Page 48 of No Promises, No Lies

All eyes turn to Rory.Worry clouds her blue eyes. Her mouth tightens into a thin line. “The Bratva will trade Alexei for me—Alex,” she nods, certain of her words, “but you need to make the call now before...”

All of us know what the Russians do to traitors. The same thing we would. Admitting to stealing the Russian’s little angel may kick off a new war between the Irish and the Bratva, but it’s likely Alex’s only chance.

Koen looks to both Liam and me before stalking out of the room, his phone in hand.

“Looks like you found your ticket home, princess.” There’s a slight resignation in my tone. I don’t know why, but I have an overwhelming urge to lock her back up in my room and never let her go. I shove it away, focusing on my worry for Alex.

Rory frowns, her eyes trailing over to my wall of windows and she stops at the one looking out over the small courtyard garden. Her fingers clench and unclench at her sides several times before she lets out a steadying breath and turns to face me.

“When do we leave?”

29

DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT

RORY

Liam drives while Koen makes call after call, rounding up everyone he can on such short notice.

He got through to the Russians right away. Koen had my father’s full attention once he learned they had his daughter currently in their possession. They arrange a trade immediately to get Alexei out of the Bratva’s hands before more damage can be done. So far, all we have is my father’s word Alexei is still alive.

Aidan is like a live wire beside me in the back of Liam’s SUV. I’m aware of every little movement. The rise and fall of my chest, the slight ticking of his jaw, my heart racing a little faster each time he shifts slightly closer to me.

It’s good news Alexei is alive at all. I might not know a lot about the inner workings of this dark world, but even I know what they do to traitors.

Alexei may be one of the Irish, but for the past couple of months, he had become someone I could trust. He didn’t leer at me or crack lewd jokes when my father wasn’t watching. He was respectful, protective, and he wasnice.The thought of Alexei enduring any of what the Bratva is capable of has my stomach rolling.

I shift anxiously in my seat.The movement catches Aidan’s attention and our eyes meet. I don’t know what it is I see in those deep green pools, but it only fuels my lingering confusion.

The Irish shot up the club, stole me. They chained me up, interrogated me, but somehow I’m more reluctant to go home. If anything, the O’Rourkes have opened my eyes to how isolating and depressing my life had become.

No friends, no boyfriend, no fun. Just training and reading alone in my room.

I need to work harder, keep fighting, and escape my fate before I’m shackled to it by my ring finger.

Liam steers the SUV behind a couple of abandoned warehouse buildings. We’re close to the docks and the smell of salt and low tide is heavy in the air. A somber standoff awaits us on the loading dock.

I lean forward to get a better view, searching the line of suits for any sign of Alexei. Not caring that it puts me right across Aidan’s lap. He stiffens under me.

It’s easy to tell the difference between the Irish and the Bratva. The Irish seem to prefer dark hoodies and leather to suits, and bikes to cars.The Irish half of the circle is full of motorcycles, except for Koen’s SUV.

There seems to be a competition over who could bring a bigger show of force. Even with so many men on the dock, it’s easy to spot my father and brother. My father is wearing his usual dark suit. My brother is next to him, looking far more imposing than I’ve ever seen him, a murderous expression on his face that sends a shiver through my body. But there’s still one person I don’t see…

Aidan lays a reassuring hand on my hip. I twist to look at him.

“He’s probably still in one of the cars.” His attention is on the Bratva outside.

I nod, unconvinced. I wouldn’t put it past my father to double cross the Irish, even at my expense. Sitting back, I twist my fingers anxiously, fidgeting with the sleeves of Aidan’s hoodie I’m still wearing.

We pull to a stop, and my father’s steel gaze finds me. Letting out a gasp, I scoot deeper into the car seat.

Aidan notices his already tight expression dipping into a frown. “He can’t see you.” He wraps a knuckle on the glass window. “Mirrored glass.”

Koen speaks up from the front seat. My eyes fall to the black gun he holds in his hand, the other on the door handle. “Rory stays here.”

I look at him in surprise.He used Rory, not “Aurora.”

He waits for both Aidan and me to nod in confirmation before stepping out of the car in unison with Liam, shutting the doors behind them.Aidan’s gaze falls back to me, an unreadable expression on his face before he too exits the SUV, joining his brothers.

---