Page 89 of Vengeful Union

“I’ll come with you.”

Rory looks at me curiously, and I just know he’s going to ask me again what happened, but he doesn’t, just taking my hand and pulling me up.

When we walk to the bar, his father is still there, facing the dancefloor.

I stiffen, sticking close to Rory. His body heat makes me feel safer, more comfortable.

But I keep a wide berth from Niall.

“You were late.” Niall’s voice isn’t quite a bark, but it’s certainly sharp.

“Duncan needed a ride.” Rory doesn’t even look at his father, ordering himself a rum and coke and me a vodka soda.

I sip the drink gratefully, hoping the alcohol will dull the awful feeling in my stomach.

What was Niall going to say? Would he have actually done something if Rory hadn’t shown up? I can’t be sure, but my gut says he would have.

“You should speak to the O’Reillys,” Niall suggests, swiveling around on the bar stool to face Rory.

Instead of asking why, Rory just nods. “Aye.”

I’m so relieved my knees go weak when Niall leaves the bar, heading into the bathroom. When he’s out of sight, my stomach stops feeling so sour.

“Who are the O’Reillys?” I haven’t heard the name from my father or my brothers, and they basically know all the clans.

“Friends of the family. They really stepped in when Ma left.” Rory seems distant, far away, like he’s thinking hard about something.

“What’s on your mind?” I ask him in a soft, quiet voice, and Rory looks at me, sighing heavily.

“Just thinking about what I found.”

“Whatdidyou find? Can you show me?”

Rory takes out his burner phone and hands it to me.

“Flip through.”

I peer at the screen, squinting at the small writing.

My eyes widen when I see my mother’s name on a police report.

“He has—” It’s too loud, and Rory clamps his hand over my mouth, ushering me away from the bar and into a back room that’s deserted, not decorated for the gallery.

“If he hears us, if any of his men hear us…”

I look up at him. “I’m sorry. I just... He has the police report of my mother’s death!”

“I know. I know. But it’s nothing we can take to the cops.”

“What do you mean? Of course we can!”

He shakes his head brusquely. “They’ll only have enough to question him, and he’s got half the police force in his pocket. He’ll know that someone ratted and soon enough, it’ll lead to me. To us.”

I wilt, bringing the phone back up to my face to see the rest. Shipments, dates, things that he could talk himself out of, especially if he’s bribing the police.

“So, we have nothing.” I feel dejected, my shoulders slumping.

Rory puts his arms around my waist, pulling me closer. “It’s not nothing. There’s something there, we just need more.”

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