Page 2 of The Devil's Price

2

FINN

Leaning against the brick exterior of the courthouse in the shadowy alley, I wait for the deposition to be over. Ronan arranged for me to meet with Mick before being hauled off again, said he'd delay the transport van a few minutes. When Mr. Quinn and Mick exit the side of the building, we have only a few moments to connect. I can't risk being caught talking to them so publicly.

Mick's eyes brighten when he sees me rushing toward him. The lawyer seems angry, like normal, but Mick juts his chin up in confidence and pride. He'll never let on how much this is fucking with him.

"Finn," he grunts, reaching for me though his hands are cuffed.

I clasp both of them in my hands and squeeze. "How you doing? I guess they didn’t drop the charges?"

Mick's accused of murdering one of our own. Aiden was the chief's right-hand man, and now he's dead, shot dead in a home outside the city. No one could believe what happened until we saw his cold, dead body with our own eyes. Mick had nothing todo with it. We just can't prove it, and our guys on the inside were scared off for some reason.

"You know… Justice has a process." Mick shrugs his shoulders, but I can see the concern deep in his eyes. I've seen it in his daughter's eyes every day for weeks now as this thing has unfolded.

"I'm not lettin' them take you, Mick. We'll get you out of this." I squeeze his hands harder and hear the transport van turn into the alley. The engine rumbles and echoes off the walls, and I should be running, but I feel obligated to reassure him.

"Their evidence is weak." Quinn grunts as he lights a cigarette with a match. He swears that matches are better for that sort of thing, disdains lighters. I think he's afraid we'll sabotage his lighter and blow his face off. Piss-poor excuse for a lawyer. Ro should fire him and get someone else.

"It'll be fine." Mick nods solemnly, and his eyes rise to look at the approaching van. "Best be on with ya. They'll be a might fickle."

I wish I didn’t have to go, because leaving one of our own to the wolves feels a lot like deserting him, but I'm no good to him if I get him or Mr. Quinn in more trouble. Besides, there are at least a dozen things they could charge me with too.

"We're gonna stop this," I repeat as I back away, ducking behind a dumpster before the driver of the van can see me clearly enough to pick me out in a lineup.

I watch as Mick climbs into the van and Quinn shouts something at the guards. When Quinn waddles off, the guards climb back into the van and shut the door. It shuttles off down the narrow alleyway and back into the sunlight at the other end, and my eyes trace its movements. Mick is in remand now, no hope ofbusting him out anymore at all. We have to let the process take its course, and that means moving on to step two of my plan.

I've watched Siobhan Gallagher for the past year, stalking every case she's taken on. They've never assigned her a murder case like this one. She's green. I know she's capable—they know it too or they wouldn't have assigned it to her—but I'm going to snake my way into her life and put a stop to this. I have to. It was my chief's orders.

So I wait casually, still hiding behind the dumpster, until the DPP appears at the side door. She's wearing a steel-grey suit with a bright red silk shirt beneath. The black pointy-toed heels she wears give her a few inches of height, but she's still short. Sexy as fuck, too, with a high, tight ass and tits that scream to be ogled. I admire her for a moment before snapping back to my task.

"Ms. Gallagher, can I have a word?" My shout seems to startle her. She clutches her briefcase to her chest, arms hugged around it tightly, and flicks her eyes around to see where I am.

I stroll out from behind the dumpster and rake a hand through my dark hair. My approach has to be simple and cautious. If I make things worse for Mick by pushing her or scaring her, he'll end up in the clink faster than we can bat an eye. My aim is to get close to her and hopefully gain insight into the case, and if not, at least perhaps change her perception of Mick O'Connor.

"Uh, yes…" She seems flustered, skin going pale, hands trembling.

"Relax," I tell her, "I'm not gonna bite." The toothy grin I offer seems to calm her a little. If she's done her homework, sheknows who I am, but I don't let that stop me from being forward. "You're a beautiful woman, Siobhan… May I call you that?"

Her cheeks warm, lips flushing darker. She nods, but she says nothing to me. She's still hugging that damn briefcase to her chest, hiding her assets, but it's okay. If I come on too strong, she'll be startled away. As it is, I'm surprised she hasn't started screaming "rape" yet. She's wound tighter than a piano string on the daily.

"Siobhan, my name is?—"

"I know who you are," she squeaks. Her eyes scan the length of my body. I chose this suit because I feel like I'm less intimidating when I wear it. It's more casual, soft grey, light blue shirt.

I slide my hands into my pockets and relax my shoulders as I smile at her. She's a quick study and terrified of me. This will be like taking candy from a baby if I play my cards right.

"Well good, then I hope my reputation precedes me." Now my smile isn't winning me any favors, but I'm not giving up. This woman is the one about to put my friend in prison for the rest of his life. I have to go through her to get to the truth, and I’m not stopping unless someone puts a bullet in my head.

"What do you want, Mr. O'Rourke?" She's gaining confidence now. Her hand grips the handle of her case and she lowers it to her side. The silky fabric of her blouse parts just enough to see the curve of her tits, and it makes my cock jump. Damn, I'd love to undress her right here and take a long, languid look at her body.

"I just thought maybe you'd entertain me for dinner. A woman as beautiful as yourself deserves to be treated." My eyes glance up at the camera mounted on the side of the building overhead. Ihave to stay where I'm at or I'll be spotted, and if that happens, it will spoil the case for Mick. The courts will see me speaking with prosecution and crack down on him harder.

"I can't. Sorry." Siobhan turns on a heel and starts walking, and I watch her ass for a few strides, staying firmly planted where I'm at to stay out of the camera's line of sight.

"It wasn't a request…" I say after her.

She stops and twirls around with a glare on her face, sexy as fuck. "You're a wise man, Mr. O'Rourke. You can't charm me with your good looks. I have to refuse on a matter of principle, the same principle that keeps you there and me here." Her eyes rise to the camera knowingly, and I know if we were children, she'd be wagging her tongue at me in a taunting manner. Fantastically cheeky bitch. I love it.

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