Page 49 of No Promises, No Lies

The three of them walk together, out on the dock. A formidable sight. Aidan and Liam fall back slightly to flank Koen at the center. They stop only once they’ve closed the distance between the two antagonist groups to about fifteen feet. My father and Niko remain where they stand.

I’m pressed up against the window, scanning, trying to watch all of them at once.

“Koen O’Rourke,” Adrik dips his chin with a poisonous smile, greeting the eldest Irish son. “I didn’t know we were making this a whole family affair,” he gestures to Aidan and Liam. “Nice to see Ace and Liam around again. I thought they’d left thefamilybusiness.” The smile creeping across my father’s face is snake-like.

It’s a smile Aidan doesn’t return. He’s busy keeping his eyes trained on my brother. The latter watches the Irish enforcer with a death glare.

“What my brothers do or don’t do is none of your concern.” Koen looks around pointedly. “Where’s Alexei?” The malice in the Irish boss’ eyes might just set the Russians on fire. Koen didn’t come to play.

Adrik’s eyes slide from Aidan and back to Koen, his smile fading. “He’s here,” nodding to a nearby SUV. “Where’s my daughter?” he counters sharply.

Niko steps forward, his eyes still locked in a contentious stare off with Aidan. He crosses his thick arms across his chest, giving everyone a good view of his piece held tight in his grip.

Koen merely nods, ignoring my brother, his expression unchanging. “She’s here. But first I want to see Alex.”

Adrik narrows his eyes to thin slits, displeasure playing at the corner of his lips at Koen’s assertiveness. I’ve never seen anyone talk to my father that way—making demands. What’s even more shocking is my father relents. He signals with his hand to two Russians standing guard by the SUV and they open the door. I recognize the burlier one as my father’s right-hand man, Petr.So he survived Elements, did he?

Seconds later, they drag Alexei from the vehicle. Dirty, bloody, and barely recognizable. I can’t hold back my sob, holding a hand to my mouth, tears in my eyes.

The O’Rourke clan collectively stiffen at the sight of their adopted brother.

Adrik smiles, delighting in the pain he’s causing. “You sure you want the little rat back? We weren’t exactly done playing with him.”

Alexei struggles to support himself as the Russians drag him roughly forward. He’s so pale. Fresh blood drips from so manyplaces it’s impossible to count the number of wounds. His face is so battered, his left eye swollen shut. I might throw up.

There’s no stopping the tears. They flow freely down my cheeks at the sight of my bodyguard. I don’t know how Alexei is even alive…

“Let’s get this done,” Koen growls out, maintaining his cold and impassive mask. But even from inside the car, I can feel the eldest O’Rourke’s wrath simmering. Alexei may not be blood, but from what I’ve witnessed over the past couple of days… it hardly matters.

Koen and Aidan share a look, and Aidan turns, starting back toward me. He wears the darkest expression I’ve ever seen, and it makes me want to crawl deeper into the car. After seeing Alexei, I bet the Irish wish they’d roughed me up more.

Frantically I wipe at my face, doing my best to erase my tears, but it’s no use.

The door opens and I’m looking up into Aidan’s cold eyes. They scan my face—seeing my emotions. His dark expression softens for a moment.

He grabs hold of my upper arm and tugs gently. I step willingly out of the car. All eyes are instantly on me. Aidan walks me over to stand with his brothers, keeping a light grip on my arm. And suddenly, I’m faced with the realization I’m still wearing only Aidan’s sweatshirt and rolled up boxer shorts.

I can’t look at my father nor my brother. Instead, I keep my gaze trained on the ground, occasionally peeking up between my lashes to check on Alexei. He spies me looking and winks with his one good eye.

Fresh tears leak down my cheeks, dripping off my chin. I give him a soft smile in return. He gave me up to the Irish, but he still doesn’t deserve this.

Movement out of the corner of my eye has my gaze snapping to Niko. He walks aggressively toward Alexei and points a gun at his head.

I’m vaguely aware Aidan’s gun is in his hand, threatening, but not quite pointed at me. Aidan and the O’Rourkes have had me for days.Days. The Bratva had Alexei forhours. Hours, and the harm they’d inflicted....

“Aurora,” my father has to call my name twice in order for me to finally tear my gaze away from my bodyguard and direct it onto him. “Aurora, ??? ???? ????????”Did they touch you?My father knows I know at least enough Russian to understand his question.

My gaze wanders to Aidan before I slowly shake my head, staring up into forest-dark eyes. “No.”

Aidan’s brow lifts only slightly, not understanding Adrik’s question.

My father nods in what looks like relief. “Well,” he says, clapping his hands together, savoring this torturous moment far more than anybody else, “Ladies first?”

Koen’s jaw flexing is his only tell as he dips his chin in agreement. “Send her over.”

Aidan takes a few steps forward, bringing me with him. I only resist a little, shaking in his light grip. I see a question enter his eyes and he looks between my father and me. We’re halfway and Aidan stops.

This is it.

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