it.

“He’s not like me,” I say to him. “If my brother says they’re safe, they are. We play nice, and they’ll be fine.”

Jay eases down his gun. “If you scared my kids—”

“You’ll what?” Lorcan’s gaze bores into him. “Take a fucking seat.”

Jay shakes his head and doesn’t sit. His gun is still clutched in his hand.

“This about Carys?” Lorcan swings his focus to me.

---